Inside a high tower surrounded by a perpetual snowstorm, rising above nearby mountains, the Fallen in large numbers were patrolling the corridors inside. During their surveillance, they began to hear noises. They were footsteps in the depths of the corridors, followed by blows on the walls with a hard object. A Sentinel soon warned the intruder, when the shadow of it began to extend to the feet of the Fallen. When the armored monster pointed its cannon at the intruder, the shadow extended a pair of bat wings at its sides.
Edea walked on a snowy ground, while the snow fell from the sky copiously. Her face was full of joy as she watched the snow fall on the mountains and above her.
"How I missed all this!" Exclaimed Edea.
After a short crossing in the new ship created by Eve, the group had reached the world of Luxendarc, the world where Edea came from. After tracking the area, they managed to discover a safe area to teleport the entire group in the southern area of the Eternia region, including Eve as the ship was heavily defended, capable of attacking any attacker from any side approaching she. When they reached Eterna, they could see that the whole region was in a state of perpetual winter, snowing almost constantly, and with a very low temperature.
"It's good to be happy to go back to your world, but..." Eve answered next to Edea, but she turned to the group. "Some are not made to withstand this cold."
Edea turned and saw that Kairi, Nina, and Rena were shaking from the cold, clutching their arms as their teeth chattered.
"T-t-there is no f-f-f-for c-c-chance a pl-pl-pl-place for t-t-t-take refuge from the c-c-cold here?" Kairi stuttered because of the cold.
"Ups, sorry," Edea said with a silly smile and a hand on her head.
After walking for a while, the group arrived in a huge city completely snowed, with the roofs completely snowed by the snow. The people on the street were wearing warm clothes, although some clothes did not seem to be made for the cold at first sight.
"Well, at least here it's not so cold," Kairi said, no longer stuttering from the cold.
"Even so, even my wings are frozen," Nina replied, having to cover her body with her wings because of the cold.
"At least the view is beautiful," Rena answered.
Eve soon noticed something in the people. "To be a totally frozen region, people's health is above the normal average in such a region."
"Yes, it's true that this place seems very strange to you, but that's for a reason, do you see those tubes there?"
Edea pointed to some huge cables that passed through the city like a river in the middle of the city, while small cables jutted out from the large ones and connected with a part of the buildings, especially with what looked like the largest in the city. All the cables seemed to come from a cliff in the distance.
"What are those cables?"
"They are the white magic cables, and within them flow waves of energy that amplify the effect of white magic," Edea replied. "The cables go through the healing towers of the city and allow patients to receive the latest treatments."
"So, death by disease or infection seems almost eradicated here by that, right?" Kairi asked.
"But how is that possible?" Nina asked.
"Eve, didn't you detect a tower in the northwestern area of Eternia?" Edea asked Eve.
"Yes, that's right, I thought it was kind of weird that there was a tower in such an isolated place," Eve answered.
"At the top of that tower is a sanctuary, and in it is the Earth Crystal, one of the four crystals of this world."
"Wait for a second, are you saying that you draw energy from a crystal that could be a cornerstone of this world? Isn't that nonsense!?" Asked Rena to Edea.
"Maybe, I have had some doubts about that system for a year, but without this, patients who need care may not survive. After a certain incident a year ago, it was agreed to use this system to help the people, as long as the crystal isn't endangered."
"Ok... even so..."
"Edea! Is that you?!"
Edea turned back, seeing a man about her age, completely covered in black armor with gold details, his face hidden by the helmet, all apparently based on bats.
"Alternis? Alternis Dim? It's you?" Edea asked the black knight.
"Edea, thank heaven you are safe!" The black knight Alternis Dim replied.
"Safe? What are you talking about?"
"Uhm, I know this can be an emotional reunion, but..." Nina said, causing both of them to look at the group. "Even if it doesn't look like it, we're freezing cold."
"Uh," Both said at once, understanding what was happening.
"Oh, this is better!" Kairi exclaimed a few minutes later, she and the others except Edea wearing warm clothes, being able to better resist the cold.
"Yes, this is much better," Nina said, wearing her coat so that she could move her wings freely.
"What a group you've found, Edea," Alternis replied.
"Yes, that's true," Edea said, before looking at Alternis. "Can I ask what you were referring to earlier that I was safe?"
"It's true, I almost forgot about it!" The black knight answered before looking at Edea. "After your disappearance weeks ago, the people of Eterna have been very tense, especially your father."
"Edea's father is the Marshal, right?" Kairi asked.
"That's right, but I'm afraid he may lose the title at any time."
"And why do you believe that?" Edea asked, worried.
"You see, recently a mysterious being has been appearing, apparently a necromancer, and he began to tell your father that you had died and that your disappearance was proof of that."
"Me, dead?!"
"Yes, and for a time, your father was obstinate to reject that possibility, while sending search groups throughout Luxendarc, and to make it worse, this necromancer says he could bring you back, in exchange for something."
"In exchange for what can you know?" Edea asked, with some anger in his voice.
