Chapter 29: World's End

The clear condition for this chapter reads “Defeat the last of your foes.”

Any minibosses who were not killed during the campaign will appear here.

Opening (Fomortiis route)

(Fomortiis leads the army to Lagdou Ruins.)

fomortiis

We have arrived.

glen

What is this place? I've never heard of it...

caellach

Hey, I was here once... Years ago, back when I was a merc.
Some guy hired us. Wanted to poke around these ruins.
He found nothing and we didn't have to fight anything.
Most boring job of my life... Who would've thought.
Guess the old fool just didn't look hard enough.

fomortiis

Lagdou...
In olden times, they called this place World's End.
It used to be the capital of an entire civilization.
Humans lived across its many levels...
Until I crossed into Magvel, landing in its deepest nook.

Now, it is no more than a forgotten ruin.

glen

So what they said was true...
The gateway to your realm is here...

fomortiis

Hidden well enough that after 800 years, none know of its existence.
And it shall remain that way. Heroes of Grado... Let us go.
We shall kill the traitors and the azure twins.
And then...

glen

What?

fomortiis

Hahaha... What is the hurry? Let us focus on the issue at hand.
Come. I shall lead the way.

caellach

Right behind you, Your Majesty.

(They enter the ruins.)

glen

Such stale air... Such oppressive silence...
Is this what the Demon King leaves in his wake?
Sigh...

caellach

Psst! Hey, Glen!

glen

What do you want?

caellach

What do I want? Man, I know you're not feeling so good, but...
You sure about this? I mean, you know what we're doing here, right?
We're selling our souls to the devil this time. Literally!

glen

You're right. I don't feel well.
Truthfully, I have been hoping for death for some time...
But I'm too cowardly to do it myself.
Or perhaps too proud. Too bitter? I don't know.
...So, I shall stay and see how much worse this can get.

caellach

...Yikes...
Ahh, man... I never thought I'd miss the old days, but...
Me and Josh, eking out a living in that damned desert...
It doesn't seem so bad now.

Blast... What I wouldn't give to go back and do things differently...
Things like telling the emperor where he could shove his offer!

glen

We can't go back to the past. We can only look to the future.
Though the future may only hold suffering, misery and darkness...

caellach

You know what? I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but...
I also miss when you were a holier-than-thou stick-in-the-mud.

Bah... Let's just keep going.
I'm not convinced the Demon King won't just leave us behind if we tarry.
Don't know about you, but I can think of better deaths than starving down here.

glen

......

(They follow Fomortiis to the ninth level of the ruins, where they spot Eirika and Ephraim.)

glen

...!
There! It's them! Further ahead!

fomortiis

Excellent... After them, then.
Claim their treacherous heads!
Destroy them to the last, until none remain!

glen

As you command... My lord.

eirika

No! They've caught up to us...

ephraim

Stay calm, Eirika. We can fend them off.
We've got the troops Rausten assigned to us...
And the monsters should be as much an issue for them as us.

eirika

...Yes, you're right, Ephraim. We can do this.

riev

Heh heh heh... Please, carry on, my children.
Let Selena and I handle this.

ephraim

Are you certain?

selena

We have committed so many terrible sins...
This is the least we could do.
We shall give our lives to buy you time.

riev

I would only ask that you hurry.
I don't know how long we'll be able to last...

eirika

......
Thank you.

ephraim

Good luck. May we meet again!

(Eirika and Ephraim descend further into the ruins.)

riev

Heh heh heh... Tell me in truth, Selena, as the army veteran here.
Do we stand any chance of victory?

selena

You are more familiar with the Demon King's might than I.
...But I would say it would take four or five miracles for us to survive.

riev

Heh heh heh... And I fear that might be a bit too charitable.

selena

I don't understand, Riev... Why did you do this?
You finally managed to bring the Demon King back.
Wasn't that what you'd been vying for all these years?
Yet at the very end, you betray him?

