Loki uses the power of the inner teachings to easily defeat the crew and disappears with Fenrir and Mika. There's no time to dwell on defeat—the crew bids a bittersweet farewell to Shitori as the eruption carries them back up to the Sky Realm where new trials await.
Rackam
Gwah!
Rackam
Damn... He's a freak!
Loki
Heheh...
The crew has no choice but to go on the defensive before the might of Loki, who is able to utilize a primal's power beyond its own capabilities.
Loki
I think you sufficiently realize the difference in our strength.
Loki
I won't finish you off though. You have your journey to continue on. And I have mine.
Fenrir
Cough... Huff... Huff...
Io
Wha? Fenrir, you don't look so good...
Rosetta
Why do you push yourself so?
Fenrir
Shut... up... None of... your business...
Loki interjects, unconcerned with Fenrir's heavy breathing.
Loki
Watching you guys made me think. I wanted companions too.
Dialogue Option
Companions?
Loki
Yes. That's why I'm on a journey of my own. Just like you.
Saying no more, Loki turns away from the crew and slowly lifts his hand into the air.
He traces an outline in the empty space, and just like that a rift appears.
Vyrn
Whoa, what's that?
Lyria
I think it's an Astral power. I don't feel anything primal about it.
Eugen
Sigh... Why do the Astrals get all the good stuff...
Before anyone can do anything, Loki has picked up Mika in his arms. He turns to the crew one last time.
Loki
Okay, folks. This is where we part. I have business elsewhere.
Loki
Somehow, someway, we'll likely meet again. When both our travels coincide.
Loki
I can hardly wait for the fun to begin.
With that said, Loki steps through the rift with Mika.
Shitori
Mika!
Fenrir
Stop. It's over. You're too weak to do anything.
Fenrir
After all, you're just skydweller trash.
Shitori
...
Fenrir releases her grip on Shitori's outstretched hand.
The primal beast then follows in Loki's footsteps, the rift closing behind her on its own.
Silence in the form of helplessness is all that remains.
Shitori
...
Lyria
...
No one can muster the strength to break that silence, but no one needs to. The sound of approaching footsteps does it for them.
Edgedweller
Shitori! Ah, you people are here as well.
Edgedweller
The area is littered with fallen Blessed, but how is Mika?
Katalina
...
Katalina quietly shakes her head.
Quickly grasping the situation, the edgedweller speaks, lips pursed in consternation.
Edgedweller
I acknowledge the situation for what it is, but I still must inform you of something.
Edgedweller
That clash you just engaged in with the Astral...
Edgedweller
The volcano is showing signs of eruption due to the effects of said clash.
Dialogue Option
Which means...
Edgedweller
Yes. The time of ascension is imminent.
Edgedweller
You must return quickly to your airship.
Now is not the time for the crew to be chasing after Loki.
At the edgedweller's urging, they board the Grandcypher in anticipation of the eruption.
The last of the cargo is loaded.
Time is so short that the crew can only spare a few moments to say goodbye to the edgedwellers.
Shitori
Sorry. There's nothing else I can say right now.
Dialogue Option
We're the ones who are sorry.
Shitori
You didn't do anything wrong. Everything was my fault.
Dialogue Option
It was more than we could handle.
Shitori
You didn't do anything wrong. Everything was my fault.
Shitori
In the end I couldn't escape from what I'd done to Mika... err, Mother...
Shitori
I've regretted it ever since. I know there was no other way, but I'm still the one that went through with it.
Shitori
Regardless of whatever type of person she is, she's still my mother.
Shitori forces her words out while trying her best to hold back tears.
Shitori
I didn't prepare myself well enough for it. That's why I felt so guilty.
Shitori
I dream about it every night. About me rescuing her from that pitch-black prison.
Shitori
But I was the one who shut her in there!
Shitori
I... betrayed my own mother...
Shitori
I stabbed her in the back... and yet I always wanted to meet her again...
She turns to Gran with a sad smile.
Shitori
You are the singularity. The one that connects the Sky and Astral Realms, so I'm told.
Shitori
If... if only you'd been there during my time...
Shitori
Could I have stopped it without having to betray Mother?
Shitori
So that we could live together forever, regardless of where we came from?
Dialogue Option
...
Shitori
Sorry. I'm sorry. Dwelling on maybes isn't going to do anything.
The edgedweller calls out to Gran who hasn't said a word.
Edgedweller
The tremors are increasing. You had best go aboard.
Dialogue Option
Understood.
Edgedweller
Sorry. Our guidance ends here.
Dialogue Option
Thanks.
Edgedweller
Sorry. Our guidance ends here.
Edgedweller
May many blessings be upon the road you take.
Just before Gran heads into the Grandcypher, the captain asks Shitori one final question.
Dialogue Option
Will you come with us?
Shitori
...
Shitori
Thanks, but I will stay here.
Shitori
Loki is probably back in the skies somewhere with my mother.
Shitori
That's enough to make me want to go with you.
Shitori
But I definitely can't go as I am now. I'll only be impeding you.
Shitori
It's more than that. I still haven't sorted out my emotions yet.
Shitori
Should Mother and I ever face each other again, I wouldn't just impede you. I might prevent you from doing what must be done.
Shitori
You have my utmost thanks. That's why I'd hate to do anything that gets in your way.