"I don't know that, it seems like only the two of them know, but somehow, the sage Yulyana and Lord DeRosso suspect it, and try by all means to convince him to reject the deal, but it seems that they are losing this battle. It seems only you can put an end to this. "
Edea put her hand on her head, beginning to process everything she has discovered, but then Kairi spoke. "That necromancer, it would not be by chance an anthropomorphic cat with a purple robe, right?"
"Eh? How do you know that? Do you know him?" Asked Alternis confused.
"What if we know him?" Edea asked, getting more furious. "I'll tell you one thing, what happened last year will be a bad joke, compared to what will happen if my father makes a deal with that guy!" She clarified, surprising Alternis. "Were there monsters with him by chance?"
"Yes, that's right, even though they looked like armors with no one inside them, it seems they obeyed him."
"Well, if we don't stop this, Luxendarc will soon be invaded by those beings! Come on, come on!"
"Wait Edea! Where?!" Rena asked Edea when she was going to run.
"To the Eternia Central Command!"
In a large room formed with a semicircular table with six chairs around it, surrounding a pillar that illuminated, a blond-haired man with a beard, blue-gray eyes, equipped with silver armor with red ornaments, red cape, shoulder pads with wings, and a silver crown, was prostrate on the table resting his hands on it, crestfallen.
"What should I do?" The man asked, shaking his head.
"You already know that, great Marshal Braev Lee 'the Templar'," Said a voice, causing it to turn its head.
Shaft was standing near the Templar. "I have already told you several times these days, you just have to accept my deal, and you will have your dear daughter back to the world of the living."
"I know, but what you ask is... too much even for me," Braev replied to Shaft.
"It's true that it seems too much but, what price should be put to return a girl with her parents?"
"But there are prices that nobody should pay," said a woman with long blond hair, who wore a long tan dress with long sleeves with ruffles and a tie around her waist, and a blue bolero with a red brooch on her shoulders.
"Everyone tends to say that until they pay the price, and you should not worry about that, because I doubt that people around here know about our agreement," Shaft replied. "And now let the men argue, woman!"
"Shaft, I have told you that-"
"Yeah, yeah, 'I've told you not to talk to my wife Mahzer with that tone if you do not want to see my sword in your stomach'. Please, that threat lost its effect some time ago!"
"Still, I think we should think more about it," Mahzer replied.
"Look, woman, you're prettier when silent, you know?" Said Shaft, trying to silence her.
"She's right, we shouldn't rush with this," An old voice said.
"Oh, for the love of... How stubborn!" Shaft complained, directing his gaze to whom he spoke, seeing an old man wearing a long green robe with white sleeves and a long red tippet, a white handkerchief hanging on the back, in addition to wearing a gold medal around his neck and carrying a large cane shaped like a sewing wheel.
"Unlike a certain person here, some of us hope to find the young Edea alive somewhere," The old man replied.
"I thought that when your 'contacts' confirmed that they have not seen it anywhere, you would also come to your senses, you stupid old man!" Said Shaft to the old man.
"It's true that my 'contacts' have not found Edea, but that does not mean I'm not here, at the end of the day, there are places where they can't get there."
"Argh, damned Yulyana, what the hell do you need to make it clear that the girl is dead?!"
"As we said before, a proof," Another voice sounded, coming this time from a man with black hair combed back, very pale skin, red eyes, dressed in a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves with a white tie, and a dark green vest, long gray pants with dress shoes white and a long black cloak in addition to wearing a gold ornament on his left hip and a watch on his left wrist.
"DeRosso, the one missing now!" Shaft growled at the sight of the man. "Is it that you two are not going to leave me alone or what?"
"The only thing we know is that Edea disappeared in the Perpetual Tower without a trace, no reason to admit that she has died," DeRosso replied to Shaft.
"Also, as long as there is no trace of her 'corpse', there is still hope."
"But do not you see the possibility that that brat may have become one of those monsters that now ravage the tower, by any chance?!" Shaft asked them both, receiving only silence from these, causing him to let out a moan while putting his hand on his head. "Argh, these two old men are going to end my patience!"
Meanwhile, the group, led by Edea and Alternis, managed to reach a huge building, whose only access from his side was by a staircase leading to the entrance. When they crossed the bridge and entered the ground floor of the building, a couple of soldiers prevented them from advancing until they saw who was with them and Alternis.
"Mrs. Edea, you are alive!" Said one of the soldiers.
"Yes, I know, now we have to go to the Council Chamber and avoid my father being stupid!"
"But, ma'am, that will be difficult, a necromancer-"
"Yes, we already know, something else we should know?" Edea interrupted.
"Oh, only the last plants are guarded by the necromancer's henchmen! They attack anyone who ventures on those plants while they are gathered!"
"It will not be so easy after all," Kairi muttered loudly.
"Never mind, we must hurry." Edea said, pushing the guards away before running away.
Following it, the group soon arrived at an elevator on one side of the plant.
"Listen to me, with this elevator we will reach the 47th floor, and the Council Chamber is on the 50th floor," Edea informed.
"And what do you want us to do with this information?" Asked Rena to Edea.
"If those guards told the truth, those plants will be infested with Fallen, surely armors to avoid calling too much attention to their unnatural nature," Eve reasoned.
"And what?" Nina asked.