riev

I always thought I'd do anything, no matter how vile, for my faith.
My faith in the Demon King, of course.
But when he ordered you dead...
A part of my heart I didn't know existed stayed my hand.
I have thrown everything away... For friendship.
Heh heh heh... It sounds like the ending to some mediocre fairy tale.
The wicked priest, turned against the dark by his newfound feelings...

selena

And yet, I fear our end won't resemble that of a happy story for children.

riev

It will not. The Demon King knows little mercy for humans.
And especially for those that actively oppose him.
Traitors like us? Oh, I shudder to imagine what he might do...
We'd best die here, Selena. Living might prove to be a worse fate.

selena

Then let us at least bring a few of them down with us!

riev

Aye... That, we can do. Heh heh heh...

Opening (Lyon route)

(Lyon leads the army to Lagdou Ruins.)

lyon

We're here...

selena

Some ancient ruins? Is this truly the place?

riev

Heh heh heh... Yes indeed, it is.
I have explored it myself, in my time.
It was once known as Lagdou... Ancient Magvelian for World's End.
It housed an entire civilization in its sprawling underground complex.
But one day, the Demon King crossed into our realm...
And found himself standing at Lagdou's very core.

selena

...And after his rampage, nothing remained of Lagdou's denizens.

lyon

I visited the spot once, myself. Led there by... him.
...I did not dare to cross, but the gateway was there.
I don't know what Eirika and Ephraim hope to accomplish here, but...
We can't let them go there. It is no place for humans.
It would be more merciful to kill them ourselves...

selena

......
They have a head start. We should hurry.

lyon

Yes, we should.

(They enter the ruins.)

selena

My goodness... It truly is a gigantic monolith...
I suppose I should have expected it,
if an entire civilization called it its home.

riev

Heh heh heh... What a curious turn of events.

selena

General Riev?

riev

Being with you here.
By all rights I should be seething with fury.
I have spent many years working toward the Demon King's return.
I replaced my erstwhile faith with a new belief and a new god.

That's all gone now, and yet... I am not so upset.
Instead, I find myself feeling... I don't know...
Not hopeful, exactly. Exhilarated? Heh heh heh...

selena

Riev... Let me just say, I am glad you did not betray us.

riev

And once again, let me tell you, you should thank yourself.
You're the one who has inspired a dim light in this blackheart's soul.
...I'm not certain the world will see it this way, however...

selena

Emperor Vigarde was the kindest monarch there ever was.
If his son can be the same way... Then I won't object to this.
I would have delivered the entire world to Emperor Vigarde, had he so much as asked for it.
They may condemn me as they see fit. I care not.

riev

Heh heh heh... Oh, such dedication.
So be it. Faith has let me down twice over now...
I think it's time we humans carved out our own fate.

selena

...Shall we continue, then?

riev

After you. Heh heh heh...

(They follow Lyon to the eighth level of the ruins, where they spot Eirika and Ephraim.)

selena

...!
I see them! Up ahead!

lyon

Give chase! We have to stop them before they reach the bottom!
We cannot leave a single one standing... Kill them all!

selena

Yes, Your Majesty...

eirika

No! They've caught up to us...

ephraim

Stay calm, Eirika. We can fend them off.
We've got the troops Rausten assigned to us...
And the monsters should be as much an issue for them as us.

eirika

...Yes, you're right, Ephraim. We can do this.

caellach

You two go on. We're staying.

ephraim

Are you certain?

glen

I have a score to settle with them.
They have much to answer for... As do we.
If I am to die here, I'll bring down as many as I can with me!

caellach

Just be quick about it, all right, you two?
Not sure how long we'll be able to hold them off.

eirika

......
Thank you.

ephraim

Good luck. May we meet again!

