Across the Abyss

Scared? You're scared of us?

This don't make any sense. If anyone's gonna be scared, it should be us.

That's good to hear. Then we both want the same thing. If you go back down the route you came, you'll get to the sea. Please, just forget about this place. I apologize for not seeing you off. Take care.

Huh? We're leaving?! No fair!

Ouch... Anyone else feel kinda rejected?

The abyss creatures that are sucking all the color out of the creatures of this planet...are scared of us?

Those guys didn't seem hostile. Maybe they're different from the other abyss creatures?

Should we go talk to them? We can't just turn back now.

Yeah. Let's try talking to them. But make sure not to scare them.

What's going on? Everyone seems so friendly...

Looks like they really were scared of us.

I just don't get it. Them lot can do us serious damage... Why would terrifyin' creatures like that be all scared o' us?

And they said we were poison to them. What does that...

Hey!

Wha!

Oh no, are you okay?

Yep, I'm fine! Thanks, Two!

Don't run so fast, Nine. It's dangerous...

You two seem close. Like parent and child... No, more like siblings.

Parent? Siblings? What're they? Tell me, tell me! There's soooo much that I don't know. Two's always teaching me. Ever since I was born.

Ever since you were born?

Peep pip-pop?

That's moss rock. It tastes pretty good. Kinda slimy.

Pip-peep?

That's sea lettuce shrimp. It tastes of the ocean. It's delicious.

Pip!

Haha, everything Pip sees is new to him.

You're like a mom with her child, the way you're answering all his questions.

Oh. It's such a happy, wonderful thing.

Eheheh. It is!

Nine, no! Don't get so close...

It's really dangerous! And it can never be undone. I think you're still okay, unlike us, but you need to know this for the future...

No fair... What's so dangerous about it?

Well...

Why won't you tell me? Why won't anybody tell me?

Hey, you outsiders! I'm gonna ask One about you!

I'm gonna ask if you're allowed to stay here a little longer! I only just met you. I'd be so sad if you had to go before we even got to talk.

Okay! Let's go to see One then!

Yes...

Huh?! Wh-What's that?!

Ah...! Nine! Get away, quick!

What is that?!

I-It's trying to go inside me! Oh no! I'm scared! I'm so scared! Get away from me! No, no! I don't want this!

Are you okay, you two?!

Y-Yes, I'm okay.

How about you, Nine? You okay?

Yeah! I'm fine. I was just so shocked... What was that?

Phew! You had me worried there!

I thought I told you!

Don't go near the creatures from this planet! And never, ever touch them! You're still young and you've never gone outside before.

And those people... They're not like the other creatures of this planet! Their bright blood is enough to blind you...

Huh?

Wh-What is this light?

Oh no! I'm so scared! Two, I'm scared!

Ugh?!

Grou lat chy whe? O sou ot ng pler'ou... Ang tl che knes!

Nine! Oh no!

Nine?!

Grou lat chy whe? O sou ot ng pler'ou... Ang tl che knes!

Nine!

...!

No way...

Why...

Because this is our death.

Death?

But it's you who just killed that kid!

......

It's a piece of Nine's pot...

Come. We must take Nine to the others.

But he was right here. Just now... He touched me.

Where are we?

You always liked being with all the others. Well, everyone is here...

Everyone?

You see, Nine wasn't the only one who turned like that. So many of our kind are lying in rest here. When we die, we turn to sand. With no bodies, we instead leave a grain of sand and a fragment of their pot here.

It's a grave site.

Why did that happen to Nine? And why did you do that to him? Instead of stopping him.

...... Nine was infected.

Infected?

Those who no longer listen to what they are told will eventually get ill. It is a punishment from Mother.

So, do you... Do you refuse to steal Celestial Souls, this bright blood from living things? Is that why you live here?

Oh, you know of bright blood? We were born to invade this planet. Wait, you... You look so much like the creatures of this planet that I didn't realize before. You are one of us, aren't you?

Yes.

And yet, you haven't gotten ill. Perhaps it just hasn't happened yet, or maybe...

......

When you get ill, do you all end up like Nine?

Yes. They all go insane, willingly executing the orders in their heads. That is all they know and live for.

From the moment we are born, we are driven by one terrible order. "Take all bright blood."

Even now.

But all who live in hiding here... Ended up harboring doubts, or having their own thoughts separate from their orders. They decided all on their own to stop taking the bright blood. But that doesn't make the orders stop. Our orders never stop going around and around our heads, whispering to take the bright blood. Reproaching us.

And...

The illness is a way to put us wayward souls back onto the right path, the one Mother set out for us.

We have no idea when the illness will start, or how long it will take.

Simply that one day, a friend you were just talking to will suddenly become a stranger. The fact that we were able to communicate in our own language will seem like a lie. Once infected, you never recover. You thirst for bright blood, kill without question, and don't even recognize your friends.

Everyone here made a promise. Anyone who becomes infected, we kill. Because the moment we stop being ourselves, we're as good as dead anyway.

That's so terrible...

We're happier this way. An infected being might infect another. And. We are weak and simple. We can't survive without taking from others. We hate more than anything that our only purpose in life is to steal from others.

We thought you were the ones killin' us...

...... The reason why we were so scared of you... Is we were scared of being driven insane by the bright blood you have. I'm sorry for acting so cold toward you.

Don't be silly! It's us who didn't realize!

And... Your blood is so much brighter than any of the other creatures of this planet we've seen before. Our kind who are loyal to Mother... They must crave you. So do be careful.

...... Was it... Was it because we went near to Nine that he got ill?

Or, wait. Was it because I touched him?

Don't say that, Aldo! It was all of our fault that we didn't leave this place immediately!

What happened, was that Nine found himself wanting to take your bright blood, albeit unconsciously. Nine was terrified of that and refused to do so. He rejected such pure, such gemlike blood...

We have no idea when the illness will strike, so we are forced to live in constant fear of it. If we fiercely reject Mother's orders, or go against them for a long time... We will be punished.

Oh...

It's not your fault. We hadn't explained it to him yet. He seemed so bright, so far removed from our ugly lives. So we kept it all hidden from him. Our illness, our true forms, everything.

......

Nine was born here. He had never taken any bright blood from anyone. Even if you hadn't come here, he would have gotten sick sooner or later. This was always going to happen.

But even if that's true...

You could've spent more time with him. Even if it was just a day. You could've been happy for that much longer...

...... Thank you for listening. It may not have been for long at all, but you were his friends. Wasn't there something you wanted to ask? Do say if it's anything I can help with. I'll be waiting.

Oh...

......

Nine is gone.

I-I thought Nine would always be by my side. Even though Nine was the same as us...

Two...

I would like to keep a piece of Nine's pot with me. Why, though? This isn't Nine... So why does it look a little like them?

I should go to One now...

What're we mean to do?

I really hated those tentacled creatures...

......

Should we go to One? Anythin' 'e can tell us'd really 'elp. We should go 'n' ask...

But if we go near him and he ends up like Nine...

Then I'll go. I'm like them. I can't harm them. You just wait here.

Thank you, Nagi...

I'll ask about this "Mother" and the monster at the hokora.

Ah. So it's you who came.

Yes. We are the same kind, after all.

I'd be happy to tell you anything I know.

......

This "Mother" you're talking about, is she...Leviathan?

Leviathan?

Yes. Erm... The huge dragon-like creature that swims around in the sea. That's our name for it.

A dragon-like creature? I think I once saw what you're talking about, but only from a distance. Though it was so far away, the sight was so terrifying it made my whole body rigid. So that could have been Mother? Yes, I can see that.

Wait, so you don't know this Mother?

I know her. I've known her ever since I was born. I would know her, even without being told. Perhaps it's instinct? The one who gives us our orders is our creator, our Mother. And we must never go against her.

We have to stop Leviathan, no matter what. For the planet. And for you as well.

......

Can we speak with the Mother? How do we stop her?

I don't know. I don't know if you can talk to her or not. And although we call her "Mother," that's not to say that she's necessarily female. The same could be said for us. We don't really distinguish.

Oh... Is there anything else you can tell me? Anything at all.

Let's see now... I don't know if this will be helpful, but there is something that stands out to me.

Sometimes...we hear a voice that isn't Mother's giving orders.

A voice that's not Leviathan's?

It's very faint, though. I've never been able to work out what it's saying. Maybe it's a different language. I can't understand it, but I instinctively know that it's an order. I wonder what it is...

Another order in a different language?

That's just about all I know about Mother. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful.

No, it's fine. Thank you. ......

What's troubling you? Go ahead and ask, whatever it is.

You really can't go back to normal after you get ill?

Do you know someone affected, by any chance?

Well, their circumstances are a little different...

Oh, I see...

It's a kind of illness. He was returned to how he was meant to be. The king. Unlike us, maybe his illness was induced right from the very start, to ensure that he turned out that way.

Induced?

The fact that we strayed from our given path was something that Mother never accounted for. However... Pip meeting you, gaining self-awareness, and visiting the three hokoras could all have been part of Mother's plan.

Once he visited all hokoras, and amassed enough power to be king, he was infected with the illness and brought it to her.