"Very easy, we go there and raze everything until we reach our destination! I'm not going to let that stupid cat get away with it, even if it has filled the floors with Sentinels!"
"That sounds like everything but a plan," Kairi commented on the idea of Edea.
"Do you have a better idea? No? Come on!" Edea said, entering the elevator.
"I have to ask, does she always do that when she's in a hurry or something?" Kairi asked Alternis.
"You could say that, even if I don't like it too much," The black knight replied. "In addition, there are stairs that lead to the 49th floor, so I hope you have not noticed that step.
The group climbed up the elevator to the 47th floor, and when they left it they found several Axe Armors and Armor Knights guarding the corridors.
"Get out of my way!" Edea shouted, charging over the Fallen who soon noticed his presence.
"Edea, wait!" Kairi said, following her with the others and the black knight.
The Axe Armors started by throwing their axes at the group, but Edea avoided the axes, beginning to cut them with her sword, while Kairi and Eve covered her with the Armor Knights that launched against them, while Rena and Nina attacked from a distance with what they had to the armored Fallen that attacked from afar.
When they reached the stairs that led to floors 48 and 49, their path was blocked by several Armor Knights, and a Heavy Axe Armor as guardian. Edea instinctively jumped at them, but Alternis stepped forward and blocked the Fallen guardian's vertical ax with his sword.
"Get away, Alternis!" Edea demanded Alternis.
"No, Edea, it's true that we must arrive as soon as possible, but jumping without thinking will only get us killed!" Alternis fought back as he held the giant ax over his head.
Several of the Armor Knights advanced on the duo, but Rena destroyed two of them with their arrows, causing the others to block the arrows with their spears, giving Kairi time to advance and push the Armor Knights back. Then Eve created a cannon, launching with it a missile that impacted on the Heavy Axe Armor, removing pressure from her attack on Alternis, Edea charged without warning, destroying the Fallen, quickly focusing on the other Armor Knights, until there was none else blocking the passage.
"Come on, let's go!" Edea said, running down the stairs.
"Edea, wait!" Kairi said, moaning at having to repeat herself again following her with the rest.
When they reached the 49th floor by that staircase, they found more Axe Armor and Armor Knights, but also several Crossbow Armors between them.
Edea was going to load them again, but Rena stopped her while Nina cast her spells on the Crossbow Armor, causing the bolts to explode with Fira and Thundara effect, leaving the passage free.
"Edea, I know we're in a hurry, but launching without thinking only causes problems," Rena tried to reason with Edea.
"She's right, you have to think with your head, and remember that Shaft is up, and we don't know how powerful he is," Kairi explained.
Edea tried to say something, but a Sentinel showed up and started firing his cannon at the group. Luckily Eve created a shield of energy around her blocking the shots, while several more Sentinels came closer to support.
"Seriously, Edea behaves like someone I know," Eve mentioned, keeping the shield.
"You're right," Rena said and fired several arrows. They flew towards the Sentinels, penetrating the shields and piercing the Armor of the Fallen, dispatching them.
"It also gives me that feeling, but with someone I know," said Kairi.
Edea moaned at the girls' words, while Nina put her hand on his shoulder. "Come on, let's go on, but this time all together."
"Your friends are very wise, Edea, you should listen to them," Alternis replied to Edea.
"Okay, agreed," Edea moaned. "But if we're late, you'll hear me!"
The group advanced to the elevator to the top floor, but the passage was blocked by a Sentinel, or so it seemed, since it was blue and not red, and had on his arm not a cannon, but a huge sword similar to a falchion (Guardian).
"Great, now a melee Sentinel," Edea said.
"Leave it to me, Edea," Alternis said, moving towards the Fallen.
"Alternis, you don't know how to deal with them! They're not like the monsters here!" Edea said to stop him.
"Don't worry," The black knight answered and ran to the Guardian. "Get out of my way!"
Alternis began to attack the Fallen with his sword, while he responded with his saber and shield, each being a tough opponent for the other, although Alternis was the one who received more damage with each of the Guardian's swords, until a crash of swords the Fallen pushed the black knight back, this one kneeling on one leg.
"Alternis!" Exclaimed Edea.
"Hold on!" Alternis shouted, causing the group not to advance to help him, as he got up. "I got him where I wanted," Alternis raised his sword with both hands. "Now, filthy beast, you will know all the harm you have caused me, in one fell swoop!"
Alternis covered his sword with dark energy and threw it on the Guardian, hitting him fully despite his shield, destroying the Fallen with the impact.
Although the attack confused the group, Edea ran towards Alternis, who again collapsed on his knee.
"I'm fine, Edea, do not worry about me, go and save your father," Alternis said, breathing hard. "I'll reach you already."
At the time, in the Council Chamber.
"Please, admit it once: You haven't found any trace of that girl in all this time, right?" Shaft asked Yulyana and DeRosso, already tired of their excuses.
"We have already told you that hope is the only thing we can't lose now," The old man replied.
While the three were arguing, Mahzer looked at Braev, who still had his eyes closed, looking at the table with his hands on it.
"Now that's enough!" Said Shaft and looked at the Templar. "Do the damn favor of accepting a damn deal!" He said totally angry, but then he became kind and crossed his hands. "Please."