(Eirika and Ephraim descend further into the ruins.)

caellach

Well... Guess this is it.
Be honest with me, Glen. What'd you say are our odds?

glen

Pitiful.
But that's just fine by me. I care nothing for my life anymore.
All I want is to skewer the emperor and then join my brother.
I pray I may be granted that, at least.

caellach

...Well, I for one would kinda like to live to a ripe old age.
Damn... What a mess. If only I'd never joined Grado...
Shame I can't go back now and do things differently.

glen

We cannot go back to the past, and we have no future.
We made our choices, and they were poor ones.
Now we suffer the consequences. That is all there is to it.

caellach

You know what, Glen?
At least when I keel over, I won't have to listen to you anymore.
I even miss your stick-up-the-rear attitude from before! Imagine that!

Bah... All right, then. Enough moping. Here goes nothing!

glen

...Nothing indeed...

Conversations

Medusa & Valter (Fomortiis route)

valter

Lady Medusa...

medusa

Ah, Moonstone...
I must admit, I am almost disappointed.
Here I thought the boy Lyon could be the one...
The one with a spirit sturdy enough to defeat a demon.

valter

I suspect a part of him was tired. Tired of all this.
This carnage, this violence. These games of blood and death.
...I could never understand it.

Would you tell me, Lady Medusa, where his soul has gone now?

medusa

The souls of the dead and the damned join the ranks of the underworld.
...But not he. Fomortiis consumed his soul whole. Nothing remains.
He has ceased to exist... It can be a terrifying concept. Don't dwell on it.

valter

Perhaps that was the reward he sought all along.
To simply vanish, and never worry about anything again.

medusa

I wonder...

Well, either way, I have a question for you, Moonstone.

valter

Oh?

medusa

Don't you think you amount to... more, Moonstone?

valter

Whatever do you mean?

medusa

I would present you with a proposition, if you'll hear me.

valter

My... Please, by all means.

medusa

My coven doesn't often see new members introduced.
I believe it is time for me to let new blood into my circle...
Return to the underworld with me, Moonstone. For good, this time.
I shall show you violence the likes of which you could only dream of...

valter

(manic) ......
Hahaha... Hahahahahahaha!
In only the few hours I spent there last, I witnessed...
Bliss. Pure, distilled bliss, given the form of a world.
I should want nothing more than to become a part of that.
And, opportunity allowing, adding to it with my own spear.

medusa

(smiles)Hm hm hm hm... It is settled, then.
(serious) But let us first see this battle through.
I wonder what the azure twins will do when faced with their Demon King...

valter

(subdued) Yes, I would not want to leave without witnessing that.
But afterward... I am yours, Lady Medusa. Forever.

medusa

And forever you shall be mine.

[Valter and Medusa's support rank increases.]

Medusa & Valter (Lyon route)

valter

Lady Medusa...

medusa

What is it, Moonstone?

valter

How come you remain here?
It is over. If I could feel it, surely you could as well.
The demon Fomortiis... He is no more.

medusa

That is precisely why I remain. I am absolutely fascinated.
And, in confidence, I'll admit... Just a tiny bit afraid.

valter

This shall be a lesson in humility for all demonkind, won't it?

medusa

Hmm... Well, it is not unheard of for humans to vanquish demons.
But usually they employ some kind of special weapon or magic.
Typically blessed by a pesky god or an opposing demon.
That's what your Sacred Stones were, for instance.

This... I had never seen anything like it.
Human spirits should not be able to prevail over the demonic...

valter

...But Emperor Lyon has.
He unleashed Fomortiis and challenged him to a duel in his heart.
And not even when he won did his eyes light up. On the contrary...
Killing a demon seems to have made him colder than ever.
Is he even truly a human still? He seems more demonic than I!

medusa

Our foes, the azure twins, they are fools of the highest degree, if they truly believe Lyon's heart is filled with anything but pure evil.
...He would have made for a worthy demon if he hadn't been born human.

valter

I have no delusions. I am much like Fomortiis.
Even in this new life, I seek only destruction and death.
Emperor Lyon will provide me with that in spades...
And thus, I shall follow him as long as he requires me.

medusa

Hmm... And yet, don't you think you amount to... more, Moonstone?

valter

Whatever do you mean?

medusa

I would present you with a proposition, if you'll hear me.

valter

My... Please, by all means.

medusa

valter

medusa

(smiles) Hm hm hm hm... It is settled, then.
(serious) But let us first see this battle through.
I wonder what the boy will do when faced with his friends...