But why? I know Mother's thinking like the back of my tentacles.

Really now...

And... I doubt that Mother has any intention of returning him to you. We didn't want to kill our friends at first. Of course we didn't. It took some persuasion. But in the end, not a single one of our friends ever went back to normal after being infected.

......

And Mother took much more care in creating Pip than she did with us. The chances of him going back to normal are... Well... Even if he did, Mother's voice would end that. He would either go insane or die.

Is that so... Thank you, One.

Sorry I couldn't shine some light on a solution.

Outside of this cave, our brethren are carrying out their invasion. Though we know this, we have no intention of reinforcing you in a fight against them. We must protect ourselves, and Mother terrifies us. We are just weak and simple things. I suppose that's how we were made to be.

Or was that our own doing?

Don't worry yourselves about it. Anyone would be terrified of no longer being themselves.

And I... I don't want to see anyone else I know lose themselves.

......

So keep on hiding here, just as before.

Just tell me one more thing in return. When we went to the hokora... A huge monster mistook us for you.

What is that thing? And what's it got to do with you?

That's the Master.

The Master?

It's a monster that's been at that strange rock you call a "hokora" ever since the ancient times. We sometimes sneak out into the sea, to search for other self-aware brethren. And we were unfortunate enough to encounter the Master there. It attacked us. It has an incredible sense of smell. I believe it's one of Mother's soldiers. It can tell that we are different.

It's a soldier of Leviathan?!

They have unusual magic. And as far as I know, there are three hokoras, and three of them. If you must visit these hokoras, you will need to deal with these monsters before you can approach.

Are you going?

Yes. Sorry for being so impatient.

We truly are so sorry. (Though apologizing isn't going to bring him back...)

We... We would have liked to talk to you more. Just a shame that we are not the same kind.

Do be careful. We will pray for your safety.

Thank you. Be well, One.

Okay, back to the hokora then?

So we've just gotta destroy this Master creature?

Yep. That's 'ow we gotta free the shrine.

Let's go back to that hokora.

We're counting on you, Nagi...

Wouldn't it be great if it just, y'know, left?

It looks strong. Wonder where it comes from?

So that thingy's one o' Leviathan's minions?

We ain't gonna win this fight, not with an ambush, not with nothin'. We're clearly outmatched 'ere.

......

Aldo...

Yes? What is it?

Are you okay?

Yeah. I'm fine, thanks.

......

I have a favor to ask of you all... I want to talk to it. Before we take it down, I mean. I feel like it might know something we don't.

Pizzica...

Would you be willing to grant me this favor?

Heheh, of course. How could I refuse?

To tell the truth, I wasn't that keen on the idea of pouncin' on the thing anyway.

Yes. When the talking breaks down... Then we can go in for the fight.

I-It's so scary-lookin' though. Good luck!

Oh my, oh my. You're all so lovely!

Thanks, everyone.

Aldo, you don't have to beat yourself up about it. We're all in the same boat here.

I know.

Do you have a minute?

Wait! I just want to talk.

(He seems less hostile now?)

There's something we need to do at this hokora. We would like you to surrender your position. But we don't want to fight you. So, could you tell us... Why are you protecting this place? If there's a reason, tell me. Why do you serve Leviathan? As a creature of this planet, what would you get out of helping her?

Something's not right. Something must've...

A-Are you okay?! I'm not doing anything! I'm just trying to...

Eep?!

Pizzica!

Aldo!

Are you hurt?

Something isn't right. Why would he have such a strong reaction to you?

We're doomed! This guy's gonna thrash us!

We have to fight back! We have to try and calm him down!

Don't worry. We won't hurt you, okay?

Don't worry. We won't hurt you, okay?

Oh no, oh no, oh no!

Chiyo!

Don't be stupid! The master ain't meanta protect the maid! It's the other way around!

Maybe so, but you're my friend first and my handmaiden second!

Nagichi! Hide over here, it's not safe!

Thank you, Milsha...

Ack! What should we do...

Pizzica?!

What are you scared of? What's making you sad? Tell me. Tell me what you want. It's okay. I'll listen to whatever you have to say.

......

Don't be so down on yourself. After all, you... You told me what's in your heart. And you loved me back.

Welcome back, my child. There is nothing to fear now. I'm sorry it took me so long to come and welcome you.

It's stopped attacking...

Pizzica. Are you okay?!

Yes, I'm fine now.

Oh...

Huh?!

Wait! That wasn't my intention at all!

Oh...

......

Thank you.

The broken hokora has got its magic back!

What's goin' on? Did ya know that Master or somthin', Pizzica?

I think... I think he might be one of the Spirit Sanctuary "keys" that disappeared after the past attack on Atlantica.

You mean what my ancestor wrote about in those notes?

"Though, the keys to the sanctuary, the larvae the three of us doted on, are nowhere to be seen."

Then the three hokora Masters must be the three keys!

So Leviathan took advantage of their confusion, brainwashed them, and used them?

Unforgivable. It's not just Poseichi and Pip then, Leviathan's been doin' this all over the place!

He asked us to free the others. So let's go and free them of this brainwashing.

This Master...

What are you doing here?

You're...

You're speaking too quietly!

Right! Try to remember! You used to be close with someone who looked just like me, didn't you?

Pull yourself together! Don't doubt yourself so much! Face forward! You're so big and strong! And you've got real talent!

Really! Have a little confidence in yourself!

Yes?

Heheh.

Course you are! I think you're pretty great!

Tee-hee of course you will. Don't worry, just go to sleep.

Good night...

I hope he's resting well now.

I'm sure he is.

All right! On to the next one!

Bye bye!

Ahaha... Heheheh.

Who goes there?!

I know who you are. I heard about you scoundrels. You think you can go against Mother!

Uwaaah!

CHIYO!

Wait, listen to us! You're being brainwashed by Leviathan!

F-Flowers?!

Urgh, this guy...

To hate?

You...

I'm so sorry... You must have been so scared, all alone in this dark place for so long.

I promise.

Go ahead. You can do as you like.

I love you, too...

Okay, all three hokoras should be restored now. If we want to imprison Leviathan within here, we should carry out the Ceremony of the Protector at once.

Do you really think we'll be able to lure that incredibly fast, incredibly cautious fish into this tiny trap?

That's the problem. But you make it sound like we're goin' fishin', Pizzica.

Oh, heheh. It must be because of all the fishing you've been doing.

In order to fish, you need bait. That's what the Catch Queen said.

A bait that Leviathan would want to eat...

Huh? What was that trembling?

Oh no! Leviathan musta heard we freed all the 'okoras!

Her eyes must have been in the Masters' heads, too...

Oh no! We should've been more careful!

You can't avoid us.

You again! Stop pretending to be that girl! Argh, you're making me so angry!

No. This girl's face is just so cute. If I went back to normal, I'd stop being cute. I don't want to stop being cute.

But still!

You plan to strengthen her constraints, don't you?

Ugh?!

I... I can't...

Mother won't forgive this. She told us all to return to the warm sea. Send the shiny blood to the belly. That is the reason we live. That is the reason we must stop you.

Ack!

The useless mistake, the mischievous children... We'll stop you all.

Aaargh!

Lady Sheila!

I'll leave the rest to you.

Strange... You can't win on your own.

Haha, that's what you think. You see...

I get much more fired up on my own!

Agh...

Oh no! Sheila's all on her own!

I'm goin' back to her! What'll you do?!

Perhaps she did what she did so that we could go and do our ceremonies at the other hokoras?

So Milsha and I should head to our respective Ocean's Deep! Chiyo, we're leaving Sheila to you!

Gotcha!

We'll be back as soon as we can! We can't wait for long with things as they are! We can use those relics to cue the ceremony! I'll contact ya when I get there!

Let's go, Minchy! Stay safe, guys!

Okay, let's get goin', Milsha!

There's somewhere I need to go, too. So you go with Pizzica, Nagi!

Sure. But where are you...

Don't worry about it. Could you I borrow your relic? That way, we'll all be able to get in contact with each other.

Got it.

Aldo...

There's nothing to worry about. I'm waiting to hear your song, Pizzica. So take care, you two!

All right, now...

(Nine... I won't let your death go to waste.)

Time to get going. To the very center of this barrier of protection!

We're late? You plan to use these constraints to imprison Mother? It shouldn't work, though...

Our guardian was useless. I'll have to destroy this shrine myself.

Don't you lay a tentacle on it.

This hokora is filled with everyone's hopes and prayers.

And that's why...

I will erase the useless princess of fallen wisdom and the mistake.

Fallen wisdom? You said that in the village, too. What do you mean?

You're too slow. The hatred and agitation you felt in the village appears to have left you. Have you already forgotten about all your dead brethren?

Of course not. I mean... You may seem like nothing more than inhumane invaders... But you all have lives, you all have thoughts and feelings, same as us. So I want to ask you... If you're self-aware, why...

If we're self-aware, why aren't we on your side? Why don't we regret our mission?

Huh?

The arrogance! Why should we be the ones to regret anything?

