By the time Warriors had their rest and were walking around, Sea Queen was already on the sea on their way to Cornelia. While everyone wanted to rest up after difficult battles that happened at the Grotto, they knew that time wasn't on their side. The weather above the Chaos Shrine was already bad back when the party was at Earthgift Shrine, now no one could predict how the situation would develop after all 4 lairs were destroyed. While the ship sailed full ahead towards Cornelia, the couples wanted to spend time with each other. When it came to promises to each other, it seemed that no one wanted to admit the chance of defeat. So instead they promised to each other something once the mission was done. Kelin promised Sarah that he would return to Cornelia in full knight armour to present himself in front of the court and ask King Franz properly for her hand. Lewyn promised Romy to show more of the world and to settle down in a proper castle once it all done. Rosch promised Lianna and Noelle to grow their family together. Mari, the only single person in the Warriors, could only hope that Wolt still remembered the promise made so long ago.
After several days of journey, they arrived to the busy Southport. The Warriors immediately rushed towards the capital to hear the news from the north. Once they had arrived, they realized how grave the situation was. It seemed the weather had gotten worse, now reaching as far down south as Earthgift Shrine. Goblins, once trying to hold the peninsula under their control, were now fleeing and surrendering to Cornelian forces. To see the proud goblins turn from bitter rivals to seeking any refuge, even at cost, it was the sign of just how bad the situation was. So, after only a short respite, Warriors, Lianna, Noelle and Sead immediately boarded the wagon and went north as everyone knew sending Sky Empress up there would be a disaster. After several days of travel, the last day of which nearly killed the horses from exhaustion, trying to escape the weather, until finally they reached the Chaos Shrine. Compared to outside, there was only peace inside the shrine, only disturbed by 5 bats. As soon as they saw the party, the bats came down and revealed themselves to be the cursed warriors that were sent from Lufenia. They made the Warriors follow them into the room where Princess Sarah was held, revealing a black crystal that wasn't there before. The bats explained that this was what they needed to do in order to end this once and for all. After hearing the explanation, the Warriors followed their instructions. They stood in front of the crystal with their own in their hands, causing a reaction in the black crystal. Once the light coming from it had ended, it revealed a teleportation circle waiting for them. The Warriors stepped inside and got teleported away.
The first sight they saw was an empty chamber in a castle-like environment. Well experienced after travelling through the 4 lairs, Warriors knew what to do so they didn't waste any time. Purple worms that roamed the rest of the floor were nothing surprising as it was just another enemy in the way of the party. What was surprising was that the stairs were just that, the stairs. Unlike in the other lairs, not only did they find stairs that went upwards, but they also behaved like they supposed to. For too long did the stairs teleport them to random floors without the ability to return back so that became usual for them. At least now they remained in the same place. After scouring through three floors while defeating any enemy that stood in their path, they found in one of the rooms a strange monument with some notes on it. Kelin remembered the first present that they have ever got. The mysterious flute from Sarah. As soon as he picked it up from Mari's bag, he felt as if something compounded him to play it. While others were confused on why suddenly he started playing the flute, the melody caused the monument to move, revealing the ladders below it. They pressed on, beating anything and everything that stood in their path. Dragons, worms, basilisks, medusas, chimeras, remnants of dark elves... All fell in party's warpath as if they were just flies.
Feeling the surge of power that this place provided, Warriors had no need to rest until first challenge appeared in what was basement's first floor. They found the staircase guarded by an unexpected foe, the Fiend of Earth, Lich. While the party was shocked to see him there, they had no time to ponder on the implications as Lich was already casting spells. Everyone spread out to avoid his Firaga spell. While Mari was making herself busy casting Diaja, others were keeping Lich's attention. Lich might have been feared once before, but to the current party who experienced he was nothing. In the end it took less than a minute for Mari to vaporize Lich. After clearing the way forward, the party finally decided to take a break and heal any minor scrap they might have suffered.