Braev let out a deep sigh. "I can't believe what I'm about to do."
"You don't have to make any deal with that stupid cat, father!"
That voice made Braev open his eyes wide and look at the source of the voice with surprise.
Edea was running towards them, with Kairi, Rena, Eve, and Nina behind her, stopping right before them.
"Edea? It's really you?" Mahzen asked, with her hands on her mouth in confusion.
"That's right, mother, it's me," Edea said, before pointing to Shaft. "And not by the will of this caped hairball!"
"What?! Hairball?!" Shaft asked, totally disconcerted to see the young girl in the same room as them.
"Edea! But how?!" Asked Braev to his daughter.
"It's a very long story, but to shorten it, these girls who are with me have allowed me to come back. Ah, by the way, Shaft, I must thank you."
"Thanks... me?"
"Yes, because if it weren't for your monsters in the Everlast Tower and your magic, I would never have known them!"
"Yikes!" Shaft exclaimed at the words of Edea, just when everyone present turned their gaze towards him.
"So it was YOU!" Braev shouted, pointing to Shaft.
"So in the end, it was he who was behind everything," DeRosso said.
"Yes, old friend, it seems that the trickster has been discovered because of his lie," Yulyana replied.
"O-o-hey, let's stay calm, okay? I think we can talk peacefully," Shaft tried to reason with them.
Then Braev drew his sword against Shaft.
"Father!"
"I know, Edea, I know that from my wounds I could not wield my sword anymore, but this scoundrel has just asked for a date with my sword, and I still have enough strength to decapitate him with it! I'll sent you with those of your kind, 'necromancer'!"
Shaft clenched his fists hard, looking at Braev furious, who threatened him with his sword at that moment.
"Damn you... And I wanted to do it for the easy thing, but I've had enough!" Said Shaft and extended his hand towards Mahzer, a crystal ball surrounded by fire appearing in his palm. "Just one movement and you can say goodbye to the woman!"
"You bastard," Said Braev, suppressing his desire to attack Shaft when he saw that he had his wife within reach.
"All of you... you already have me fed up!" Said Shaft. "Now you will do what I say if you don't want this woman to pay!" Then he turned his head to Yulyana and DeRosso. "And you two don't move, like a couple of relics on a pedestal!"
Shaft then turned his gaze to Braev. "Now listen to me, Marshal, this situation has only three exits: I kill the woman and I leave, you sign my deal and I walk away, forgiving your wife, or you kill that brat, and I walk away, forgiving your wife. " He listed Shaft, giving Kairi a small look.
"Curse you..." Kairi cursed.
"Well, gentlemen, what will be the choice?" Shaft asked with a sinister smile on his face.
"Why not the fourth option?"
Before even questioning who spoke, a yellow dagger flew towards Shaft, digging into the outstretched arm, causing the incendiary crystal ball to be thrown off, only passing by Mahzen's side and hitting the wall with a flare. The girls then turned around, finding Elrrna behind them, her hand extended to Shaft.
"Elrena?!"
"I already have you, bastard," Elerna said, scorn in her voice.
Shaft growled angrily and took his dagger from his arm, knocking it to the ground. "This isn't over yet!" He said and disappeared into a portal of purple energy that appeared where he was.
"Come back here, coward!" Elrena shouted at Shaft before the portal disappeared.
After a long silence after what happened, Mahzen embraced Braev totally frightened, while he directed his gaze to Elrena.
"Miss-"
"Save it, old man, I went to Shaft, I didn't care what happened to the woman," Elrena said. With the tone used, it seemed that her choice was 'the woman dies and Shaft goes second'.
"Hey, at least you should-"
"If you don't mind, I have to go after him, and after what he said, I'm sure he has not left this world yet, so I'm going to finish the job, and I don't want to see you nearby when I find him unless you want to get the same treatment, is that clear?"
Before receiving an answer Elrena opened a Dark Corridor and entered it, leaving the room.
Edea stood looking at the emptiness that Elerna left for a moment until something entered her mind and she turned, running towards Braev and Mahzen.
"Mother, father!" Edea shouted, hugging them both, as they soon returned their embrace to their daughter.
The girls stood watching Edea with their parents, glad they had met again.
"Excuse me, but can I know who you are?" DeRosso asked the girls.
"Oh, sorry," Kairi said, looking at DeRosso. "My name is Kairi, and they are Rena, Eve, and Nina."
"Kairi, you say?" Yulyana asked, beginning to murmur at the sight of Kairi. "I think I heard that name before ..."
"Kairi, the old man..." Eve started looking at Yulyana.
"Yes, I've already noted it myself, it has the same description that director Fury described to us before," Nina said.
"Fury? Ah, so you must know young Nick, huh?!" The old man laughed for a moment. "How are things going? I have not heard from him in a while."
"Well, he's pretty busy, you know, with national security, spy business, and all that," Rena answered the old man.
"I see, you have to see how things stay the same even after so much time."
"Marshal, are you okay?!" Alternis appreciated running into the room, soon seeing what was happening.