The girl straightens a little, the beginnings of a glimmer appearing in her eyes.
Shitori
I'll become stronger and meet everyone again. Your crew and Mother.
Shitori
Her seal's been broken. I have to be prepared the next time I see her.
Shitori
I have to be able to stop her on my own.
Shitori
Thankfully you've shown me that it's possible for skydwellers to hold their own against the Astrals.
Shitori
I will get stronger for the next time we meet.
Shitori
And when that time comes, I'd be happy to be invited into your crew again.
Dialogue Option
You got it.
Shitori
Thanks. It's a promise.
Dialogue Option
We'll be waiting.
Shitori
Thanks. It's a promise.
After a brief exchange of smiles, Gran returns to the ship.
The other crew members are waiting for Gran up on the deck.
Rackam
So. Are we ready to go?
Rosetta
It's time to leave the Edgelands.
Io
Lemme just say I'm not sad to get away from here.
Eugen
It's safe to assume Loki ain't around here anymore either.
Katalina
Yes. We need to leave if we want to settle the score with him.
Lyria
Is Shitori doing okay?
Dialogue Option
You don't need to worry.
Lyria
Oh, that's good. Then that just leaves us to do our best.
Dialogue Option
She's a strong one.
Lyria
Oh, that's good. Then that just leaves us to do our best.
Vyrn
We got the True King on one side, and Loki on the other. The hits keep a-comin'.
Vyrn
But we're gettin' close to Pops out on the Island of the Astrals.
Vyrn
So let's set sail! This is the beginning of a new adventure!
Dialogue Option
Lift off!
Gran raises a triumphant roar.
The ground rumbles, perhaps in cadence with the vehement will radiating from the airship.
The primal beast Ebisu confers its blessings upon the crew and launches the Grandcypher high toward the sky.
Rackam
Urgh... Are we all here? Did anyone get blown away?
Dialogue Option
We're all hanging in there...
Katalina
This pressure is unbelievable!
Eugen
Makes sense the pressure'd flatten us after that sudden burst.
Eugen
But Ebisu could've pulled it back a notch...
Io
Why didn't we do the smart thing and wait inside the ship?
Rosetta
No, that's not right, Io.
Rosetta
Ebisu probably launched us while we were on the deck in order to see us off.
Rosetta
And so that we could do this!
Rosetta unleashes her thorned vines to smash incoming rocks.
Rosetta
If we'd been inside, we wouldn't have seen a direct hit coming.
Rosetta
There are more coming. Take care, everyone!
The crew defends the ship against an onslaught of rocky debris.
Vyrn
Whoa. Everything went dark all of a sudden.
Sensing something amiss, they all look up.
Lyria
That's—
Dialogue Option
An island!
The Grandcypher is on a collision course with a landmass that, gigantic as it is, they couldn't have foreseen at launch.
They're being welcomed by the underbelly of an island.
Katalina
This is terrible! We'll be dashed to pieces!
Io
How're we supposed to break an island?
Rackam
The rudder's useless! We can't steer away from it!
Rackam
We're like a bullet headin' straight toward a hundred layers of steel!
Lyria
What do we—
Lyria
Eeek!
Colossus
...
Io
Colossus! What—
Eugen
We're gonna get crushed!
The Grandcypher is about to make contact with the island's underside.
Colossus
...!
Colossus takes up a firm position on the deck and swings its sword at the island with all its might.
Rackam
Did... did we just move? Did we get knocked off course?
Katalina
Not yet! We're going to hit the island's edge!
Lyria
...!
Leviathan
...!
Yggdrasil
...!
Tiamat
...
Lyria
The primal beasts!
One by one the primal beasts manifest, intent on protecting the Grandcypher with all their power.
Leviathan softens the impact with a tidal cushion.
Yggdrasil adjusts course with hardened earth.
Tiamat wraps the vessel in a gentle wind.
Gran and company open their eyes, saved from a series of nightmares by primal beasts performing miraculous feats.
Dialogue Option
The shaking stopped.
Lyria
This is...
They look this way and that, the familiar landscape that stretches before them starting to register.
Rackam
Wait a minute! Are we back in...
Rackam
Port Breeze? Hah...
Hahaha...
Eugen
I can see Ungud Castle over there. Plus I'd know this wind and topography anywhere.
Katalina
Somehow we made it from Nalhegrande to Phantagrande.
Katalina
At least we're back in the Sky Realm.
Vyrn
Geez... If riding that eruption is what it takes to get back up here, I'd rather die than go through it again...
Io
Sigh... I'm pooped...
Rosetta
Heehee... You did well, Io.
Dialogue Option
Well done, everybody.
Lyria
Mm-hm! We all did our best!
Lyria happily touches the gem on her chest, thanking the primal beasts from the bottom of her heart.
Amidst the numerous hellos and farewells, Gran and the crew find themselves safely back in the Sky Realm.
???
We have confirmed an anomaly in the airflow in the vicinity of Port Breeze Archipelago.
???
Furthermore we have received reports of a suspicious airship immediately following the incident.
???
Please advise.
???
...
A figure listens to the soldier's report, their face unflinchingly morose, their lips sealed.
???
...
Waiting behind the figure is a girl, doll-like in demeanor, whose mouth dares not open.
Not long have the crew returned back to the skies when an unforeseen menace is already on the move.
114: Skyward Blessing 
