Gilbert is defeated but manages to drag himself to the teleportation circle and teleport to the Great Wall. He is met by the True King, who transforms Gilbert into a living gate that connects to the Otherworld. The crew is determined to fight Gilbert again to release him from his misery.
Gilbert
Arggh... Ngh...
Gilbert
Huff... Huff...
Gilbert
Damn it all...
After yet another grueling skirmish, the crew has finally managed to quell Gilbert.
And thanks to the cooperation of Leona and Bai Ze, the unnatural creatures have also been driven away.
Golden Knight
Amazing... You actually defeated them all.
Lyria
Alliah! How's Pholia?
Golden Knight
Do not worry.
Alliah tips her head down, nodding toward her sister who lays unconscious in her arms.
Pholia
...
Golden Knight
She's sleeping now. I treated her wounds with rudimentary field medicine.
Golden Knight
We'll need to take her to an island with proper facilities by airship.
Golden Knight
It shouldn't be hard to transport her since you've taken care of all those bizarre creatures.
Cain
Thank you for protecting Her Majesty.
Bai Ze
You have my gratitude as well. Had it not been for your actions, Alliah, the sovereign's life would have surely been forfeit.
Dialogue Option
Thank you, Ally!
Golden Knight
I haven't permitted you to call me that!
Golden Knight
Besides, it's still too early to celebrate. There's plenty more we need to attend to.
Golden Knight
Namely there are a few things that I will have Gilbert answer for...
Alliah anxiously scans her surroundings but sees no sign of Gilbert.
Golden Knight
So... Where is he?
Vyrn
What!
The crew frantically searches for Gilbert, who was lying on the ground unconscious mere moments ago.
Rackam
That piece of... How was he still able to move?
Rosetta
Looks like he dragged himself away. He's left a trail all the way to that room.
Io
Eep! What if he's already made it to the Great Wall?
Leona
But Pholia is here. What can he do without her?
Leona
There's no way he could activate the Great Wall on his own.
Cain
There's no telling. But we have to go after him. We can't let him out of our sight again.
The crew agrees with Cain's sentiment and quickly heads for the Great Wall.
Gilbert
Pant... Wheeze... Cough...
Gilbert drags his limp body out of the teleportation circle and to the Great Wall proper.
Gilbert
Power... If only I had more power... I could do anything!
Gilbert
This is mine... This power is mine...
Gilbert
If only I had it... The Great Wall...
Gilbert
Mm?
Gilbert looks up to see two figures, instantly recognizing them as two people who shouldn't be in the same skydom as him.
True King
Good work, Gilbert. Your efforts were commendable.
White Knight
...
Hal
...
Gilbert
The True King... Why have you come?
True King
Oh, nothing really. I just thought I should come to reward the actions of my faithful subordinate.
True King
Everything's gone extremely well thanks to you, Gilbert. So I will bestow a gift upon you.
Gilbert
What are you saying? I betrayed you.
True King
Do you truly believe you were able to betray me?
Gilbert
What?
True King
You danced so well for me. Exactly as I willed, exactly where I willed.
True King
And for your service, I shall reward you. Don't you feel grateful?
Gilbert
True King...
Gilbert
You decrepit fossil!
True King
Now... I grant you eternal life.
True King
Do it, White Knight.
Gilbert
Argh!
White Knight
...
Hal
...
Without a moment of hesitation, the White Knight carries out the True King's orders.
Gilbert
Urgh...
Gilbert
Aaaaaaaargh!
A torrent of Otherworld power swallows Gilbert whole, causing his body to convulse as it transforms.
True King
Hmm, well, opening the gate all at once isn't enough to destroy it.
Gilbert
Aaaah! Aaaaargh!
True King
Gilbert... There's a good boy. You were so foolish, so easily manipulated.
Even through agonized screams, the True King looks at Gilbert with eyes of affection.
True King
I'm expecting great things from you, Gilbert. From now until evermore, you will prove useful to me.
With a perfectly placid expression, the True King looks upon his squirming, transmogrified subject.