In the basement's second floor there was an unpleasant surprise waiting for the party. Despite no indication of magma anywhere on that floor, it was still extremely hot wherever they went. The obstacles in their way, flame lizards and Gigases, only made the problem worse. At least Rosch's surge of power was useful to keep everyone cooled down. At the end of the long labyrinth that composed the floor, Marilith was waiting for them. Again, it seemed that the Fiend failed to recognize the party and instead went immediately on the offensive, something that the party was ready for. With Kelin occupying the attention of all 6 of her swords, it allowed for the rest of the party to have a free hand at range attacks. Once Lewyn snuck near her and launched her into wall, the fight was pretty much over. Marilith couldn't recover after such an attack and, after getting pounded on, was decapitated by Kelin. The party wanted to move on, but they noticed something strange. Marilith's body wasn't disappearing into the mist like most of their opponents. They got back into fighting stance, thinking it might have been another situation like with Scarmiglione. And yet, after several minutes, there was nothing. As uneasiness settled in the party's mind, they went down the stairs to the next floor.
Basement's third floor was partially submerged, allowing enemies like sharks to freely swim around. It also meant to the party that their opponent at the end of the floor was quite obvious. As they navigated through the labyrinth of corridors and rooms, being held back by collapsed pillars and annoyance of fighting in such environment, they left snake, shark troll and other corpses as the showcase of their progress. And soon enough, Warriors found their leader, Kraken, waiting for them in front if the stairs. Again, the Fiend went straight for the attack without even an introduction and again, it was swatted aside like other two before it. It might have been stronger compared to his fight at the Sunken Shrine, but to the well-experienced party, it was just a pushover. By the time the fight ended, the water was filled with ink leaking out of its cut tentacles, causing more issues for the party than the Fiend itself. The party actually felt more paranoid that it might somehow revive in the black water than the fight itself. And yet, the carcass never moved once slain so the Warriors had to accept that they succeeded and to press on. While climbing down, they noticed at the middle of the stairwell that magic barrier prevented water from passing though, meaning that luckily for them the 4th floor would be dry land.
The floor itself seemed to be nothing special. Just a maze of long corridors that ended up leading into each other filled with vampires, death knights, nightmares and more purple worms. So it was a surprise to them to see a proper room with a treasure chest in the centre. Thinking it was the same deal as usual, they approached the chest without caution. Mari opened the chest and revealed the sword sheathed in scabbard that was inside. Before anyone could check it properly, Tiamat finally decided to announce her presence with her pouncing on the party from above, forcing them to scatter and Mari to also drop her hammer, leaving her with only the sword to defend herself. Others tried to help her, but a large group of stone golems decided to join the fight and got their attention. After casting Invis, Saber and Protect on herself, Mari finally went on offensive, lashing out surprising damage to Tiamat in process. By the time others could rejoin to the fight, she somehow manages to cut off one of Tiamat's heads. With all 4 Warriors focused on her, the last Fiend stood no chance. After the fight was over, Mari looked around for her trusty hammer. She found the broken handle of it next to Tiamat's body, meaning the rest of the hammer was under. Even if Lewyn bothered with trying to lift Tiamat's carcass, the hammer was useless now. With no other option, Mari ended up choosing the sword that she picked up just then, named Masamune if Lewyn's decipher of the Hoshidan name on the scabbard was to be believed, for the time being. While she was visibly disappointed at the turn of the events, at least she knew that even a rookie like her could do great damage with it. After following the corridors to their ends, they finally found the stairs and went down them.
