After hearing about the situation in Nalhegrande, Ares suggests that Katalina learn the innermost teachings from her. Ares's primal beast powers could then be used to manifest a map piece, allowing them to return to the Sky Realm. Katalina agrees, and a temporary pact is formed.
Lyria, Katalina, Rackam, and Mikaboshi were forced into the Otherworld. That's where they happened across the mysterious primal beast Ares.
The skydwellers explain what's happening in Nalhegrande to Ares as well as why they seek her help.
Ares
So the Otherworld is making its move.
Ares
I always knew it was a question of when rather than how.
Ares
This is a fine mess you've left behind, Mikaboshi.
Mikaboshi
Ngh...
Mikaboshi
I-it wasn't supposed to turn out this way...
Ares
Do you not see the dire situation that has befallen us?
Mikaboshi
Well... That's why...
Mikaboshi
Instead of focusing on the negatives, we should quickly find a way to—
Ares
Don't change the subject. You knew how much of a threat the Otherworld posed to skydwellers and Astrals alike.
Ares
That lapse in judgment gave rise to this calamity. There's no getting around it.
Mikaboshi
Oh...
Like a mischievous little girl getting caught by her parents, Mikaboshi shrinks from Ares's reproach.
It's enough to make Rackam jump in to the conversation.
Rackam
Ahem. So like we were saying earlier, our pals in the Sky Realm are waiting for us.
Rackam
Do you have any idea how we can get back to our world?
Ares
I do, and I would like to cooperate with you. However...
Ares pauses briefly to scan the area, clearly wary of their surroundings.
Ares
Let us relocate. It's impossible to predict when Otherworldly beings will appear.
Ares
The Otherworld is a unique place. It has no night or day, and one does not need to eat or sleep. It's as if time itself has stopped.
Ares
Despite this, engaging their infinite numbers in battle will eventually wear you down.
Ares
There is a spot not far from here that offers some refuge from detection. Follow me.
Lyria
It's not just because of the Otherworld invasion.
Lyria
There's someone very important to me who's waiting. Someone I share my life with.
Lyria
I don't know how he's doing, but I just know I have to get back to him quickly.
Ares
Let me start by saying the Otherworld is not unlike the realm of the dead.
Ares
Strictly speaking, they are two distinct concepts. However, that distinction became lost in the Sky Realm, and it seems to have affected reality.
Ares
An academic could explain the details far better than a warrior such as myself.
Ares
In any case, the Otherworld is in close proximity to the Sky Realm, yet it possesses great discontinuity.
Mikaboshi
So you're wondering if there's a way for the dead to come back to life.
Katalina
Does that mean we're... dead?
Ares
I'm unable to answer that. For now you should concern yourself with asking the right questions.
Rackam
This sucks. The only thing I understand is that I don't understand anything.
Lyria
Well, we can't just give up!
Lyria
I can still feel my connection with Gran.
Lyria
It's warm and comforting, but it's getting weaker and weaker.
Lyria
That's why I'm not going to give up! I know he's doing everything he can too!
Lyria's impassioned words seem to be what Ares has been waiting to hear.
Ares
I'm not telling you to give up, but it won't be easy.
Ares turns her attention from Lyria to Katalina.
Ares
And, you, noble knight—your name is Katalina, isn't it?
Ares
Katalina... Yes, that's a good name.
Katalina
...?
Ares
Katalina. Are you prepared to receive the innermost teachings from me?
Katalina
Wh-what's this all of a sudden?
Ares
You require the Sky Map pieces for Nalhegrande.
Ares
Those pieces resonate with each other to form a whole. It's a rule that even the gods can't break.
Ares
You mentioned that your allies in the Sky Realm possess the piece from Kluger Island.
Rackam
Yep. Io said she got it from Zeyen.
Mikaboshi
Wait! Ares, does that mean you—
Ares
Yes. I made a pact with Starke Island as the primal beast that governs conflict and victory.
Ares
It happened many years after you were sealed away.
Ares looks off wistfully into the empty horizon, recalling the nature of how quickly things can change.
Ares
When I was a civilian employed in the Astral military, I lost my life to the chaos of the War.
Katalina
(I thought Astrals were said to be immortal? But if that's the case...)
Ares
I don't know how much time had passed. I awoke from purgatory, no longer an Astral.
Ares
I saw a man. He called himself "the Snake." Perhaps he was a researcher.