You're just like them in the cave. Why do you try to adapt to the planet the moment you sprout consciousness? Why do you think it bad to live as you were born to do, to fulfill the duty you were made for? When surely abandoning that is the same as abandoning your reason to live?

Them in the cave? You know about One and the others?

I was raised in that cave. I was found by their chief.

Then...

That's One, that's Two... There's Three and Four. And I'm Five... Oh, Six and Seven are missing. But there's Eight... And Nine.

Are you Six? Or Seven?

How nostalgic, hearing those names. It's all just a series of stupid sounds... A laughable imitation. They had no creativity, yet they wanted names, happy just to imitate symbols. It's meaningless, contemptible, vulgar. We are not ourselves. We just have this life. If we have no discontentment, no shame... Then no one has any reason to criticize us. And there's certainly no reason to live in hiding.

......

I'm glad I left the cave. We don't harbor any worthless feelings in fulfilling our duty.

Ngh!

Oh!

Life is so much better this way.

Minchy?!

Oh? I missed?

I was aiming for the two legged one.

You coward! I'll get you for this!

Milsha... It doesn't...

Quit it, Minchy! If you're okay, be a good boy and come back me up here!

(Don't worry! This one's not like those kids!)

You're one step too late.

Milsha!

You're the guardian of this hokora, yes?

What if I am?

There's something...

I want you to tell me.

There is? What?

Ever since the village, you've all been so dazzlingly agitated. Why? I can't understand it.

Weird choice of words, but okay. You want to know why we've been so worked up?

Well, what else d'ya expect?! You're gonna kill our planet and everyone we love! We've gotta prevent that, no matter what!

So you feel you can't stop, even if it makes that shine inside you flicker?

W-Well... We're scared! We're scared of dyin'... If we die, we never move again, we never talk again! It's really scary, thinkin' that us and everyone we love...and even people we don't know... Might end up bein' no more...

It scares you?

Ahh!

Then... Show me.

What?

Milsha!

Ugh!

Minchy!

I always wanted to ask someone. All my life, I've never understood what I was doing any of this for. It was always the same. The same feeling toward everything. But when I took the bright blood, it felt good. Six said that was normal for us. But I don't care about the hokora or my duty or anything like that. I just want to know shining, flickering, passion like you.

Ngh... Urgh...

You're terrified of someone you don't even know dying? This is the first time any creature from this planet has told me that. So maybe I'll understand something when you die. These emotions that only you feel... Teach me them.

You just keep on coming, don't you!

Ack!

You're...strange. Your friends have gone, and though you've come all this way, you stop the attack.

I have a question for you. I can't put my heart into this fight until I ask.

Hm, what is it?

Why are you invading this planet? Have you never had any doubts about it? Never resented having to kill? Have you never thought about the meaning to your life?

I live for Mother. I want her to praise me. I will follow Mother's orders and be the best of all her children.

......

If I stop you from oppressing her, then she is sure to praise me. So you have to die.

Ngh!

Don't lay a finger on 'er!

Eeeek?!

Chiyo! You came!

Course I did! You know I've always gotta be by yer side, Lady Sheila! Besides, I'd get such a lecturin' if I went home!

What?!

If I went back to Dragon Palace, everyone'd tell me off, they would!

So I'm 'elpin' ya get this ceremony sorted, 'n' that's that!

Okay! Thanks, Chiyo!

You ain't worth Lady Sheila's time, you ain't! In the name o' Eight Thousand Years o' Toyotama, I'm takin' you on in me lady's place! C'mon!

Hmph. You're so weak I'd beat you in an instant.

I may be weak, an' I may be a coward... But!

Fer Lady Sheila...I can do anythin'!

All right! Now...

(Now there's no need to worry about Chiyo interrupting...)

Can you hear me, ancestor?

My resolve is unshaken. As Otohime, and as just, Sheila... I shall fulfill my final duty.

I made it! It doesn't look like the abyss army will come here.

This is the very center of the barrier of the three hokoras.

(If my Celestial Soul was strong enough to make Nine ill the moment he refused to take it...)

Then maybe, just maybe... (I can act as bait, and lure Leviathan into the middle of the barrier!)

All right!

(Where are you, Leviathan?)

Ack!

(Oh no! I've gotta get up! But... My bones are creaking!)

My Celestial Soul's lighting up?! Ha!

(What is this?! Is it reacting to the Celestial Soul?!)

Wha?! It's vanishing...

(Uh oh! No time to stand up!)

Guys?!

I'm glad we made it in time. We can't run and hide, and live in fear of this illness... Scared as we are, we have made up our minds on how we want to live. All thanks to you.

Can't you stand? Don't push yourself. Sorry... I can't lend you a tentacle...

Yeah, I'm okay.

Thanks, Two.

Yeah...

There sure are a lot of them.

These are Mother's special forces. There's no way we can beat them! Eeeep! Don't come any closer!

Quit your whining! It's not helping!

Oh dear, we really are outmatched here!

Groon!

Groooooo!

Whoa! So strong! There's not a single one of them left!

Groo? Groooooo!

Thank you! I never realized you were so strong...

Looks like things have calmed down for now.

Thank you, everyone. I really mean it.

Oh, right. There's something I wanted to ask. Do you know anything about this place?

Hmm... I'm not too sure, but this place has always existed, much like the hokoras.

Really? (It looked like it reacted to my Celestial Soul before. But then the reaction got weaker.) (Perhaps...) (A stronger Celestial Soul would create a stronger reaction?)

I have...one last question... Before...I go...

Nagi?!

Where...is Pip?

Our lord of calamity? He...

He's proceeding with the invasion. If we keep filling that vessel with the bright blood of life from this planet... Then before long, this sea and all the land around it will be ours. Indiscriminately, slowly but surely, this planet will wither and die.

Oh...

Then...

Of course!

My brethren, do you side with the life on this planet?

(I'm not scared anymore. I'm really not...)

Ugh?!

This...song...

Nagi, are you okay?!

My song?

Haha... Your song is different from the others. It's as though it sent a jolt straight to my brain.

You can hear my song?

Of all our brethren who adapted to this planet, forgot their duty, forgot the melody, and lived in song. You're the only one who sings with her voice.

Her voice?

No, wait... You said brethren? Are you talking about us? About the sirens?

Fallen wisdom. Children of the old mother. The original failures. You adapted to this world and so we were born... A new Mother was born... And the old mother became a puppet. From our new mother's cells, we...

What are you talking about?

...... The brain that lost thought... The heart that gained thought...

I don't regret how we lived, not in the slightest. However... Hearing your song has brought back memories I never wanted to remember. I hated you, the fallen wisdom... You were useless, you failed to fulfill our mission. You were the cause of our queen, that beautiful flower, withering away...

Wait!

Oh...

You want me to tell you about emotions?

Well...

I can do that! But you've gotta stop with all this! It's too intense!

Why's that?

Why?! Well...

You said you don't understand happiness or enjoyment or passion, right? But of course you don't! Because you're an invader, an' that's all you've ever known!

......

I've known others like you, who just ain't all that emotional. But, then we ran around hand in hand, played in the water, and saw all kindsa things every single day... Playin' around like that, they ended up even more in touch with their emotions than me!

So they changed?

Right! And, you see... It ain't 'bout livin life to the fullest. Ain't about havin' all the fun in the world, neither. Ya gotta make room for the sad times, too. Ya know? You're gonna feel disappointed. Ya might even feel a little embarrassed. But don't ya wanna feel all that stuff, too?

Living to the fullest?

See, I thought you were real ferocious. I figured you weren't like those ones in the cave, and I tried to fight you... But I'm glad you told me what was on your mind.

'cause now I know, you're not a bad guy!

......

Milshaaa!

I've returned from the depths of hell! Let's deal with this guy and get the hokora...

Don't attack him! Stop!

Eh?! What's goin' on?!

Waaargh, what're we gonna do?! I can't...

Stop.

Huh?

Go ahead and activate the hokora. That is your job. I'll be waiting for you to tell me all about living life to the fullest.

You got it! That's a promise! Erm, what's your name?

Seven.

Seven! Just you wait! C'mon Minchy, let's go!

Hey! Milshaaa!

...... I should call Six. Six should know this...

All right, Minchy! I'm gonna go for it!

You got this, Milsha!

As descendant of Otohime, I beseech thee under this crimson vow.

Oh mother's miracle, should the stars align... Encircle the three thousand realms...

......

There's more, isn't there? There's something you want to tell me, and me alone.

There is. It's very much related to your duty. Sheila, you... Your power...

Alone isn't enough to complete the Ceremony of the Protector.

I figured as much.

I thought something was strange. The pillar wouldn't stand for just me... You did it for me, didn't you?

I did. I took possession of you and carried out the ceremony with my own magic. You don't have enough magic to perform the Ceremony of the Protector.

Why not?

I don't know exactly. Perhaps it's because you acted as two Otohimes at the same time, and have performed the ceremony once before?

The ceremony is a huge undertaking, requiring a vast amount of magic. You can only do it once per generation. But you did it twice. That in itself is pretty incredible.

Heheh, are you trying to comfort me?

I'm serious, it really is incredible. You lost such a great amount of magic in the past...