The last floor, despite sharing the decor as other ones, seemed as it was in other world compared to what the party had seen so far. Not a single enemy in sight, pristine floors, intricate paintings all over the walls, stone pillars that seemed to show some kind of a pattern judging from their placement. It was as if they entered a long forgotten palace that was kept in pristine condition. They couldn't deny that everyone was impressed with the architecture there. But even with that, they couldn't forget why they were there in the first place so everyone went for the single room in the centre of the floor. In that room awaited for them a row of statues and a cold gaze of a knight in a shining armour. As soon as the party approached him, the knight started speaking. "Do you remember me? I was once the knight of Cornelia." While the party wondered about who he was, magic began swirling around him as the knight continued speaking. "Two thousand years from now... you killed me. I am Garland." Shock appeared on Warriors' faces. Kelin was the one to mutter out: "But how? How are you here? That should be impossible.", and Mari chimed in with: "Also what do you mean two thousand years from now?" With smile hidden behind his helmet, Garland answered. "Oh, you did defeat me then. But the four great forces saved me by sending me back through time!" Seeing how his words sent the party into even bigger shock, Garland turned his back towards them to show the altar to explain further. "Once here, I sent the four Fiends into the future where they shall once again use the four great forces to send me back to the past!" Finally Rosch regained enough composure to ask: "But what about their lairs and the people they trapped inside?" With a clear tone of happiness in his voice, he turned around again to face the party. "I don't care about the methods that they will do to reach the future. All I have given them is the ability to reach said future. Besides, in two thousand years I will remember none of this." The magic stopped swirling around Garland as he started transforming, causing the party to get into fighting stance. When the transformation finished, instead of a knight in shining silver armour, in front of the party stood a giant yellow horned demon with a tail and faces covering his stomach and knees. As he looked down on the party, as if they were just ants in his eyes, he finished his speech. "But I will be reborn here again. So even as you die again and again, I shall return! Born again into this endless cycle that I have created!"
Sensing the danger that Garland posed in his new form, Warriors sprung immediately into action with every buffs that they could use. Invisra, Protera, NullAll, Temper, Haste, Blink and Saber. All had to be active if they wanted to stand a chance. Garland's Cyclone spell sent them flying in all direction, causing immense pain. But they had to endure if they wanted to stand a chance. After evading Garland's Earthquake spell, Warriors finally went on offensive. Despite his immense strength that easily sent Warriors into walls as well as his mastery of elements, Garland couldn't gain control of situation. Every time one Warrior was knocked down, another one helped them get up while other two kept Garland busy. Messed up and bloodied, they still kept fighting. Under such onslaught, Garland was unable to keep up. Kelin and Rosch finally pierced his knees, knocking the demon down. Kelin, Mari and Rosch jumped on the demon's body and with their swords pierced the face on the stomach. While Garland was wailing in pain, he noticed roughed up Lewyn approaching his head. With a bloody smile on his face, Lewyn readied up for the last punch. The sound of his fist hitting demon's head was heard across the floor. As Garland started to decompose, a blinding light appeared.
When they came around, the party noticed that they were no longer in the arena where they fought demonized Garland. Instead they found themselves in a heaven like place with a beautiful blonde woman sitting on her ornate throne. With a smile on her face and in clothing similar that to Lufenians she stood up and started walking towards the party. Despite them taking battle stance, the woman was able to make them calm down with commanding presence and a beautiful voice. A familiar voice.
Goddess: "I am grateful, Warriors of Lights, for all of your actions."
As soon as they recognized the voice, they immediately kneeled down in sign of respect for one that granted them their power. Ever since that fated encounter in Cornelia they were diligent and hard-working at saving the world. Now with the proper meeting with deity that granted them power, it truly seemed as if their role was fulfilled.
Goddess: "Please, rise up. You have more than earned your right to stand after all of your deeds."
Rosch: "Are you sure, Your, um, Holiness?"
Goddess: It is because of my own weakness that people suffered at the hands of Chaos for millennia. My own fault that so many died during the Fiends' rule. At the very least I wish to see my chosen champions eye-to-eye. Would you please acquiesce to my request?
Warriors listened this and stood up.
Goddess: "Thank you. I am truly grateful for everything that you have done and I wish I could have helped in easing your burden on your journey. The only thing I can now reward you with is something that you have truly earned. (With a simple hand she created a portal behind her.) This will take you to the world cleansed of Chaos, the world that, thanks to your efforts, was allowed to develop in peace. This is the only fair prize I can offer to all of you."
Kelin: "We are grateful for your consideration, Goddess. (With that he started walking towards the portal. It didn't take him too long to notice something was wrong, however. When he turned around, he noticed he was the only one out of the Warriors to step forward. The rest had a clear look of uncertainty on their faces.) What's wrong, guys?"