Combat

glen

Loyalty... Honor... What a farce.
It's all the same. Evil dastards killing each other for power.
I should have seen that a long time ago.

Combat w/ Valter

glen

Valter, you despicable cur...
I will enjoy killing you the most.

valter

I am above your petty grudges, Glen.
The man you knew is dead.
...But, I suppose I shall indulge.
A battle between generals... Sends the spirit soaring.
Does it not, Glen, my old friend?

glen

The only thing that will soar is your head!

Combat w/ Selena

selena

Glen... Why are you fighting this?
This is what's best for the world.
Why can you not see it?

glen

caellach

Heh... We had some good times, didn't we, Aias?
Despite everything, I still consider you a friend.
One of the very last I have... Maybe the last.

aias

......
You know I am not going to let myself get distracted.

caellach

I do. And you know I'm not gonna let you live.
So, let's do this. No hard feelings, eh?

aias

...Of course not.
Feelings have no place in the battlefield.

Combat w/ Ismaire

caellach

Hoho... Queenie, you're still here?
You know the emperor duped you, right?
Your son's dead. Long gone.

ismaire

...I know that.

caellach

Then why are you still following his say?
What, you grown fond of the bookworm after all?

ismaire

...I have to play along.
I cannot oppose him if I am dead.

caellach

...Ah. I see. Some fire really does still burn in there.
Like mother, like son, I suppose.

Consider me your first test, then.
If you can't beat me... You can't beat Lyon.

ismaire

......
I will try to make it swift.

Combat w/ Lyon

lyon

Why, Caellach? You were one of my trusted generals.
You had risen so high, and you could've gone higher still.
Why throw it all away now?

caellach

I don't know, Emperor. Why do you think?
Was it so difficult to promise me that land?
I really don't think I was asking for that much.

lyon

You were.
I have little doubt you'd rule like the worst kind of tyrant.

caellach

That's rich! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
C'mon, Emperor. Quit dancing around it and come for me.
We both know that's the only way this is going to end.

lyon

...Don't forget you asked for it.

Death

caellach

Heh... I wonder if anyone... will ever find my body...
Down here... in this... musky, dank cellar...

Selena

Combat

selena

You took advantage of my foolishness long enough.
Though I am unworthy of it, the duty falls to me...
To avenge the fallen by striking you all down!

Combat w/ Valter

selena

Valter... Of course you'd be with him still.
You probably like him better now, don't you?

valter

You'd be surprised.
For what it's worth, I don't hold a grudge.
I am above petty grudges now.
I won't kill you for replacing me as general...
But simply because you are in my master's way.

selena

And I will kill you for being a blight on humanity!

Combat w/ Glen

selena

Glen, why do you assist the Demon King?
He's an abomination! He'll destroy the human race!
You would be complicit in such a horrible crime?!

glen

Why not? I have been complicit in so many crimes already.
What makes this worse than anything Lyon did?

selena

...I won't even entertain such a mad question.

glen

You're the one who is mad, Selena.
You've always been.

Combat w/ Melina

melina

First, I had to watch General Duessel die...
Now, I must lose you as well, General Selena?

selena

Why do you still help them?

melina

......
I am afraid, General. I am terrified...

selena

...Shame. I thought you a braver sort, Melina.

melina

And I didn't think our emperor was a demon in disguise!
I never asked for any of this!

selena

...I suppose you're right.
Forgive me, Melina, but I shan't hold back.

melina

...Urgh...

Combat w/ Vigarde

selena

Your Majesty... They would set you upon me?
Such cruelty... Please, worry not, Emperor.
I'll send you where your son is...
Forgive me for being unable to do more.

Death

selena

The fate I deserve... for all my failures...
Emperor... Vigar...de...

Riev

Combat

riev

Heh heh heh... So, this is where I shall fall, eh.
I suppose it is as fitting a tomb as anywhere.
Let's make the end entertaining, shall we?