I did?

You weren't aware? Something happened when you were much younger. I was still asleep within you back then, so I'm afraid I don't know the cause of it.

Oh, so I only did well considering that I'm damaged goods?

That's not what I meant!

Anyway... You still haven't said what you really wanted to say, right? I need your magic for the Ceremony of the Protector to work.

And then... I disappear, right? That's what you're worried about.

Ngh!

I won't let you disappear. My magic is too strong. If I possess you again, it will destroy you. However, that doesn't mean I don't know how to save you.

......

I will carry out the Ceremony of the Protector with as little magic as possible. My magic will make you smaller and smaller and drive you to the very edge of total oblivion... But I will restore you to this inner world of mine.

It may take a long time. A thousand years, three thousand years, maybe even longer. But this vessel is yours, after all. I will make sure to preserve it until you awaken once more. And then I will start to get smaller and smaller, and we will switch places once again.

When that happens, I will disappear from this world for good. My soul will return to the land of the dead.

......

But... Will you really be able to seal away Leviathan if you limit your magic?

Well... I'll just have to make sure that I do. This was my doing, and I can't let anyone else fall victim to it.

I see. In that case, it's fine by me.

If anything, I'm sorry you have to clean up this mess.

That's what I should be saying to you.

I guess we're in the same boat then!

Okay, let's both do our best. Though all I have to do is go to sleep...

(My magic isn't enough...) (So she must take over the ceremony and I must fall into a long slumber.) (But...)

(It still won't necessarily all be okay...)

What's that?

Tell me.

Did you ever want to be a hero?

My pillar is now standing! How about everyone else?

Mine too! Sheila, you okay?!

I always wanted to be one... To protect Dragon Palace, save the world, be celebrated by everyone! You know what I mean? And with the whole world in trouble, now's the perfect time to be a hero! But...

But someone who gives up and gives in because they're not strong enough really isn't fit to be a hero!

That's not what I resolved to do.

What I resolved to do...

Was to let you possess me, and use all your magic uninhibited, to let you fight until I was no more! I can't let you limit your magic for the ceremony! Heroes do everything they can to save the world, no matter what! I don't care if it's not me doing it! It doesn't matter if I die here! So be quiet! And join with me!

Just look away.

Your master doesn't have enough power. She's going to fall and form the foundation of a greater power.

Yes. Her magic and the fire of her life is starting to fade. Strange, isn't it? She is choosing to disappear. I don't understand it at all.

I can't let you go. Mother is close.

You really were weak.

I really hate you. There's nothing good about you.

I don't even like to look at you. You're useless. And yet...

I can't understand it. How come you get praised? How come others see you? Why? You're weak, you're lowly, you're stupid! Why you?!

Oh. I think I get it...

It's because your "Mother" is just like you. A useless, weak failure.

Urgh!

Wh-What the?! Your eyes have changed color!

That's enough!! Hurry up and get to the point before Mother gives up on me. And compared to your worthless Mother, my mother is so much...

Huh?!

*huff puff*

*pant*

As descendant of Otohime, I beseech thee under this crimson vow.

......

Heheh, I wonder.

Sheila, wait! Stop!

Sheila, you've gotta stop! D'ya have a death wish?! Don't do it! If you can't do it without killin' yourself, Pizzica and I could do it!

Everyone in Dragon Palace would be so sad without you, Sheila!

She's right! We don't want to lose you! So please!

If you'd be that sad to see me go, I guess my life really did have meaning after all. Thank you, everyone. Sorry for making this decision alone.

Okay, then...

Oh mother's miracle, should the stars align... Encircle the three thousand realms...

(Chiyo...you must be so angry. This is going to hurt you the most... But I must...)

Calm the raging seas... And protect the...

WAIT!

Wha?! Chiyo?!

I've already made up my mind. But I'm glad I got to see you before I go, Chiyo.

My magic alone can't complete this barrier. I don't have enough of it. So I need the first Otohi...

What are you talking about, Chiyo?!

Chiyo...

Ngh!

Yeah...

Chiyo... Lend me your power.

Oh mother's miracle, should the stars align... Encircle the three thousand realms...

Calm the raging seas... And protect the ocean!

We did it!

Phew...

*sigh* I thought my heart was gonna burst from the stress!

That was close.

Why... That was pure luck... How could I lose to that?

Oh! Mother?! Did you come to see me?! Mother, I'm so sorry! Next time I'll make sure I'm worthy of your praise! I made myself all cute for you, Mother! Please, don't abandon me! Please, Mother!

Do you...forgive me?

Aaaah! Why? I'd been doing so well! I stopped so many lives! I defeated Atlantica! I've done so much for you! Why...

Why don't you love me?

Ugh...

Oh! What happened with the pillar?! And where's Chiyo?!

Hm?! What's this voice in my head?!

I-Is that you, Chiyo?! Where are you?!

Ch... Chiyo?! You're a turtle again?! Why?!

Heheh! Well I was the one who took you in!

I see.

I understand now.

Ancestor! What do you understand now?

The reason why your magic suddenly depleted in the past. When you were young, you saved this sea turtle, beaten to the brink of death... And you used a vast amount of magic to give her a human form.

Oh!

Oh... So that's why...

And the reason why you two were able to carry out the ceremony together... Was because the magic that you gave her back then was still living within her. The two of you became one, and what you lacked, she was able to give to you.

Haha! Don't worry about it, Chiyo. The two of us are one. I'm glad to be reminded of that.

And, I'm still alive. I'm still me. I didn't become small, I didn't fall into a long slumber...

I misjudged you. I was wrong right from the start. Sheila, I believe the time has come for me to go.

For you...to go?

I leave everything to you. Everything. My descendants will be fine if I let go of their hands. I can't keep it going any longer. My attachment to this world can't keep me here anymore. Farewell, my descendent. Farewell, young child from that day.

I will always love you. So long as the ocean runs deep...

I leave the future in your hands.

Everyone! You got the pillars standing!

Yep, it all went perfectly!

Honestly, Sheila!

I'm sorry! But you can tell me off later, okay?

Yeah, I'm gonna have to join in with that! You're gonna get such a scoldin'!

But...the barrier is done now.

So... If we get Leviathan in here, that will stop her from moving about?

But how are we gonna do that?

Sorry, everyone. I thought I could bait her into the center... But Leviathan didn't bite.

Aldo... That's so sad...

Mother wouldn't knowingly swim into an obvious trap without very good reason.

But your idea of using a strong Celestial Soul as bait... It's actually got potential.

Judging from the life's purpose of we and our brethren, our illness... And also Groon's kind... I thought of something. Perhaps all Mother cares about... Is the act of collecting Celestial Souls and nothing else.

You sure? I thought she was collectin' them Celestial Souls to take over the planet?

Well, perhaps even the invasion... But this is no more than guesswork. Sorry, just forget I said anything...

Well, she definitely does have some pathological desire for these Celestial Souls. She's incredibly smart, but I wonder if she uses her head when it comes to that one thing?

'Cause I was thinking. What if... She brainwashed Poseichi to attack Dragon Palace, since that protects the hokora? What if, like with Pip, absolutely everything she's done so far, she's done to collect Celestial Souls?

Milsha...

Hm?

What's that?

This...

Aaaahh!

Pizzica! Are you o...

Oh no! The hokora!

It's trying to break the hokora?!

Pip...

Pip, no!

If you break this hokora, we won't be able to imprison your ringleader, that creature who's been toying with you! We don't want to give up on you! We want you to be yourself again! So please, for your own sake as well as ours, don't attack this hokora!

She's right, Pip! This is our last chance to draw out Leviathan and sit down and talk to her!

You're still just as young as when we met you, yet you have such an air of dignity now! Come back to us, Pip! Don't listen to any more orders!

Yeah, don't listen to Leviathan, Pip!

We can fix 'em townsfolk you made all funny! We can go 'n' apologize together! So don't go any closer!

I know a lot's happened. The world is in chaos, and everything's complicated. We just want you back, though, Pip! We want to laugh and smile with you, like we did before!

......

Destroy the hokora. Annihilate all that would stop you.

Aaaargh!

Ugh!

My head! NOOOO! Don't...Don't look at me! Aaaargh!

Is this...the "eyes"?!

So it doesn't work on you, Pizzica?

Ugh... Aaaagh?!

You were close to us, Pizzica. Now that I can see all, I see you with new eyes. How you were created. How you were operated.

Destroy.

Aaaargh!

Destroy the old collection mechanism. Destroy the one marked with the queen's blood.

Pip...

Nagi...

......

Your orders are eating away at you.

......

I've been wondering all this time what to do when I saw you again.

Someone told me I should seal you away. But everyone else said we should try to get you back to normal. I...

I tried to think what I could do for you, as your mother. But...

I didn't know.

......

It was a shock.

So next, I tried to think of what I could do for you as a traveling companion. But I still didn't know. So next... I tried to think as your brethren, as a fellow creature of the same birth.

But I still didn't know. So next...

Nagi.

If you don't back down, I will destroy you. You leave me no choice. Destroy.

Ugh...