Cain
We're here... In the Great Wall...
Although they're a few steps behind Gilbert, Gran and the others have also set foot into the giant weapon.
Vyrn
Wh-whoa! Look!
Gran turns to see what Vyrn has spotted.
Gilbert
Uh... Agh...
Katalina
Gilbert! Does he really still have power left!
Rackam
Geez, you gotta give him credit. He's tougher than he looks.
Gilbert
Ah... Agh...
Reinhardtzar
Wait. Something's off.
True King
No, there isn't. The Gilbert you see before you is the Gilbert that forever shall be.
White Knight
...
Dialogue Option
Who are you?
True King
Dear child, even if you do not know me, I certainly know you.
True King
I've been looking forward to meeting you for so long.
Vyrn
Huh? Who the heck are you, pal? I don't remember you at all.
Lyria
Gran, you don't know them, do you?
While Gran tries to process the scenario at hand, a small figure appears from behind the True King.
Hal
It can't be... Gran?
Katalina
It's you! From the Silverwind Stretch!
Katalina
What are you doing here? Are you with those people?
Hal
No...
Please... Run away from him if you can...
Katalina
What?
True King
Come now, that's no way to speak to guests.
True King
Alas, young skyfarer, I would've preferred treating you with more decorum, but you've proven yourself to be a nuisance.
True King
If a lord sees filth spreading throughout his domain, it falls to him to purify his subjects.
True King
Would you do the honors, Gilbert?
Gilbert
Ugh... Ah...
Gilbert, his expression hollow, lurches forward to confront Gran and the crew.
Gilbert
Aaah... Raaagh...
With each step he takes, his body deteriorates a little more, like a sand castle gradually decaying in a strong breeze.
Cain
Stop! If you fight in that condition, you'll kill yourself!
True King
I'm afraid it's too late for that. Gilbert's mortal life is long behind him now.
True King
Think of him as less of a person... And more of a fleshy gate forged to draw out the power of the Otherworld.
Gilbert
Aaah... Ah...
Eugen
Whoa there, buddy... You don't look so good...
Io
I mean, I know we've fought him before, but this is too much...
Rosetta
It's unforgiveable. No one should have the right to defile someone else's life.
True King
There is an exception to everything. I am the unequivocal king, and therefore above your simple morals.
Upon hearing the True King justify his deplorable actions, animosity wells up inside of Gran.
Lyria
Gilbert's been warped... He's suffering terribly...
Cain
Not to mention he's overflowing with Otherworld energy. If we leave him like this, it'll call out more of those strange creatures.
Gilbert
Uuurgh! Aaargh!
Cain
Gran. Let's finish this once and for all.
Cain
Gilbert was as evil as they come, but I don't think it's right to abandon him to eternal suffering.
Cain
First we'll rip the Otherworld power right out of him...
Cain
And then we'll rid it from the Sky Realm!
The True King intends to activate the Great Wall by using Gilbert as fuel and Hal as a key. Baragona arrives and reveals that the True King sacrificed Torhid's king and queen to the wall in the same manner, which caused the divine retribution five years ago. Baragona then fuses with the wall as his final duty to the Torhid royal family.
Cain
Huff... Huff...
Despite their confusion and exhaustion, Gran and the others manage to eke out a victory against Gilbert.
However...
Gilbert
Aaahh... Ahh...
Reinhardtzar
Damn it. He's reviving himself.
True King
That is the nature of the gate. So long as it's supplied with Otherworld power, it will continue to function.
True King
Gilbert cannot die while there is power to be absorbed.
True King
I'm so pleased for you, Gilbert. You will never thirst for power again.
Gilbert
Oooh... Aaah...
Hal
...
True King
Well... Enough of that. We've still too much left to arrange.
White Knight
...
The White Knight nods and lifts Gilbert, who has become barely more than a human-shaped mass of energy.
Gilbert
Aaaah...
Cain
Wait. What are you planning to do?
True King
I'm going to have Gilbert placed where I can use him best. In the furnace of the Great Wall.
The White Knight lifts Gilbert over a giant pit and drops him to the furnace waiting below.