Braev and Mahzen soon stopped hugging Edea and looked at the black knight. "We are okay," Braev replied, soon noticing the bruises on his armor. "And you, Alternis?"
"I'm fine, don't worry."
"Liar," Edea said, looking at Alternis. "You should be on the ground to see how you dispatched that Fallen with that attack."
"I don't want to interrupt this meeting, but I'd like to know the whole story, Edea," Mahzen said to her daughter, who was nodding her head.
Kairi explained the whole situation and everything they went through in the different worlds they met along the way. They even explained to those present the truth about the Fallen, the involvement of Shaft, and various notions for those who did not have a global knowledge about the worlds, until reaching the point where they are now.
"I understand, you have had to go through many dangers, haven't you?" Asked Braev after hearing the story.
"Well, I admit that there have been times when I thought we were not going out, but at the end of the day, nothing serious happened," Kairi explained.
"Nothing serious?" Nina asked Kairi. "As if that laboratory full of monsters had not been much."
Edea moved closer to Rena's ear. "It's a good thing that this detail has been omitted from what happened in Gallowmere. If my father were to find out..."
"I agree with you, and I have to admit that Eve and I omitted that detail from our colleagues five years ago," Rena responded to Edea.
Neither noticed how DeRosso made a gesture of concern after this conversation as if he had heard them despite speaking in low voices.
"I suppose at this point you would want to know some things about your mother, isn't it?" Yulyana asked Kairi, who nodded. "I supposed it, but unfortunately, I made a promise not to tell you anything about her, until you get to 'a certain place', to know where she will be now."
"What do you mean by that?!" Edea asked. "Kairi is having a hard time getting to know her origins!"
"I know, it's been a while since I lost track of that place, the world from which she really comes."
"My... world of origin?" Kairi asked.
"Yes, but I know someone who sure has located that world, the good old Makarov, I think he can even tell you where to find it."
"I would love to!" Kairi responded to the proposal.
"Even if that was good, we still have issues dealing with Shaft," Eve interrupted. "We can't leave this world while he is hanging around here."
"Yes, she's right," Nina said. "Where do you think he could be?"
"Marshal Lee, Marshal Lee!" A soldier soon entered the chamber, completely upset.
"What's wrong, do not you see we're busy?" Braev asked the soldier.
"I'm sorry, Marshal, but it's very urgent!" The soldier replied. "One of the flying boats has returned, and its occupants have reported that a huge ice sheet has formed north of Eternia!"
"A huge ice sheet? at the North?" Yulyana asked.
"Anything else for being so alarmed?" Asked Braev.
"On the east side of the freezing zone, it can be seen a huge circle with a starred pentagon on it! When he came to check it, the ship received intense fire from the area close to the circle!"
"How can we investigate that?" Nina asked.
"I think I can help with that," Eve said and soon generated a hologram with the Eternia map, surprising people who were not aware of Eve's abilities.
"Is that the map of Eternia?" Asked DeRosso. "Awesome."
Soon Eve moved the image of the holographic map downward, showing an extensive mass of frozen water, with a huge circle with a starry pentagram in the east of the place. "Soldier, is this what you saw?"
"That-that ... That's right, that seems to be the place!" The soldier replied.
"I suspect that this was his emergency plan, in case he couldn't convince the Marshal to accept his deal," Yulyana said. "Use magic to freeze the ocean, very clever, no doubt about it."
"If more of them continue to appear from that location, it is possible that Luxendarc is in danger," DeRosso said.
"Soldier, you said they attacked you when you came near them, do you refer to the eastern part of the place?" Braev asked the soldier.
"Yes, sir, the area that extends to the west was totally unoccupied."
"All right," He nodded. "Call all available men, and send messages to all former officers! We must locate them as soon as possible!"
"Uhm, sir, aren't you thinking of attacking them in that place?" Kairi asked.
"If we do not contain them there, they could spread throughout Luxendarc," Braev said. "Furthermore, Shaft tried to mock me with his ploy, now I will show him the true power of the Duchy of Eternia!"
"But great Marshal, we barely hear from the other officers," Alternis replied.
"It doesn't matter, we need to contain this enemy at all costs!" Said Braev Lee. "I will take and position the troops residing in Eternia in the western zone of the frozen sea, and when we are ready, we will attack without delay before they are ready!"
"It's not for discouraging you, but do you have any plans other than that?" Yulyana asked.
"We will only attack with everything we have until we reach that circle and destroy it!"
"I supposed it, but I still see a problem," said the old man.
"What a problem?"
"That layer of ice is on the ocean, and in its position, the ice should get rid of itself, but if the magic that created the ice made it strong enough to avoid thawing, do not you think its ice will also resist the force of the weapons?"
In that, the Marshal remained silent.
"I must assume that you have an idea of how to destroy that circle," Asked Rena.
"Maybe, but for it to work, we need to do three things, the first is to continue with the initial plan and send all our army," The old man replied.
"And there, you will have to contain to the Fallen all that you can," DeRosso finished.
"Understood, and what are the other two?"
"For that I will have to go to the Everlast Tower, to check the state of the Earth Crystal."
That answer made Braev gasp in surprise. "Sage, are not you thinking of doing what I think?"