Lewyn: "I don't know. There's something. Something I can't figure out."
Mari: "I think I know what you mean."
Kelin: "Wait. Do you think this is a trap of some kind?"
Mari: "No, of course not. There is just... Um..."
Rosch: "I'll be the one to ask then. Goddess, would you please answer me one simple question?"
Goddess: "Of course. You have earned your right to receive the answers you want."
Rosch: "Then is it true? Does Garland's speech have any shred of truth in it?"
Goddess: "It's all true. The actions of Garland and the Fiends have caused a time loop, one that has trapped your world for many cycles until you finally ended it. It's because of you that the world will now have a bright future ahead."
Rosch: "So we are in the past and those are the real Fiend that we had defeated?"
Goddess: "Of course. Why do you ask?"
Lewyn: "Wait. What about Fiends from our time? Aren't they supposed to be the same ones that we just defeated? If so, won't that cause problems?"
Goddess: ...
Lewyn: "Um, Goddess?"
Mari: "Oh, no. No, that can't be."
Kelin: "What? What is it, Mari?"
Mari: "You said that the portal will lead us to the world that developed in peace without Chaos. But that's not our world. You never said we would return home. So why?"
Goddess: ...
Mari: "Please tell us. We deserve to know."
Goddess: (with shakiness in her voice) "Even if you will regret your actions in the end?"
With all 4 Warriors nodding on her question, Goddess continued. "Very well. Now, as you are aware, Fiends used their old lairs to imprison powerful beings from alternate universes in order to ensure their plans. Those beings would have been used as power sources to build up their strength while they hibernated through the centuries and also to have a way reviving themselves in case of their deaths. You can attest to how powerful the imprisoned beings were. Now imagine if Fiends' plan worked and they could revive with new powers in their hands."
Kelin: "That would be terrifying, but what that has to do with us?"
Goddess: "When you destroyed the lairs, you unleashed the energies contained within. That same energy that could have been used to teleport beings into a parallel universe, but this time controlled rather than random that you had experienced."
Rosch: "Wait. Are you saying we can't go home because we were too diligent?"
Goddess: "Yes. I truly didn't expect that you were able to handle every threat that existed in those lairs. After I granted you the power of the Crystals, I was too powerless to be able even to contact you. The most I could do was to reassign the Crystal in case one of you had died and to retrieve you from alternate dimensions that you visited along your journey."
Rosch: "So what exactly is waiting for us on the other end of that portal?"
Goddess: "You will end up in your bodies of the new timeline with your memories intact and your Crystals with you. You will be able to live on in the better world than the one you had left."
Lewyn: "But we are who we are because of the world and circumstances that raised us. The new world you are sending us to will be unrecognizable to us. Is there truly no way to return home?"
Goddess: "That's-"
?: "That's where I come in."
Everyone in the room was shocked to hear that there was someone else in the room with them. The person whom the voice belonged to manifested between the Goddess and Warriors. The mysterious figure clad in black and hiding its face with his black robe was quite a surprise to the party who forgot about its promise in Whisperwind Cove to return to them one day.
?: "Greetings, Cosmos and her chosen champions. It seems it's finally my time to appear."
Goddess: "D-Death?! What are you doing here?"
Mari: "Death?"
Death: "Yes. I am the guiding beacon for the fallen souls to their afterlife. As for why I am here, it is simple. I have a debt to pay to your champions, Cosmos, and I will do so now."
Kelin: "What debt? What are you talking about?"
Death: "Fiends schemed to ensure their dominance of the world by trapping 16 powerful beings from alternate universes into their lairs and using them as sources of power. In doing so, they broke the natural order of things by forcing them to live when they should be dead. Your actions finally had set them free and for that I am deeply grateful. And that is the reason why I come before you now. I wish to repay the debt by sending you back into your world."
No one knew how to react to this situation. It seemed too surreal to be true.
Death: "What do you say?"
Kelin: "But how?"
