In the lair of Dykotomus, the crew finds the primal beast trying to thrash itself free from the force controlling it.
Dykotomus
...
After trekking through the Eoniho Mountains, Gran and the crew finally reach the lair of the primal beast Dykotomus.
Eugen
Seems pretty calm here. No sign of it rampaging, at least.
Lyria
It's not rampaging, but it's as if... something is holding it down, forcing it to be quiet.
Rackam
Controlling a primal beast, huh? That's not a power you can get easily, I'll say.
Katalina
This is the Nalhegrande border. I wouldn't be surprised if there's something unknown to us lurking about here.
Lyria
No matter what's out there, I know that this primal beast is suffering greatly. We've got to...
Dykotomus
...!
Io
What's happening? It's starting to go wild! And what was that sound?
The crew listens as a painful cry echoes all around them.
Lyria
No, p-please stop! You can't!
Vyrn
What is it, Lyria!
Lyria
The primal beast... It's trying to fight against the force controlling it.
Rosetta
It's trying to break itself, you see. That sound is the shriek of its body wearing out.
Rosetta's face looks stern as she watches the primal beast Dykotomus writhing in pain.
Dykotomus
...!
Orchid
At this rate... its body won't hold out.
Sturm
What could be behind this thing that it's willing to hurt itself so badly?
Drang
Who knows? But I have no doubt that this primal beast is no more than an expendable tool to whatever's using it.
Hal
How dreadful...
Feeling the gravity of the situation all at once, Hal watches Dykotomus with a heavy heart.
However, Lyria is undeterred and begins to speak.
Lyria
Everything will be fine. We can surely do something to help it!
Lyria
We can't turn our backs on it now!
Lyria
This might hurt a little... But I promise we'll help free you!
After the crew frees Dykotomus, Hal's servants appear and escort him back to the village. The crew continues to the mountaintop and sees Nalhegrande Skydom, but the winds of the Grim Basin suddenly scatter Gran and the crew in different directions as Loki and Fenrir look on.
Gran and the crew are able to calm Dykotomus after its long struggle with a mysterious power.
As it comes its senses, Dykotomus passes its power to Lyria, freeing itself from the power's overwhelming grasp.
Dykotomus
...
Lyria
I'm so relieved. It's returned back to normal now.
Vyrn
If you say so... It's not like we can tell anyway.
Io
But it feels like the air is lighter somehow.
Io
At least for me, things feel much more tranquil than before.
Rosetta
It would seem that Dykotomus was always a gentle primal beast.
Lyria
Yes, and now it can go back to its quiet life...
Lyria
!
Lyria's gaze suddenly turns from joy to fear as she spins around to look behind her.
Katalina
What's wrong? Are you all right, Lyria?
Lyria
Well um... It's just that I felt a cold stare...
Katalina
A stare?
Katalina looks around carefully at the Grim Basin and surrounding fields of snow.
Katalina
There doesn't seem to be anyone here but us...
Lyria
Yeah, you're r-right... Oh! I just remembered. About this...
Lyria nervously places a map piece before Dykotomus.
Lyria
Someone forced you to give this to us, right?
Lyria
So here...
Dykotomus
...
Lyria
Oh...
A gentle air envelopes Dykotomus before it slowly takes off into the sky.
Orchid
It's gone.
Drang
Which means that it's fine for you to go ahead and keep the map piece, right?
Lyria gazes a bit at the map piece, not yet ready to pick it up again.
Rosetta
It considered us worthy enough, I suppose.
Rosetta
It's rude to give back something precious that's been entrusted to you.
Lyria
You're right... I see!
Happy that she was able to keep her promise, Lyria takes the map piece in her hands.
With their Dykotomus mission complete, the crew is finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Vyrn
All right! Let's keep on going until we reach the mountaintop!
Vyrn
It looks like we're almost to the end of the Grim Basin, so the peak should be just ahead!
Eugen
Aye! We've finished the job, and I think that warrants a little reward with a spectacular view from the top!
Rackam
Whoa there, mister! Are you tellin' me you brought some wine with ya?
Eugen
Only enough for a little pick-me-up. No need to be so stiff!
Io
Ah, I knew you'd say that...
Rosetta
But it's easy to understand why one would start to feel a bit giddy.
Rosetta
Having another skydom within reach is enough to get your heart racing. And to get there on your own two feet...
Gran and the crew grow excited as they get closer to the peak.
Hal keeps a small distance from the crew, watching them with a lonely smile on his face.
Hal
Well then... I guess I'll return to the village now.
Hal
Dykotomus is back to its old self again, and I'm very grateful for all you've done.
Hal bows deeply before Gran.
Drang
Aren't you coming with us? To see the view from the top?