"I'm afraid it may be our only chance," Yulyana replied.
"Mister, what are you talking about?" Kairi asked.
"First we must go to the Everlast Tower as soon as possible," DeRosso said to the girls.
"And let's hope that Shaft has not thought of a foolishness," Yulyana said. "The best thing will be for you to accompany me and Lester, you have experience with the Fallen, right?"
"Yes, but-" Nina replied.
"Well, let's go, we do not have much time!" Yulyana interrupted Nina.
Then Edea looked at her father. "Father..."
"Yes, I know, I'm sure you'll need it more than me," Braev replied and threw a strange gem-like object with a star on it, being caught by Edea. "Be careful."
Edea nodded and the group left the room following Yulyana and DeRosso.
"And may the world forgive us if we have to get to that..." Braev muttered.
Without acquiring any response from the two elders who followed, the group left the Eternia Central Command through the back door, and following a mountainous pass, they reached a huge tower that rose to the sky.
"Is this tower?" Asked Rena.
"Yes, the Everlast Tower, home of the Earth Crystal," Yulyana replied.
The group soon entered the tower protected from the storm. The interior seemed to be entirely made of stone, but you could see the metal cables that crossed the walls of the place, probably originating where the crystal was, and bringing the energy of white magic to the city. When they advanced several steps inside the tower, Rena looked around.
"Do not you think this place is weird?"
"Yes, you're right. At first glance, this place looks like..." Kairi said and started to look around as well as the others until a word came out of her mouth. "Abandoned."
"Yes, now that you say it, it's true, this is very strange," Edea said. "To begin with, this tower is of vital importance to Eternia, so they designated monsters raised by our army to protect the tower against intruders, I know because when I disappeared from this world, I was on the altar of the Earth Crystal, and the monsters were fighting against the Fallen that infiltrated the tower. "
"But if what you say is true, why has not any Fallen appeared now? Kairi is a magnet for them, after all," Nina said.
"True, but it seems abandoned as if it were a ghost tower, without there being anything or nobody here, the truth is that it gives a bit of grimace now," Said Kairi, having a chill on her body. "I would be glad If there was at least one Zombie here."
Yulyana began to look around. "I think there's more here than meets the eye," The old man said, pointing to a wall. "See that wall? That damage that appears there doesn't seem to have been at the hands of a monster."
The group looked at the wall and Rena approached the wall, noticing the damage. "Right, it seems like a person has hit hard here."
"A little more and the wall would have collapsed!" Yulyana exclaimed.
"Do you think there is someone else here?" Kairi asked.
DeRosso thought for a moment and looked to the side, giving a snap with his fingers. With a burst of smoke, what looked like a demon girl appeared before him.
"What the hell?!" Kairi asked before the sudden appearance of the devil, like the others, with the exception of Edea.
"You didn't expect it, right?" Yulyana asked with a small laugh, while DeRosso seemed to talk to the demon girl.
"But how?!" Asked Rena.
"You see, Lester is an immortal being who won that gift in an unnatural way, and using the fears of his enemies in the past, he has ended up acquiring the appearance of a vampire, in addition to gaining control of certain monsters," Yulyana explained to the girls.
"Okay, that explains why he looks like that," Nina said.
Soon DeRosso finished talking to the demon girl, and as she disappeared as just as she appeared, he went to the group.
"Apparently, someone appeared on the tower recently, someone with unusual strength, able to stand up to the Fallen, and at the same time, scared the monsters that might have been left after the first skirmishes," DeRosso explained to the group.
"Yeah, someone has been here before," Edea said. "But who?"
Suddenly they heard a loud noise that sounded throughout the tower.
"What was that?!" Nina said, looking around.
Soon another loud noise was heard, followed by others who came closer. Soon Rena looked at the ceiling.
"Watch out!"
After the yell, the group moved away from the center of where it was, and through the roof appeared a Sentinel who fell to the ground with force. They noticed that the Fallen seemed to have his shield and cannon shattered and his armor dented, just before he vanished.
"It seems it's still here," Edea said.
"But where did this thing come from?" Nina asked, looking toward the hole in the ceiling.
"I'm detecting several signals above, possibly on the top floor," Eve said, looking at the ceiling.
"I have a bad feeling, everyone, hurry up!" Yulyana said.
Everyone climbed the tower as fast as they could, although that was not a problem since they did not encounter any opposition in the climb, not to mention that all the floors were empty. But they could also see how part of the walls was badly damaged by several fights. Whoever it was, it must be really strong.
Finally, they reached the top floor, standing directly in front of a door on the floor.
"On the other side is the Earth Crystal, I just hope it is intact," Yulyana said, ready to cross the door.
"Watch out!" Rena said, pushing Yulyana aside.
Without warning, something flew through the door, landing hard on the ground. The group observed what had come flying.
"An Inacors?!" Exclaimed Rena, watching the gigantic white ape.
The Inacors began to rise, soon releasing a loud scream, totally ignoring the group near it.
Suddenly they saw a baton flying through the door, hitting the Inacors with tremendous force because the blow destroyed it all at once, the baton returning with the rebound.
"What the hell?!" Kairi asked.