Nagi. Pip's orders are controlling him. Pip is no longer Pip. Pip is a vessel. Pip is a king. Pip is a vanguard of the heart. Destroy, destroy. I am gone. Destroy all obstacles.

You're not gone. Your orders haven't erased you.

You're here. You'll always be here. And you'll always be Pip.

Nagi!

Pip!

Pip... I... I thought and I've thought... And I decided to stop over-thinking things.

Don't come any closer.

I'm just...Nagi...

I have to destroy...

And you're just Pip...

Nagi.

And I realized what I wanted to do.

Destroy.

NAGI!

......

And then...

I finally...knew...

Why...

Why aren't you destroyed? Please, just fall. Please, don't move. Please. Please, don't get up again. If you don't do anything, then my orders can't hurt you. Pip doesn't want to hurt you, Nagi. Please, don't talk to Pip. Nagi. Nagi...

Destroy Pip, too...

Heheh... Told you so. My sweet, kind Pip hasn't gone anywhere yet.

Pip, come down.

No. No, I can't...

Arggghhh...

I must carry out my orders. I must destroy the hokora and release Mother and ensure she is never shot down again. My orders... My orders... I must...destroy...the hokora.

Guaaaaagh!

Pip!

Hah... Ha... No... I... I can't stop. I can't stop unless I'm destroyed! Nagi... Nagi, just destroy me! Aaaargh!

I won't destroy you. Even if I can't stop you, I'll never destroy you.

Nagi... Let me go.

No... I... I just want to talk. That's what I realized. There's so much I want to talk about.

Nagi!

Did you suffer? Were you scared? What did you feel? When you left us, what drove you? Were you made to do things you didn't want to? Were you lonely?

Nagi, I...

And... If you didn't have your orders, and you came back to us... What would you like to do? How could you want to live?

That's right...

We all wanted to talk to you about that, Pip.

Pi...zzica... But Pip... Aaaagh!

My orders won't go away! I...must destroy! Please, Nagi, Pizzica! Groon! Come! Stop! Stopstopstop! Kill me! The hokora... The hokora must be destroyed! Pip will destroy the hokora!

Oh no! What do we do? How do we stop this?! Pip even said he didn't want to do this!

Chiyo! We have to protect the hokora! Let's cast some protective magic!

Aye aye, ma'am!

Please, Pip! You can do this!

What's going on?! Such a strong reaction?!

What the?!

Ugh!

Pip... Nagi...

Aaaargh!

Pip... I guess going back on your orders really isn't easy.

It's no use, Nagi. I can't do it... Please, Nagi... End it... Before...Pip does...any more damage. Before Pip grows even further away from you...

End it...

...... I understand.

Huh?! Nagi, that's...

Pip. Within this box, you won't beab le to cause any more chaos. If I seal you away in here, you won't be able to leave again.

Good... Thank you, Nagi. I'm sorry... Do it... Quickly.

That's why...

I'm coming with you.

Huh?

Nagichi?!

There's so much I want to talk with you about. But if your orders, and the way of the world, don't allow that... Then I'll have to do it inside the box. Then we can be together forever.

Na...gi...

I won't let you be alone. I'll always be with you, through the violence and the tears. So we can talk, all the time... Until you no longer suffer. Until we can laugh together again.

Nagi! Pip! Stop, you can't do this!

Ugh!

Is this some kind of joke?! Nagi! Don't do this!

Yeah! If you go 'n' do this, we ain't ever gonna see you two again!

Nagi, please don't! We can't...

I know. I'm sorry, everyone. I... I decided without you. Forgive me.

Even though I'll never see you again, and I'll never eat another morsel, and I'm leaving so much to you... I don't want Pip to get any more blood on his tentacles. And I don't want to let go of him ever again.

Ngh!

Pip?

It's my name for you. Because you're always saying "pip."

Nice to meet you, Pip.

Pip-pep! Popop-pleeple!

No... No... This isn't right!

Pip?

Nagi...

I don't want to drag you into this world with me!

Pip...?

It's okay now.

I love you, Nagi. I love you all. Thank you. And I'm sorry. I...

I take full responsibility for this!

Pip?!

Leviathan?!

Oh no, Pip! Leviathan's coming after him!

The bouncy thing's absorbin' every last Celestial Soul on the planet! So...

You need to evacuate! It's not safe here!

What are you going to do, Pip?!

Leviathan is following me. But she's not so reckless as to charge the barrier. So!

I'll use this to drive her temporarily insane! Get away!

(Okay, let's catch that monster!)

Got it!

D-Did we do it?

That's amazing!

Wha?!

The barrier lives on! We haven't failed! If I can just calm her down again!

Pip, don't overdo it! If you fight that thing...

Whoa!

Pip's actually giving as good as he's getting!

Pip! Pew...

Pip!

All right! If he keeps this up...

Huh?

Gaaah!

(She's so strong! But...) (Now that I have awakened as king... I...I can...)

Pip!

Pip!

Pip...

No way...

Pip...got eaten...

This is bad...

A-Am I imagining things? Is there some great big thing in the sky?

I'm afraid you're not imagining things. And you're not dreaming either.

Is that Leviathan? She seems ten times bigger than she was before?

Yeah, and that's not all! Why's she look so different? We went to all that effort of makin' that sea barrier, and now she's flown off into the sky...

And then there's One and the others...

They all got ill... And we lost sight of 'em. An' the bouncy one...

...... Pip...

I think he's still alive in Leviathan's stomach.

I don't know it for sure, I just feel it. But we have to save him quick, or else...

Guh!

Ughh?!

What's wrong, you two?!

It's Leviathan! She's even givin' orders to worthless li'l things like me!

All the abyss creatures on the planet and all of Leviathan's minions are being mobilized! Ack. We have to stop the invasion, quick...

Or the planet will die!

We can't let that happen! She may have changed form, and she may be flying about in the sky, and it may not make any sense at all...

But we're going to stop her! We can still do something!

Yeah, we can! I'll follow her to the ends of the sky! We have to avenge all those people! And we have to get Pip back!

Let's go! Right now!

If she's up in the sky, we should call on Synth Hydra! Nagi, Minchy, can you move?

I can. She's not getting away that easily.

Me too! I've gone against orders before, an' I can do it again!

Good!

Okay! Let's go and board Synth Hydra then!

Hello there! Something terrible is happening above ground. In fact, it's not just above ground. What is that flying being? It leapt out of the sea and not a moment later, it had transformed into whatever that is.

We're not completely clear either, to be honest.

But what we do know, is...

She's the leader of a group of invaders that want to kill the planet. We have to stop her, Synth Hydra! Please, take us to her!

Who could deny a request from a young lady so full of life? Certainly not a gentleman battleship like myself.

That's why they call me Synth Hydra Z! I would be happy to take you there.

But what do you propose to do next? You're tiny compared to that thing.

N-N-Now that ya mention it...

Umm...

That's simple!

It's an all-out war without honor or humanity, between those of this planet, and those vile invaders! You can't do this by halves!

We've gotta shoot that thing down! Heeyah!

Hey, listen up, invaders! I'm the proud Riftbreaker's main cannon! They call me the Dimension Canon, you know! You're in for a world of pain! If you're misbehavin'...

Whoa there! Wait a minute?!

Huh?! Pip's still inside her stomach!

Time for some punishment! Heeyah!

Oh no, oh no, oh no!

OUCH! I bit my tongue!

Ugh! What happened?!

I-Is everyone okay?!

That blast...

How's that?! Oh no you don't, you little rascal! All right! This is getting fun! I'm going harder next time! Oh?

Come ooonnn!

Here we go! Get down!

Gah!

Oh no, are you...

Ugh!

Oh dear! Any more explosions and we'll most certainly crash!

Wh-What do we do?!

Leave this to me!

Nagi?!

Can you hear me? Groon! Here, boy!

Groooo!

We are the same creature... So we should be able to give chase!

Groon mgepog gn'th wgah'nagl fhtagn. Meteors and comets and shooting star rains...

Cut them all down, leave no trace.

Groooo!

WHOAAA!

What just happened?!

Her attack worked?!

Look at that! See that hole she just made, there's a mechanical space inside it! She may look like a living creature, but perhaps she's part organic like us!

What will you do? If you're going in, now's your chance. We went in too reckless and don't have all that much power left. It could be a one-way journey...

We're going!

Right?

Of course!

No objections here!

We've come this far. We've gotta keep goin'!

There's no other choice! To save this planet an' this world...

And to save Pip. Take us there, Synth Hydra!

Your wish is my command. Hold on! Full speed ahead!

*cough* *splutter*

Ugh! That was quite an impact...

You all okay?

Yes, just about...

Agh... We made it?

Me body's still shakin'.

Where are we?

We're on Leviathan's body!

Kinda unbelievable, ain't it? We're treadin' on the sea god right now. If I had legs, they'd be tremblin' for sure...

It feels so strange. The surface beneath my feet...

It feels a little mechanical. But a little fleshy, too...

It's pretty creepy, huh? Ugh, I need to compose myself!

So if we're currently standing inside the hole that Nagi and Groon made...