Death: "Simple. Because I know that you exist, I know that your world still exists out there. Of course, that would normally be the break of the laws of your universe, but knowing your other selves from alternate realities, you would have tried to break them anyway."
Lewyn: "Our other selves? Is that related to that weird dream I had?"
Death: "Correct, Lewyn Marciano. While you were dead for a minute there, you had access to the events of one of your alternate selves by pure accident. For that, you have my apology. I truly didn't expect that something like that might happen."
Lewyn: "Um, it's, um, okay. I don't know what else to say."
Goddess: "I am more concerned what will be the cost of this action. I don't believe you would be willing to do this for free."
Death: "But of course. There will be one. All I request is the Crystals that each one of you received."
Mari: "What? Why?"
Death: "There are other such breaking of rules in other universes. Other such places where heroes like you would be needed. Even if I left all the power that you have collected across your journey with you, the sheer potential that they possess is enough to be worth it."
Kelin: "I see. Shame I don't feel like giving it away."
Death: "Oh? One simple price and you don't think it is worth it? Even if it might become useless to you?"
Kelin: "Yes. I think I speak in everyone's name when I say that all we want is to live the rest of our lives as we earned it. No more, no less. And that includes the Goddess' gift to us. If that seems selfish to you, then fine. We can accept it. Am I wrong?" Everyone nodded at his remark.
Death: "And you believe you can achieve that result without any costs or consequences?"
Kelin: "No, but we will try. We will give our best until we can reach it with our own hands."
Death: "I see. Well then. It seems I have to slightly change my plans. Let me ask one question. Is it truly worth for you to live the life you wish to have? Do you truly wish to return, even with grave circumstances?"
Kelin: "Yes, without a doubt."
Death: "And you won't regret your actions? No matter what happens?"
Kelin: "Yes."
Death: "Does he speak for everyone?"
All 3: "Yes."
At that, all 4 Warriors started glowing.
Death: "Well then. I guess it's time for all of you to go home."
Kelin: "Wait, you are actually sending us home?"
Death: "Yes. Please do recall the promise you made here next time we meet.
Lewyn: "Alright, but may I ask the Goddess something before we leave?"
Goddess: "What is it?"
Lewyn: "Were there any others considered to become a Warrior of Light? I always wonder if I was a right choice for it."
Goddess: "Yes, they were others considered to become the Warrior of Light. In fact, had I been able to grant more power, Lianna and Noelle would have joined you on your journey. Unfortunately, my power was so limited all I could do was to take a piece from each Crystal and grant it to you."
Lewyn: "Thank you. This makes me feel a bit better. And I am sure I am not the only one to say thank you for your help.
As all 4 Warriors smiled and waved at Cosmos, they slowly disappeared into the light until finally they were gone. There was a look of sadness on her face.
Goddess: "I really do hope you have sent them to the right time."
Death: "Of course. I have no need to lie like mortal beings do. They will live their lives as they wished and, when the time comes, all 4 will share the same fate. The only thing I embellished was the consequence of their action. Normally the humans show great fear towards the unknown. I doubt I installed one in this case."
Goddess: "I see. So why did you decide to react now? I doubt the Grim Reaper normally cares about these situations."
Death: "As I said, they solved a situation normally ignored by their predecessors. 15 cycles happened and yet no one cleared those lairs, forcing a version of me to react every time there was a break into reality. 60 Warriors of Light failed where they succeeded. That is an accomplishment worthy of praise."
Goddess: "I believe so, yes."
Death: "You should also be grateful to them. 30,000 years after your birth and you are finally able to leave this dreaded time loop."
Goddess: "At what cost though? 60 lives that are now forgotten because they failed to achieve their mission? How can I face myself knowing that I failed all of them and even lied to the ones that succeeded? How?"
Death: "I am afraid that is something you will have to figure out for yourself. I can only answer the end of life questions."
Goddess: "At least, thank you for your help."
Death: "Don't mention it. I am going to leave you, now. A new world awaits for both of us. Let's see what awaits for us there, shall we?"