The group peeked through the open door, looking inside the room. A huge room with a huge green crystal shining and floating in the back of the room with a nearby altar. But what interested them was not the crystal, but who was inside.
Inside there was a woman with her back to them, armed with what looked like a white and gold cane designed like a mace, with a golden cross on the tip. Apparently, she had defeated a Guardian, who collapsed on the ground before disappearing. Soon she turned around, and they were able to see that the woman had red hair and red eyes, dressed in what looked like a very open black leotard that only covered her from the waist down and part of her breasts with a pair of strips ending in three white peaks in the center of each, with the navel exposed by a hole in the shape of a heart, some brown hose, a thin white cloth held by the leotard and hanging next to her hips, black heel boots with a golden heart inverted in these, wide sleeves separated with golden lines at the end, and a collar with a golden heart inverted in it. The most striking was not her clothes, but the black wings of her back and the two curved horns protruding from her hair.
"A demon?" Kairi asked, watching the demon inside the room.
The group was fully armed, with the exception of Yulyana and DeRosso, looking at the demon girl who was staring at them with the baton in her hand. The situation seemed typical of the typical scene in which one is expected to act first to start a battle. But then the girls watched as the demon girl lowered her baton before them.
Had she just let her guard down on purpose? Or was it a trick to catch them off guard? They had already faced pseudo demons before, because of the Fallen. But they never faced a real demon before. And Diabolos doesn't count since it was an Eidolon.
"Hey, you!" The demon girl said without warning.
"Y-Yes!" Nina instantly, everyone surprised by the normal voice that the demon had.
"Where I am?" The demon asked.
The group looked at each other for a moment, until they looked back at her, speaking Rena. "Why do you ask?"
"Because you are the only humans I have seen here, none of these things deign to speak to me," The devil replied.
The group turned to look for a moment, then turned their gaze to her, Edea responding this time. "In the Everlast Tower, why?"
The demon girl crossed her arms with a serious look at the answer.
"I think she didn't mean that," Kairi responded to Edea, soon paying attention to her. "This, do you want a summary explanation, complete, or all in one sentence?"
The demon's gaze became more serious still.
"The sentence then," Clarified Kairi. "Well, you're in Luxendarc right now."
The demon raised an eyebrow, watching Kairi. "Are you saying I'm not in the Netherworld?"
"Netherworld?"
She growled, putting her hands on his waist, and looking away. "Damn it, if this isn't Paprica, and I haven't ended up in the Netherworld... where the hell I am exactly?!"
Kairi started thinking for a moment until an idea entered her head. "Uh, before ending here, didn't you come across some shadowy creatures with yellow eyes, by chance?" The terrifying look he took from her was an answer enough for her. "Ok, understood...,"
"What happens?" Nina asked.
"Most likely, his world was invaded by the Heartless, and they found the Heart of the World," Kairi explained.
"I think we passed an incident like that the last time," Rena said.
"But, why is she here?" Eve asked.
"When a world disappears, those who are not consumed by darkness can end up in another world," Kairi said, becoming pensive. "But normally they appear in Traverse Town, how could this girl have arrived here?"
"Excuse me, miss."
The girls turned their eyes to the interior of the room, seeing that Yulyana was speaking to the demon, which scared them.
"What the-! I hope he doesn't do what does always," Edea said.
"What do you want now, old man?" The devil girl asked the old man.
"Well, I just wanted to ask you to step aside, since I have to inspect the crystal behind you," said the old man.
"The crystal here?" Said the demon, pointing to the crystal. "It's fine, don't you see how it shines, old man?"
"Yes, I see, but I would like to see it more closely," Yulyana replied. "I would not want to hurt a beauty like you in these circumstances."
"Leave me alone, old man, I'm not in the mood!" Said the devil and went to punch him in the face, but for some reason she only hit nothing, giving several jumps forward by the force used in the punch, almost on the verge of falling to the floor of the impetus. When she recovered, she began to look to one side and another confused, until she turned around in surprise, seeing Yulyana now in front of the crystal.
"How did he do that?!" Kairi asked, surprised.
"It has been so fast that I have hardly seen him move," Eve said.
Yulyana began to look at the crystal thoroughly, looking for anything that could have happened to it.
"The truth, now that I think about it, the feeling that crystal gives... it reminds me of when I was a nun," The demon muttered.
"Nun?" Rena asked when he heard her.
"That's none of your business!" the demon shouted flushed.
After a while, he turned around.
"The crystal is in perfect condition, that's fine," said the old man. "Now we just have to execute the last part of the plan."
The girls did not say anything, but Edea began to think about what the Earth Crystal might need, until an idea entered her like a lightning bolt, making her nervous.
"Sage Yulyana, you will not be thinking about doing what I think you intend to do, right?" Edea asked, fear in his voice.
Yulyana nodded. "Yes, Edea, that's the idea."
The demon remained watching both sides, despite not being too interested in the conversation.
Edea then became furious and ran towards Yulyana, passing by the demon's side who was surprised at her reaction, the girl grabbing Yulyana from the lapel of the suit.
"Are you crazy?!" Edea asked. "Do you really think about increasing the power of the crystals and summoning the Pillar of Light?!"