Then do you think we can enter the body through there?

Whoa! You did real good there, Nagichi! But just the thought of it is makin' me shudder. Gotta mentally prepare myself for this.

Right. Let's proceed with caution. We don't know what we're gonna find in there.

Don't wander off, and watch your back! Let's go!

I'm coming for you, Pip.

Ngh!

Pip!

Pip... Oh dear...

P-Pip! Wake up! We came to save ya! Open yer eyes...

Pip...

He's not breathing.

Huh?

Oh no!

No!

No way...

Wake up, Pip! Pip? Hey, come on!

If we cut off these vein-like things, then maybe... Just maybe we can save him?

Pip! Please, wake up! Don't sleep, not now! We've been waiting so long to speak to you again!

...... ...... ......

Pep?

Pip?

Pew...

You can talk, can't you?

Pi... Ah, yes... Yes...I can...

Follow me. You lost?

Who are you?

Hmm... Who am I? I don't really know anymore.

You don't know who you are?

I don't.

...... That sounds... Scary.

Yes...

Have you ever not known who you were?

Yes. Up until just recently, I think.

Ahaha. You even forgot you could speak.

Do you know me?

I don't think so. But for some reason...

You don't seem like a stranger, either.

I think I'm the only one who can guide you now.

That's the way things should be.

You're speaking so cryptically.

Ahahaha, right? You sure seem clever.

But I don't think I'd have been able to say anything so cryptic before I came here.

So this you isn't the real you?

You could say that. Though I feel like I am the real me.

I've been lost in here for so long. I think I'm me.

Lost?

You smell of distant memories. You smell of nostalgia. You smell of salt, of stinging eyes, of the clear blue. And within that... The smell of a seashell I lost when I was little. A beautiful, precious shell that was all mine...

...... Are you looking for someone?

I suppose so? But maybe it's you I'm looking for.

I don't think it is. You've been waiting for a beautiful seashell. You're waiting for it to wash ashore, for it to ride the waves and come here.

Now you're the one speaking in riddles. To think you could only "pip" and "pew" not a moment ago.

I can't leave this place. But you have to wake up.

I can't just leave you here and go off on my own. I don't even remember where I'm supposed to be going...

So many voices are calling you. You'll awaken soon. So go. I want my peace and quiet, and I can't get that with you here. I have confidence that I'll be able to ramble on forever, as before.

I just thought of something. Perhaps you're like my little brother or something.

Little brother?

I got lost in here and couldn't get out. I think I hurt a lot of people.

You...can go back. You can take their hands. There will be things that only you can do. Even if you don't understand, keep looking. Never give up.

Our lives were led astray... No...

We chose the wrong path, didn't we?

...... Yes...

I'll wait for you. You will get out of this place. You can do it, if you don't give up, and keep looking for that exit. Anyone able to give me such good guidance must be able to escape.

I sure hope so.

In which case... Goodbye for now, my little brother. I pray on the sands of the seabed that we will meet again someday.

I promise.

Pip?

Pip! He's revived!

Really?! Hey, yeah!

PIIIP! Don't you worry us like that ever again! I thought it was all over for you!

Bouncy thing! It's been so long since I've seen that pure li'l face of yours!

I'm so glad you're awake, Pip!

*sniffle* I'm so... So...glad... *sniffle*

P-Pizzica! Don't cry!

Or you'll make me... *sniffle*

Waaah!

Stop it before you make us all start!

Welcome back, Pip. Are you hurt at all?

Everyone...

(Is this...the womb?) What am I doing here?

Leviathan gobbled you up! So we chased after her and found you on death's door...

But then we all called out to ya, and ya started breathin' again.

You were looking for me? You came all this way...for me?

Of course we did! We're your friends!

We're all back together at last.

Thank you... Thank you so much... I'm so...

No more apologizing! Once is more than enough. Anyway, we have to stop this invasion! Any idea how we can do that?

How to stop Mother? ......

My instincts are telling me that Mother is further inside.

Further inside?

Wait, I thought Leviathan was "Mother." How can Mother be further inside, in Leviathan itself? The way you put it really sounds like...

This is a battleship. This huge body we're in is Mother's ship, here to transport her many soldiers. The ship itself is not Mother. I didn't realize until I was awakened... But I cannot sense any living, thinking brainwaves from the ship itself. This is inconsistent with what we know about Leviathan, or what we call Mother.

Eh? D'ya have to speak all confusin' like?

What d'ya mean by all that?

Basically... "Leviathan" has a will of her own, and this battleship does not. She is the pilot in control of this ship. Which would mean that Mother must be a different individual somewhere within this ship, not the ship itself. That's...what...I...thi, Think... Pew...

Pip... You ain't gotta drop yer level down ta pews 'n' peps just fer our sake...

I-I wasn't...

You're so clever and wise. You should be proud of it.

You're spoiling your kid, you know...

So what you're sayin' is, the leader of these invader scum, the one we've gotta pummel into stoppin', is up ahead?

Then there's only one thing to do! We don't know where she's hidin', but we've gotta find her and drag her out!

Time to beat up my little brother's foe!

(Little brother?) (I feel like...I heard that recently. But where?)

Every moment we spend here, the planet is slowly being consumed! We have to hurry!

Okay! Onward we go! Lead the way, Pip!

Okay!

Ugh?!

(What was that?! Agh my head...)

Pizzica?! Are you okay?

Yes! I'm on my way! Don't worry about me, Aldo!

(Is someone talking to me? It's like I can hear them, and yet I can't... Is this a voice?) (Coming from somewhere inside this ship... Could it be...)

Fallen wisdom... Children of the old mother. The original failures.

You were close to us, Pizzica. Now that I can see all, I see you with new eyes.

(Does it have something to do with what I was told before?)

No, I can't be thinking about myself at a time like this. I have to stop this invasion!

Eek?! What's that?

That's...

Wait.

They don't seem hostile.

......

Who are you?

...... ...... Mor'ie th mem... Vis...isiting... Mo...ther?

Wait. Did you just say "Mother"?

Aaaah... Aaaagh...

The pulsating flesh started to think. The thinking flesh divided and created us.

Eeek! Wh-What the?!

Pulsating flesh? Thinking flesh?

The pulsating flesh learned to think, divided its flesh infinitely, made eggs and created life. That flesh is Mother. It shouldn't be able to think but it evolved itself to do so. Eternal stimulation, change, learning... Mother withered and Mother's children that she created don't come back so Mother keeps making more children. An ocean of tears...

...... ......

Huh? It just stopped talking?

Hey, you can't start talkin' 'n' then just stop halfway through!

It doesn't look like it intends to say anything more.

Did you understand that, Pip?

...... Not quite. But I think everything will become clear when we reunite with Mother.

Reunite?

We are all children of Mother. Aren't we, Nagi?

Is he okay? He's not lost himself again, right?

I'm sure he's fine. I think he's just listening to his instincts.

Let's go after him. It can't be far.

Bloea ygh bar levoul'u...

What is this place? The whole atmosphere of this room seems so different...

Did you hear that?

Hng!

Hide!

Wh-What's wrong, Nagi?

That is...

Huh?!

Wh-Wha... What is that thing?! It's GROSS! And what's with that weird noise?

M-Milsha! Keep your voice down!

Is it...pulsating?

Ah, I understand now. All those memories buried deep down inside are now rising to the surface.

That thing...

Is the Mother of the Abyss Creatures.

That's... Our... Mother?

That flesh is the terrifying sea god that you knew as Leviathan. The commander with a will of its own, the "heart" that steers the ship. And... The pulsating flesh. The flesh that learned to think.

What that creature said before...

Mother wasn't originally capable of thinking. She was just the core of the pulsating flesh. But for whatever reason... That simple heart started to evolve and gain thoughts, with eternal stimulation, change, and learning. And then it stole away the functions of the ship's original "brain"... And something that was never supposed to think, a heart meant only to pulsate, obtained new brain function.

Wh-What are you saying?

You most likely all have one heart, and one brain. So what if one day, your heart suddenly acquired communication and thought on the level you only find in brains? You would now have two brains, each with their own thoughts, each giving out different orders. Does that help explain it?

Ugh, that's disgustin'! But it's kinda fascinatin' too.

Wh-What was that?

She wants the bright blood. Leviathan developed separately from the brain, and what she wants more than anything is to collect Celestial Souls. The mal-evolved, younger brain keeps on thinking and evolving for these Celestial Souls. It kills one planet after the other, endlessly striving after its objective. Mother devotes herself to this act of collection to the point of madness. There is no stopping.

It looks that way. However, I don't know its true objective. I am a child of the heart. All I know is Mother's intent.

So you only know about the heart, because you're its king?

I may be king, but all this information was only awakened in me on returning here. My other comrades will have this same information in their cellular memory. Nagi, Groon, and all the creatures we've seen on this ship were created from Mother's cells. Which means, Mother's memories should be found somewhere within all of we creatures. Knowledge of our bodies is buried in the sea of memories. The only difference depends on the size of the waves.

Waves?

Nagi?

Now that we know that she's your mother, tell me. Are you...

......

Whoa?!

She's noticed us!

