The crew heads toward the empire's weapons testing site. Eugen explains the importance of Leviathan, the primal beast that protects Auguste.
Vyrn
Ugh... The stench is getting stronger.
Rackam
We must be getting closer to the source of the pollution.
Katalina
By the way, Eugen... You wouldn't happen to be aware of the local legends pertaining to primal beasts, would you?
Eugen
Local legends... Oh, like the one about how pieces of the sky map are protected by great primal beasts scattered across the skydom?
Eugen
There may be something to it... Here on Auguste we have a guardian deity called Leviathan.
Eugen
It's all thanks to that primal beast that Auguste's waters possess a special power...
Vyrn
Leviathan...
Vyrn
Bingo! That thing must be the great primal beast of water!
Rackam
You sure seem knowledgeable about this, Eugen. Been here a while?
Eugen
I was born here, dummy. Everyone who lives here has heard the tale.
Rackam
Huh? But I heard you were raised by wolves in the wilderness!
Eugen
Just you wait, Rackam. Once I clear out these monsters, you're next.
Gran and company reach the empire's weapons testing site but find a half-finished weapon left unattended. While they wonder why security is so lax, monsters that seem to be protecting the site attack them.
Io
Over here, everyone! There's some kind of huge... something.
Katalina
What is that?
Eugen
This is a new imperial weapon, no mistake about it. Looks half-finished though.
Rackam
It still seems surprisingly quiet around here. Did they decide to abandon it?
Eugen
I highly doubt that. The empire's always yelling at someone to finish making this, you know.
Katalina
This doesn't add up. And considering the lack of security... Is this a trap?
Vyrn
I think that might be the least of our worries, guys!
Katalina
Hm? What's the matter, Vyrn? Did you find someth—
???
...!
Io
So something was guarding this place! And it's coming our way!
Rackam
Stay calm, Io! Gran, let's show Eugen what we can do!
Gran and company defeat the monsters protecting the testing site. But there's a sick sense of unease growing in the pit of Lyria's stomach.
Io
Whew... W-was that the last of them? The monsters are all gone now, right?
Rackam
Quit shaking in your little boots. We can handle anything that comes our way!
Io
Y-yeah, I guess you're right...
Eugen
You've found yourself a tough little crew, Rackam. I take it you're the leader of this ragtag operation, Gran?
Eugen
For a spacy, unfocused upstart, you're not bad. Better than I thought anyway.
Dialogue Option
Thanks.
Vyrn
When people praise Gran, it makes me happy too! This must be what a parent feels when their child makes it in the world!
Dialogue Option
I've still got a long way to go.
Vyrn
You're always so hard on yourself, Gran! You can just say thanks when people compliment you, y'know!
Katalina
Now that we've removed the source of the pollution, will the ocean return to normal?
Eugen
It will. The ocean here is filled with Leviathan's power.
Eugen
It's a power that can heal both people and nature alike. Auguste will be back to normal in no time.
Vyrn
All that's left is to send the empire packing, and Auguste's as good as saved!
Eugen
Come to think of it, I overheard someone saying they'd caught some imperial agents earlier...
Lyria
Hey, Gran, do you really think this will turn the water here back to normal?
Lyria
I'm sensing something bad... and it doesn't have anything to do with the empire.
Lyria
It feels... bigger than them somehow...
Lyria is overcome with an anxiety she finds difficult to explain. An indescribable restlessness wells up within her like a gathering storm.
9: Horizon in the Clouds 