Cain
Why, you! Were you aiming for this all along?
True King
A hideous creature like that is not meant to be displayed like a trophy.
True King
Gilbert planned on using Pholia to fuel the furnace.
True King
Even though her magical capacity is several times greater than that of the average person, she would have produced no more than four, maybe five shots.
True King
Remarkable how Gilbert missed the most important point.
Appalled by Gilbert's ignorance, the True King continues speaking with a tinge of disgust.
True King
No matter who you use for fuel, individuals will generally only produce one shot.
True King
Therefore one needs only to collect the requisite amount of fuel, whether it be for a few dozen or a few hundred blasts.
True King
The truly crucial part is the key that controls the Great Wall.
True King
Come now, Halvarda... This is your destiny.
Hal
My destiny...
Katalina
Stop! What are you going to do with the boy!
True King
I thought it was evident. I will have him merge with this weapon.
True King
The Great Wall won't activate with fuel alone—it requires the boy as a key.
True King
You see, the royal family of Torhid once colluded with the Astrals... So only one of their descendants will do.
Rackam
You can't expect us to say, "Ah yeah, sounds fair," and just leave quietly!
True King
That would be best. The White Knight over there isn't an enemy you can defeat in your fatigued state.
White Knight
...
Gran looks around at the others; their exhaustion is apparent.
Eugen
Damn it... No tellin' how strong this white tin can is, but we'd best not push our luck...
A frenetic tension hangs in the air as the crew realize their predicament.
However, a young voice, wavering in fear yet undeterred, pipes up to challenge the True King.
Hal
I... I won't follow your orders.
True King
What's this?
Hal
Someone once told me it's important to face your destiny head on.
Hal
Even though she seemed sad as she said that, she'd already accepted her fate.
Hal
But that's not how it should be.
Hal fixes his defiant glare on the True King and steps toward him.
Hal
Facing your destiny doesn't mean giving up and accepting whatever happens.
Hal
I won't run away. And I won't give up.
Hal
I'm going to stand against destiny with everything I've got.
Hal
It's what I have to do.
True King
...
The True King huffs, disgruntled by Hal's insubordination.
True King
Honestly, I grow weary of how people like you force me to exert myself...
True King
Oh, the very lengths that I had to go through back then too...
True King
It seems the Great Wall provides an environment ripe for these... derangements.
Cain, suddenly realizing something, questions the True King.
Cain
You said back then... You don't mean five years ago, do you?
True King
Hm. Clever one, aren't you, Cain?
Reinhardtzar
Wait a minute... Five years ago? The Great Wall?
Katalina
That's right! That's when the Great Wall was activated, bringing down divine retribution!
Dialogue Option
What do you know about it, True King?
Rackam
The way he described things, he more than knows something—he's the one who committed the damned atrocity!
Rosetta
Wait. If that's the case, then something's amiss.
Rosetta
To activate the Great Wall, wouldn't he need a royal from Torhid Kingdom?
Rosetta
The Torhid nobles were all Draph, but by all appearances, he's an Erune.
Rosetta
Which means others were sacrificed to launch the attack.
Scarlet Knight
My parents.
Katalina
Baragona... How did you—
Scarlet Knight
The teleportation circle is in the ruins of the palace I was born in. It's not strange that I remember the layout and shortcuts.
Reinhardtzar
Great, great, welcome home. Now, did you just say your parents were sacrificed for the divine retribution?
Reinhardtzar
Are you suggesting Torhid's king and queen caused the destruction five years ago?
Scarlet Knight
I won't deny it, considering that's technically what happened.
Scarlet Knight
But I know everything... Which means this moment has been a long time coming.
Baragona faces the True King, his gaze steely and resolute.
Scarlet Knight
True King. I never would have expected you to appear here yourself.
Scarlet Knight
I've misjudged your tenacity. Even while knowing of your terrible deeds, I was too naive.
True King
...
Cain
Pause a second. Can you start back from the beginning?
Cain
If this concerns the Great Wall, then we citizens of Nalhegrande have the right to know too.