Isn't that good? I mean... We did come here to visit this thing!

You sure you're okay with this, Nagi?

Yes, it's fine. This may be the Mother I've been searching for... But I can't just sit back and watch this creature kill planets, or plant illness into her own children. I'm going to do something your other children can't! This mistake you gave birth to is going to stop you! Pip, everyone, let's go!

Pip!

I ain't gonna letcha trample over our planet no more!

An' I will finally avenge Poseichi!

And my village!

Let's do this!

Mother... Now...

Nagi!

Ngh?!

Nagi!

She ain't 'alf strong!

B-But we did all that?!

Wait! There must be something we can...

Ugh!

Aaaargh?!

Everyone?!

Our attack has started to accelerate her invasion of the planet! At this rate...

Oh no. She's still evolving...

Ngh!

Hm?

(The attack missed?! It's like she's avoiding Pip.)

Guh!

Pip, it's not safe there! You can't fight it alone!

But, Sheila...

Milsha, now!

Okay!

For real?! That's not playin' by the rules!

Gwah!

Everyone!

Ngh?!

......

Ugh...

Oh...

Where are we? What even is this place?

It's real pretty, though.

Nagichi? Hey...

She was slammed against the wall with such force...

Nagi, wake up!

Show me.

She should be fine now. It may take some time, but she'll wake up. I used my kingly powers on her.

Phew...

Anyway, where are we?

We were all sent flying beyond that wall of flesh, right?

But look around. This place...

It's not of our world. So what's it doing here?

It looks just like the moon. No way are we still in that ship in the sky. When did we end up in space?

*sigh* It's got to the point where nothing even surprises me anymore.

Anyway! Is that heart thing still going strong? Honestly, we hardly even made a scratch. It's gotta be some kind of phantom or something.

Ugh!

You're wounded! Stay still...

Don't, Pizzica! You've got to save what magic you have left. And besides, you must be injured, too...

No, I'm fine. I'm stronger than I look.

How is it that we're all covered in wounds... But no matter what we did, Mother came away from the fight totally unscathed?

Our attacks hardly even landed. Same with Pip's.

She fights pretty good fer 'er age. There must be some way we can fight 'er... Oi, bouncy thing. Yer a king. Can'tcha think o' somethin' for us?

......

Pip?

Oh, sorry... ...... I do... Have one idea.

Really?! What is it?

To...do it...

Sorry. I did say I had an idea... But it's more like a final resort.

A final resort?

Pip.

Whatever it is, just tell us. While we're struggling over here, things will be getting worse and worse out there. We have to do whatever we can, use whatever we can, and stop that thing no matter what.

Sheila...

No one here thinks you're worrying about it for nothing. But, we all want the same thing here.

She's right. So tell us what it is, and we can all worry about it together.

And I'm sure Nagi would say the same thing if she was awake.

......

Thank you... To stop Mother...

Everyone here but Nagi and Pizzica must lay down their lives.

Wha, ?!

We all...have to die?

...... What do you mean by that?

No matter how much we attack her from the outside, there is no hope of us landing a fatal wound. We don't have much time. We certainly don't have time to waste on a plan with no hope of working.

So, we have to change our thinking. We don't destroy Mother... We induce Mother to destroy herself.

You mean, we get her to self-destruct?

But, how d'we do that?

Sheila, Aldo, Chiyo, Milsha, Minchy. You give your Celestial Souls to me. I will achromatize you. All of you, right now.

And then, we...

......

So that's whatcha meant by layin' down our lives...

With ours an' Pip's lives...

I am sorry to put this on you. I know it's horrible, but I can't end this on my own...

Pizzica, are you okay? I know it's a lot to take in...

I am so confused. But more importantly... Is this really the only way? There's no other way for Pip and the rest of you... And then only...

Only I survive, and just have to watch the rest of you throwing your lives away?!

Don't pull that face! It's a real tough role you've got.

But... I guess we've gotta be ready to die now.

No, I... Something must be wrong with me. I should never have said all this. Let's try and think of another plan.

Right...

Everyone has things they love, a reason to live.

Indeed.

But...

But I believe in my friends.

So don't worry. I accept your plan.

What?

I'll leave it to those who remain. They'll save us. They won't let things stay as they are. So I don't mind doing this.

Are you sure you understand what you're undertaking here?

Once you've been achromatized, you can't go back to normal!

You must know that! It's no different from dying.

No one can save you, that just won't happen! So...

Hmm, I dunno? I get what Sheila's sayin'. It's not like it's for certain.

We believe that this plan'll mean that you can stop the heart. So if we can save this planet from that thing runnin' riot, then...

That'll bring about new possibilities, right? An' we can grab hold of 'em.

New possibilities?

Yeah. I think you're right.

And you can't guarantee that we won't be saved, can you? I mean, look at you, Pip. You came back to yourself. So maybe when we stop the heart, that will lift this achromatization. There's a possibility of it, at least. We've been through the eye of the storm and come out the other side before!

So it's the same as always! Do we bring the fight to them? Or wait for the fight to come to us?

That's all this boils down to.

Aldo...

A-An' another thing! Pip 'n' Nagi 'n' Pizzica ain't our only friends! There's them church folk who 'elped us out back on the surface, too!

If you stop that 'eart then bring them, um, cell thingies back with ya... An' you 'n' them what's left behind can put yer 'eads together and study 'em...

Maybe you'll go 'n' find somethin' that 'elps get the world back to normal 'n' such. Them folks know a lot o' clever stuff.

Yeah! You're so right! They're too clever for their own good, if anything...

So I think we can count on 'em while we're sleepin'.

And besides! I'm not doin' this to end it! I've gotta get revenge! And I've gotta see Poseichi again! And I can do both this way!

We're not laying down our lives. We're just entrusting them to our friends.

Will you take care of them for us?

That's such a big ask...

I trust you.

...... Then... Will you take care of mine, too?

As a friend, can I trust my final moments with you?

Don't say that.

But, yes. You are our dear friend, Pip.

You are. And Nagi will be so angry if you use up all your strength. So you have to come back, Pip.

Heheh. I suppose you're right.

Thank you. We will meet again.

Okay, I don't think there's any more time for talking. Let's do this. Let's go save the world.

Okay, Pip...

Ah. Wait just one second.

I've gotta do something...

I've gotta get changed!

Changed?

Whoa! So pretty!

Heheh, right? Sorry for wasting time. I made these clothes when I was little.

I made them in a bigger size to match with Poseichi, so that I could wear them when I was all grown up. I felt like I had to wear this outfit right now.

It looks really pretty on you, Milsha!

Hey, don't you go stealin' my girl, Aldo! When the world gets back to normal, you an' me are gettin' married, Milsha!

It's nice to see something so pretty at a time like this.

You're too kind. Thanks, everyone.

'Kay, I'm ready, Pip. Go ahead...

Are you sure?

Yes. Do it.

Yeah. We'll leave the rest to you.

Unite the hopes of the sea!

Look after our lives, ya hear?

Let's save the world!

I will take care of you all.

......

Did you take all of their Celestial Souls?

Yeah...

I'm sorry for putting all of this on you, Pizzica. You're too kind for this. It's a horrible thing to have to see.

Oh my. Heheh...

It's not horrible. Because this story... Has a happy ending. We're going to make that happen. One befitting these lives now in our hands.

Thank you, Pizzica. I love you.

Let's go.

Okay.

......

Tch!

Gah...

Guagh!

Pip?!

Sheila, Aldo, Chiyo, Milsha, Minchy. You give your Celestial Souls to me. I will achromatize you. All of you, right now.

And then, we...

I will use the "illness" system to stop Mother.

Ya mean that thing them in the deep-sea cave talked about?

Yes. The punishment given to those who disobey Mother's will... Will be used against her. She will be destroyed by her own punishment.

So, basically... You're going to infect the heart?

There are so many interpretations as to which actions count as going against Mother's will. Refusing to steal Celestial Souls. Forgetting to steal Celestial Souls. Many more besides, I'm sure. In which case, an act that significantly harms her defined purpose must also trigger the illness.

Her purpose being...Collecting Celestial Souls?

Yes. Blindly, mechanically stealing as many Celestial Souls as possible. The heart acts only for that purpose, so we damage the purpose itself. In other words, we send in a being so beneficial to her that she cannot ignore it... A being carrying a huge amount of Celestial Souls...and we get her to kill it. In doing so, she will see the what destruction she wrought, and how it harms her defined purpose. Such a grave crime will not be able to avoid punishment. She will infect herself with the illness.

Woo, that's complicated! I kinda get it, I kinda don't...

Ah, I get it. So Leviathan's just a slave to 'er grand purpose. An' if you look at it that way... There's a chance she'll fall in the exact same way as them she created an' used.

But isn't this all just speculation? We don't even know if she can get this illness.

We don't. I reckon it's about fifty-fifty. But we were split from Mother's flesh, and created from her cells. So it's worth a gamble. At least, that's what I think.

You said you'd get the heart to kill a being with a whole load of Celestial Souls... What being?

Me.

You?