Hal
The ridge of the Eoniho Mountains, beyond the Grim Basin, is Nalhegrande Skydom territory.
Hal
I can't leave Silverwind Stretch within Phantagrande. And so... this is as far as I can go.
Reluctant to part with their new friend, the crew is at a loss for words.
Katalina
To be sure... that's a rule you must follow absolutely?
Vyrn
Aw, come on... It's only a little farther!
Vyrn
If you leave Phantagrande just a little bit, no one would know!
Drang
I dunno... Seems you might be wrong there.
As he speaks, Drang points at some shadows on the snowy mountainside.
Suddenly the shadows become clearer as several men appear before the crew.
Servants
...
Io
Huh? When did all these people get here?
Hal
They've been following us since I left the village. I can't run away, after all.
Hal smiles weakly at the servants. They gaze back at him awkwardly but refuse to move any closer.
Hal
I'm going back to the village with them. So Gran, please go...
Dialogue Option
We'll be waiting for you!
Hal
Thank you...
Hal
I promise...
I promise I'll catch up with you and your crew, Gran.
Dialogue Option
Don't keep us waiting too long!
Hal
Heheh... Oh all right.
Hal
I'll do my best not to keep you waiting, Gran!
With his servants at his side, Hal parts ways with Gran and the crew, turning around every now and then to wave.
The crew waves back each time, watching the young boy disappear into the distance.
Katalina
He's really gone...
Rackam
But I'm sure we'll meet again somewhere. When all's said and done, he's got a pure heart.
Rackam
We've gotta make sure to be even stronger next time we meet, else he'll be laughing at us!
Vyrn
You're right! We gotta become an even better crew and really surprise him!
And with that, Gran and the crew make a promise to see Hal again someday.
Drang
Now then! Let's go have some fun up there!
Io
It feels sort of unfair to go without Lecia...
Rosetta
We can always come back here together again. We have the map pieces after all.
Rackam
You got that right. And we can't just leave the Grandcypher sitting at the dock back there.
Eugen
Well, we've no obligation to even go, since we're just sightseein'.
Eugen
But this is a rare sight indeed. Sure'd be a pity to miss it!
Katalina
You're right. I wonder what sort of skydom lies beyond Phantagrande...
Sturm
Humph... It's all the same sky, so another skydom can't be much different.
Orchid
I don't think so... The skies we've worked so hard to reach must surely be beautiful.
Lyria
I think so too! It's exciting!
Lyria
It's as if all our adventures have led us here...
Lyria places a hand over her heart as she reflects on their journey together.
Vyrn closes his eyes a short moment before opening them wide, jumping into the air, and calling out to Gran.
Vyrn
Let's hurry! The beginning of a new journey is waiting for us!
All at once the crew breaks into a run, rushing up to the mountain peak...
Lyria
Oh... Wow!
From the ridge of the Eoniho Mountains, a boundless view of Nalhegrande Skydom stretches out before Gran and the crew.
Islands they have never seen before are spread across the sky, beckoning them onward.
Vyrn
Hey! Hey look! What's that? It looks like a weird, giant rock floating in the air!
Katalina
It's overwhelming... It's the same sky, but the space feels entirely different.
Rosetta
Well, we were stuck inside the Grim Basin for quite a while. And besides that, each skydom is unique in its own way...
Rosetta
Oh my...
Everyone is gripped by the sight of the new skydom except Rosetta, who suddenly looks back toward the Grim Basin.
Io
What is it, Rosetta?
Rosetta
It's the Grim Basin... It seems to be closing up.
Rackam
Well we're already out of there with our map pieces, so maybe it's going back to how it was.
Rosetta
No, wait a minute... Something's strange.
Lyria
What?
Everyone turns to look back, but it's too late. The Grim Basin erupts with a sudden force, swallowing up Gran and the crew in an instant.
The raging winds of the Grim Basin hoist the crew high in the air before scattering them in different directions.
Loki
Ah, that was fun.
Fenrir
Hey... You were able to use that primal beast all you wanted, so why draw this out even longer?
Loki
Ha-ha... You just don't get it, Fenrir.
Fenrir
Huh?
Loki
It's all an act, you see.
Loki laughs, delighted with himself.
Loki
Rather than just taking it, isn't it more interesting to snatch it away right as it's back in their grasp?
Fenrir
Oh...
Loki
Ahhh... I can't wait. What sort of adventure awaits them in Nalhegrande do you suppose?
Loki
No matter what, I'll be sure to turn it into a tragedy.
Loki
I hope you're looking forward to it, Gran...
Fenrir
Bah... I guess if you're having fun then that's good enough for me.
A bone chilling laugh, colder than any snow, echoes across the fields of white...
And a dark voice vows misfortune to the world.