Convinced by Cain's request, Baragona begins to explain in detail.
Scarlet Knight
Everything began around fifteen years ago.
Scarlet Knight
The royal family of Torhid Kingdom understood well the dangers of the Great Wall.
Scarlet Knight
With no use for the weapon, the king of Torhid fabricated a lie about it being a grave marker and kept it under the kingdom's control.
Scarlet Knight
But somehow, this man—the True King—found out about the truth of the Great Wall.
Scarlet Knight
He began relentlessly working from Istavion to activate and transfer the Great Wall to himself.
Scarlet Knight
It was then that Father and Mother, the king and queen, took a gamble.
Scarlet Knight
They decided they would activate the wall and try to destroy the True King.
The True King suddenly cuts into Baragona's explanation.
True King
However, they lost that gamble by underestimating me and my knights.
White Knight
...
Vyrn
Um, something's not addin' up here. So the Great Wall was never activated?
True King
Oh, I certainly made sure that it was. Using the royal couple, you see.
True King
It was such a good chance to test the true force of the legendary Great Wall.
Cain
That's the reason you brought divine retribution down on Torhid?
Cain
You destroyed half the island and preyed on a whole country just for a test?
True King
I do regret parts of the divine retribution...
The True King grimaces as past memories come back to him.
True King
The king in the furnace, the queen as the key... Unfortunately the king was an ordinary man, providing just enough fuel for one shot.
True King
Perhaps that's why the key was completely consumed.
True King
How many times I've regretted that day... If I had only prepared more fuel... And used the king as a substitute key...
Gran and the others stare dumbfounded at the True King as he nonchalantly recounts his horrific actions.
They snap back to reality when a trembling voice calls out from behind.
Golden Knight
Please wait... Your Majesty...
Golden Knight
If the divine retribution wasn't the work of Torhid's king and queen...
Golden Knight
Why did you give Baragona orders to exact absolution on his family members?
As if shocked by the ignorance of her question, the True King shakes his head in an exaggerated display of disgust.
True King
The royal family of Torhid is the key to activating the Great Wall.
True King
A fearsome weapon with the ability to traverse skydoms... Who but the True King himself should have control of such might?
True King
With Baragona already tightly wound around my finger, it was only a matter of ensuring the destruction of his fellow keys.
Turning his back on the crestfallen Alliah, the True King faces Baragona.
True King
However, my Scarlet Knight, your actions are to be commended.
He then fixes his eyes on Hal, a resolute smile creeping across his face.
True King
In order to maintain complete control of the keys, their numbers needed to be reduced.
True King
And yet, as a matter of course, I have come to realize that having a spare key would be prudent.
True King
Especially if that spare happens to be low in the hierarchy of succession. Perhaps a child who's lost his parents, whose supervision is easily managed.
True King
You did well to see Halvarda live... I thank you, Scarlet Knight.
True King
In honor of this magnanimous deed, I shall ignore Gilbert's report of your deception.
Baragona grimaces, a reaction to the True King's lighthearted tone.
Scarlet Knight
That's not why I saved him.
True King
Did you not prove your loyalty by following my orders? Did you not slaughter your relatives?
True King
Surely you only spared Halvarda's life because you were prolonging the inevitable?
Scarlet Knight
No. Not at all.
Scarlet Knight
It's finally come... The lives we forfeited have allowed us to deceive you.
True King
What?
Scarlet Knight
I've waited—no, my house has waited a long time for this.
Baragona puts a hand on the wall and begins to chant.
True King
N-no! Halt!
Scarlet Knight
On blood of the Astral bond, I beseech thee.
Scarlet Knight
If it is thy will, acknowledge me and awaken.
Scarlet Knight
Ye who would vindicate the wicked stars...
Scarlet Knight
The tomb of supreme destruction!
In the next instant, a burst of light fills the room, absorbing Baragona into the Great Wall.
The Scarlet Knight's tenacity, having eclipsed the will of the True King, guides him to his one desired conclusion.
109: Those Who Fight Back 