When I was consumed by my instincts, I took every last Celestial Soul I could find. My body is brimming with them. However... I don't yet have enough. I can tell from the pressure I feel.

Which is why I need your Celestial Souls. Yours are so much stronger, so much brighter. I said you would have to sacrifice yourselves in order to stop Mother... Even though it's absolutely my fault that things have gotten so bad... I need you to let me use your lives so that I can turn myself into a bomb and die by her hand.

Pip? Why didn't you ask me to give you my Celestial Soul? What is my part in this strategy?

Pizzica. You don't have a Celestial Soul. You're our...

Well, I want you to be my decoy.

No! I'm not letting go of this tentacle!

Until I die! I... Ghh... Ugh!

Please! Please stop!

Guh! (Consciousness...fading...) (Almost... Almost...)

Hah?

Wha?!

Pip!

Ahh!

Pi...zzi...ca!

Guagggh!

(Oh no...) (Am I going to die? Without doing what I came here to do? Without making up for anything...) (But everyone's lives are in my hands!)

Don't be so stupid. If you didn't have enough, you only had to ask.

The blood of the mother goddess that flows through my veins... I give to you, my little brother!

Hng?!

Oh, what a feeling! This is punishment for trampling on my castle and my people. And for messing with my sister's life for all that time. Take it! And die a miserable death!

Aaaaaahhh!

(Ah...) (Now...)

(Everyone...)

Pip?

Where are we?

We are where all life melts away.

The place all return to. The one true belly.

Why are we here?

To restore. All those cuts, all that pain... Someone is screaming. They will cry for eternity. The cradle is broken. Which is why we... Which is why the mothers who left the womb and were born in the sea...

What are you talking about?

Planets? Space? People? Or...

Those who shine bright.

No, wake up. You can't wander here. Wake up. Wake up.

......

Where are we?

Huh? What the?

What's goin' on?

Ugh. My head feels all fuzzy...

Go back. Go back.

Go back?

How're we meant to go back when we don't even know where we came from?

It's okay, you can get back. We'll send you back. And then you can return us, too. We who have melted away. Save the world. Go forward.

What the?! It's him!

Poseichi?!

...... Sis...

Little girl? What's such a terrible group of people doing in a place like this?

Poseichiii!

It's you! It's really you! I've finally found you!

...... Hmph...

But what are you doing here, Poseidon?

Go back, quickly, quickly. Before you melt back in. Go, go!

Are we meant to know what you're talking about?!

Hng?! Oh no! Poseichi! It's already goodbye?! But we just got back together!

Sister...

Ngh!

I don't know why we're here or how we found each other... But I'm sure we'll meet again. I felt when you were close to me.

I want to apologize. You've lived just for me, for so long...

I'm your big sister. There's no greater happiness than devotin' my life to my darlin' little brother. We'll meet again, won't we? Poseichi...

Definitely.

Let's go back to Atlantica together.

Sure.

You promise?

Why...

What happened to everyone while I was unconscious?

Pizzica?

What happened here?!

Nagi...

Pip...? Pip! How could this happen?

Tell me. What happened with the heart? Why are you being so quiet?

What was that?!

We're falling! Maybe because the heart was controlling the ship, and now it's stopped?

Gah! Who was that?

Pizzica?

Ngh...

What was that just now? Are you two okay?!

Guys!

But how? How did your clear the achromatization?

To be honest, we're not too sure ourselves.

Yeah, how did it happen?

It was like somethin' was pushin' us back here, tellin' us to go away.

Sorry for shocking you, Nagi.

It's me who should be apologizing. I was fast asleep when you needed me. I'm so glad you're all okay...

Pip...

......

Pip, it's me. Can you hear me?

What happened?

Pip... He said he was going to sacrifice himself to infect the heart with that illness and cause it to self-destruct. I guess it worked.

Oh no...

Nagi. Pip...

He left his life in our hands. He said we'd meet again.

He...what?

He promised he'd come back to you. So we have to find a way to save him. We won't leave him like this.

......

You did good, Pip. Before I knew it, you were running double time, saying such brave things, acting like a grown up.

......

Ugh!

I'm being summoned...

Pizzica?!

Quickly... Life...must end sometime. Children of the Heart, Children of the Mad Mother. Come too. Embrace this depleted life...

Me...and Pip?

That wasn't Pizzica, was it?

But I don't think it was her ancestor like it was with Sheila.

Let's go.

Let's follow that person speaking with Pizzica's body.

Where are we?

Ugh...

Huh? I...

Pizzica! Ya come to again?

Does that mean...

Huh? Wh-Who're you?

You created the sirens?

So when Pip said I was his brethren, that's what he meant...

Then you're...my mother...

Our mission? To collect the Celestial Souls?

Starvation? Of who, you?

To save the planets?

What was that?!

It's lookin' kinda strange now?!

It's the same miasma the brain had! She's losing herself!

She's being taken over?!

Oh no! Here she comes!

We always yearned for the sea in the sky. Now I understand why. You are our mother. And this is the place where our lives return to.

And although I still don't feel it, our way of life weakened you...

I'm in no place to regret it. Even if we did it all again, I know we'd end up loving the planet and seeing it as our home.

I want to make it up to all those people made to feel sad, your ship taken out of control... And to you. I won't let anything else go against you!

Us neither.

I won't let my other mother suffer for eternity.

Let's go!

Let's go!

Mother?!

Ngh?!

What's that hole?

She fell asleep?

We've gotta go. This might lead to that possibility I was talkin' about.

Yes, you're right. Let's go. Let's see where this road leads us.

What?!

Hot, hot, hot!

The weapon-like instruments ya got in Siren's Village?

Why are they getting hot now?

What could it mean?

I wonder...

It changed color!

Maybe the sounds from these instruments calm it down?

Calm it down? You think it's a creature?

Anyway, if we find other places like this, let's try playing them again.

What is this place?

What's goin' on? I don't feel steady on me feet...

I don't know what's up or down anymore.

No, it's not just that... It feels like my insides are churning around and around.

Agh... It's like everything's all messed up inside me.

Hey, look over there!

It's...a baby? What's that doing here?

Yeah, you're right! A fishfolk baby...

Huh? No, it looks like Pip...

Wait? Isn't it a siren baby?

What's going on? Is everyone seeing something different?

It's upside down, or is that just 'cause we're all seein' it different?

No, I think that's the same... I see an upside down baby in front of some rift.

Is it suffering?

That miasma... It's different from before, with the heart.

Maybe if we clear that, the baby won't suffer anymore?

Ugh!

It's responding? But just a little?

Maybe because the sound's all over the place? What if we used the instruments to play a tune to soothe the baby!

Oh! The song from my village?

Let's try it.

The miasma's clearing. The baby's...

But why?! Everything was going so well!

Let's try again!

What do we do?! They can't hear us anymore?!

But this is all we got!

Pizzica?

Don't cry.

Okay?

The baby...

Mother...

...... Pip's returning, too?

Please take care of him. He's such a dear friend.

Pip... I'll miss ya.

This isn't goodbye...

We'll meet again.

We'll see you again, Pip. We promise.

Pip...

Stay safe.

So you were on the beach? Everyone was looking for you.

Oh, sorry! Right in the middle of the party, too...

Were you looking out to sea?

Nope. The sky.

It's pretty, isn't it? No horrible flying beings up there. So infinitely vast...

Yes...

I keep finding myself looking at it. Although it's all over... So much of it doesn't seem real.

The fact that the planet was dying, and that we all put a stop to it... Even the fact that I can see this beautiful sky...

So it hasn't hit you yet?

I guess not.

Fighting with all we had to save the world... Entrusting our lives to others, having others' lives entrusted to us. Bringing everything we see here back, with our own actions...

Is that really what happened?

What do you mean? Is there something on your mind?

It's a bit hard to explain, but...

What if we were being tossed around by a greater current? What if we've just been flailing about, one step behind the whole time? Like a natural disaster... The threat has passed, and we've gone back to normal... But what if it was all... Something much, much bigger than all of us. Some greater current... Like the sea during a storm, the waves grow and destroy all in their path, and then everything goes calm again. And that's all this "return to normal" is. At least, that's how it feels.

Sheila...

Sorry, what a weird thing to say. I'm getting myself all sentimental.

Let's go back to the others. Let's have some fun!

...... Like a greater current in the sea?

......

Something much, much bigger than all of us. Some greater current... Like the sea during a storm, the waves grow and destroy all in their path, and then everything goes calm again. And that's all this "return to normal" is. At least, that's how it feels.

(We certainly were tossed around from place to place, and we did make a lot of detours.) (Maybe it does look like the threat to the planet left by chance, or by some great power taking it away...)

(But I think...)

Even if everything that happened was all part of some greater current... We got everything back thanks to how hard we fought for it.

(Each and every one of us sometimes...)

Aldo!

What are you doing being all melancholic? Have a drink or something!

Melancholic? I was just thinking about what you said before!

What now?

Umm...

It's nothing! Let's join in the fun!

......

Ngh?!

Pip!

I'll keep thinking, too. So that I can hear your answer.

So when we meet again...

You can dig in to a nice meal, and chat with everyone...