"We already know that it does not seem sane, but it is the only way to destroy that magic circle in the ice sheet, Edea," DeRosso answered Edea, entering the room enough for him to hear him.
"You too, DeRosso?!" Edea asked, looking at DeRosso.
"Edea, what's going on?" Kairi asked, getting close to DeRosso next to the others.
"Uhm, this seems to be interesting," The demon muttered, watching the conversation.
"You don't know it!" Edea replied. "That Pillar of Light is an entrance to another dimension! But the worst thing is that in the Luxendarc of that other dimension, this act covers the crystals with darkness, and the pillar ends up destroying an entire city in the other dimension!"
The girls gasped when they heard Edea's words and the consequences of that system.
"Do you really intend to use that?" Nina asked DeRosso.
"Yes, but you shouldn't worry," DeRosso replied.
"Yes, we only have to increase the power of the crystals just enough to invoke the Pillar of Light, it will not be strong enough to break the walls between dimensions, but enough to destroy that magic circle in the ice," Yulyana explained.
"Even so... even so... she will not accept!" Edea said. "Agnes will never accept it!"
"We have it in mind, but it's the only way to end this threat," Yulyana said. "If she does exactly what we say, everything will be fine."
"I have a doubt, after explaining what that pillar can do, why do you want to do it half-powered?" The group looked at the demon, who asked the question. "Wouldn't it be doing it with full force better? It would be easier."
"You haven't heard anything?!" Edea asked, coming face to face with her. "Don't ever ask that again without knowing anything about it!"
"But it's logical if someone doesn't use all their power against something, it might not cause any harm, it's better not to risk falling short."
"You..." Edea really wanted to use her sword against the demon now.
"It is clear that you are not of this world," Kairi interrupted, approaching Edea calmly. "You should not talk about those things without knowing the history behind them."
"Yes, I'm not from this world, but anywhere it's no use not going with all your power."
"Maybe, but sometimes it's better to control yourself to avoid causing more damage than necessary."
"If you have so many arrests to go with everything, I think you should hide in your mother's arms," She said with a smug smile but saw how Kairi looked away with a face of having affected her, which made her smile fade. "You... you have a mother, right?"
"Adoptive..." It was Kairi's only response.
That surprised the demon. "Are you... an orphan?"
Edea said nothing for a moment until she turned to Yulyana. "If we're going to do this, at least let me tell Agnès about it."
"Very noble on your part, Edea, but you're needed somewhere else," Yulyana replied. "You must help Braev maintain the position in place until this plan is completed."
"As if you didn't have enough power to do that," said the devil.
"Mgrgrgr!" Edea growled at the demon girl's comment.
"Can we know what happens to you with that power thing?" Asked Rena.
"I'm just a demon, and as such, power is the reason for my existence," The demon girl crossed her arms. "I used to have something to protect, but those 'Heartless' snatched everything from me, so now the only thing I have left... is this power!" Soon a powerful aura began to surround her, causing Edea and Kairi to recoil from the pressure. "This overwhelming power that ruins everything! I am this power! Using it proves that I exist!"
"Now I understand how she could finish all the Fallen that could be in this tower by itself, besides causing the damage to this tower."
The devil continued to show her aura in front the people in the room in an intimidating way to demonstrate her point of view.
"What stupidity," Kairi said, looking down.
"What, can you repeat that?" The devil asked.
"I mean, what you say... it's the biggest stupidity I've ever heard!" Kairi said softly to the demon's face, making the aura disappear from the shock it received.
"That is... stupid?"
"Yes!" Answered Kairi. "I've seen many who just wanted to be able to do more than anything, and they've all ended badly!"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Power is just a method to reach an end! It's a method, not an objective!" Answered Kairi. "If you acquire something, and you do not use it for an end, then it's useless! Like the Keyblade! If I did not have a reason to use it, I would have no reason to use it!"
"And are you exposing this for?"
Kairi clasped her hands at the question. "Saying that using your power to prove that it exists... It's just like admitting you're weak!"
"What?!" The demon retreated after Kairi's declaration.
Soon the atmosphere began to become very tense, giving the possibility that something terrible would happen if nobody said anything.
"Come on, come on, let's calm down, okay?" Rena said.
"Yes, we have to be somewhere else, do not you think?" Nina asked.
"In this situation, leaving the conversation would be the best decision to avoid an incident now," Eve answered.
"You're right, ladies, we have important things to do, so let's leave as soon as possible," Yulyana said, heading for the exit.
The girls began to leave the room, Kairi being the only one looking at the demon.
"Yes, that's right, now, if you don't mind, we have a world to protect," Kairi answered, leaving the room next to the others.
"Hey, haven't you been a little harsh with that?" Nina asked Kairi when she joined them.
"Someone had to tell her, and I couldn't stand that behavior of her," Answered Kairi with a frown.
"Yes, who does she think she is? The queen of demons?" Edea asked.
The demon girl was left alone in the crystal room. She was clenching her fists, while clenching her teeth and frowning, thinking of what Kairi had said.
"That I'm... weak? THAT I'M WEAK?!" The demon roared, her scream heard throughout the tower.