Combat w/ Fomortiis

fomortiis

Riev... You were such a dedicated acolyte.
I asked if you'd let me decimate humanity, and you agreed.
You were even willing to die among them...
What changed?

riev

I suppose I am only human, as well.

fomortiis

Hmph... You vermin are truly incomprehensible.

Combat w/ Mansel

riev

(grins) Heh heh heh heh heh! Heh heh heh...
Oh, even now the sight of you cheers me up.
Come, come! Let me kill you again, Mansel!
One more time before I join you in Hell!

Combat w/ Novala

novala

(smirks) Ha ha ha... Ahh, Riev.
How I've yearned for this day...
The day I replace you at our master's side, and become the true champion of the dark!
How does it feel, being at death's door?

riev

Heh heh heh... Pray forgive me, but...
Have we met, young man?

(Novala fumes.)

novala

You-- Ohh, that's it!
I'm going to enjoy watching you die, you hideous freak!

riev

Heh heh heh... Oh, you were always too easy, Novala...

Death

riev

Heh heh heh... What... foolishness...
I am truly... so stupid...

Ending (Fomortiis route)

fomortiis

Pathetic.
The traitors fell easily, and their underlings, even more so.
Is this truly the best humanity can muster?
How low they have fallen since Grado and his cadre...

caellach

Er... Well, I'm pretty sure that's everyone they had.
It's gotta be just the two whelps from Renais down there.
We're ready to move. Your orders, Your Majesty?

fomortiis

There's not much they could do by crossing to the underworld...
But another demon's intervention might prove... inconvenient.
Let's kill them before anything can happen.

glen

We're certain to win this.
And then... I suppose the rest of mankind is next?

caellach

Next is my crowning as king of Magvel.
And don't you forget it, Glen.

glen

...Of course.

(Caellach leaves.)

fomortiis

One moment, Glen.

glen

Your Majesty?

fomortiis

Hahaha... That man, Tiger Eye...
He's so sure of himself, isn't he?
So confident... So gullible.

When the battle ends... Kill him.

glen

......
Yes, Your Majesty...

(Glen leaves.)

fomortiis

Ahahahahaha... Ahh, victory truly tastes sweet.

Ending (Lyon route)

lyon

...Their strength is meager.
Even with Caellach and Glen, this is the best they could do?
It's... It's pathetic, isn't it? Why would they bother fighting us?

riev

And I suspect this was all of their forces.
Only the two princelings of Renais remain...
Are you prepared, my emperor?

lyon

Ready as I'll ever be, Riev.
Selena, gather our strongest.
The gateway is just down these stairs...

selena

We're going to win this, Emperor.
And then we can make the world a better place.
Rest assured of that.

(Selena and Riev advance.)

lyon

......
If they cross into the underworld...
They will meet a fate worse than death.
Killing them ourselves is the humane thing to do.
Yes... It is what a friend would do.

Character Descriptions

Riev
A cunning heretic and general in Grado's army. He's also known as Blood Beryl.

Selena
A taciturn Grado general. She's also known by the name Fluorspar.

Glen
An honorable general in Grado's army. He is better known as Sunstone.

Caellach
An ambitious general in Grado's army. He's better known as Tiger Eye.

Seth
A young general. He survived the siege of Renais and returned to his princess.

Tana
Frelia's princess. She survived the batle of Narube River and rejoined the twins.

Vanessa
A Frelian knight who fled Fort Rigwald with her life. She fights with the twins.

Joshua
A wandering swordsman. His heart is filled with vengeful rage towards Grado.

Dozla
A Rausten berserker. After his charges' deaths, he has vowed to avenge them.

Rennac
A rogue who came to terms with his heart's feelings, only too late.

Lute
A mage who participated in the battle of Za'albul Marsh. She fights for revenge.

Remnant
The remnants of what once was the army of Magvel's holy theocracy.

Monster
A grotesque creature created by magic and born in darkness.