Ares
This Astral—the Snake—collected my soul, my memories, and my war experiences into a core which rendered me a primal beast.
Ares
That is the Ares you see before you.
Ares
I was then deified in Starke and formed a pact with the island.
Mikaboshi listens intently, her brow furrowing deeper with each new bit of information.
Mikaboshi
The Snake? Who's that? Just because I got sealed away, everyone acted like they owned the place...
Rackam
So what's this got to do with the innermost teachings?
Rackam
If you've got a piece of the map, couldn't you simply give it to us?
Ares
The map piece for Starke Island isn't here.
Ares
You must invoke a primal beast's authority to manifest a map piece.
Ares
Despite the fact that I am in the Otherworld, the pact I forged with Starke Island luckily still remains.
Ares
However, I can't manifest the piece without releasing my full primal beast power.
Katalina
And to do so, you plan on using the innermost teachings.
Ares
Yes. Put another way, it doesn't matter what form I take as long as the requisite amount of power is used.
While everyone is still taking in Ares's explanation, Lyria timidly raises her hand.
Lyria
Um, what about Echidna?
Lyria
I think she's somewhere in the Otherworld.
Lyria
Wouldn't it be better to find her first?
Mikaboshi
Ah, I'd like to do that too if possible.
Ares
It's not that simple. We have so few clues to go by, and this land is exceptionally vast.
Ares
I don't know how far the Otherworld extends, but since my arrival here, I have yet to see any semblance of where it might end.
Ares
What's more...
Ares seems to hesitate about what she wants to say next.
Ares
This comes from my soldier's intuition, not my primal beast instincts.
Ares
Based on what you've told me so far, it's highly likely that the Otherworldly beings are targeting the red dragon and the girl in blue.
Ares
Given that they are responsible for dragging Echidna here, they may use her to lure you out.
Lyria
That's awful...
Katalina
Be that as it may, we need both Sky Map pieces.
Katalina
Assuming Ares's intuition is correct, and the Otherworldly beings are targeting us, then this is the perfect chance to boost my fighting potential.
Katalina shows optimism for Ares's suggestion, but there remains some trepidation in the knight's eyes.
Katalina
Learning the innermost teachings isn't simply a matter of forming pacts, right?
Katalina
I thought there had to be a deep connection between the primal beast and pact keeper.
Katalina
But this is our first meeting, you and I. I can't think of any pre-existing bond between us.
Katalina
Is it still possible for us to forge a pact despite this?
Ares
You don't have to worry about that. We are connected by a thread that can never be cut.
Ares
You will come to understand in due time, without need of explanation.
The primal beast chooses her words carefully, keeping them intentionally vague, but her follow-up is pointed.
Ares
While we're on the subject of concerns, I question your resolve.
Ares
As you're aware, the innermost teachings begin with a temporary pact, which places considerable strain on the pact keeper.
Ares
Once the process begins, there can only be one of two outcomes: dying in failure or returning in success.
Ares
You are wagering your life in the literal sense. Do you still wish to accept?
Katalina
...
Lyria
Katalina...
Katalina
It's okay, Lyria. Don't worry about a thing.
Katalina doesn't waver under Ares's gaze. Her mind is made up.
Katalina
I want to be stronger. No, I have to be stronger.
Katalina
How else can I continue protecting those dear to me?
Katalina
I'll overcome this perilous challenge and return better than I was before.
Ares
Very good. The first step is acknowledging that one's life may be forfeit.
Both sides finalize their decision to participate in the innermost teachings.
They turn to face each other, ready to forge the temporary pact.
Katalina
...
Ares
If you would, Mikaboshi.
Mikaboshi
Mm. It should be fine, but let's see if I remember how to do this.
Mikaboshi takes her place beside the two women. Light starts to gather in both of her arms.
Lyria
I'll be waiting right here for you, Katalina.
Katalina
I know. I'll see you soon. And then we'll go back to the sky where Gran is waiting.
Lyria nods, hardly daring to breathe.
Katalina
Rackam. Watch over Lyria while I'm gone, will you?
Rackam
Yeah, I've gotcha covered. Ain't a single Otherworldly being gonna lay a finger on Lyria.
Mikaboshi reaches out a glowing hand and places it on Ares's arm.
Mikaboshi
Okay, here we go. Good luck.
As soon as the Astral touches Katalina with her other hand, a dazzling light envelops all three of them.
Thus Katalina and Ares embark on a journey of discovery in which their souls are bound as one.
127: Into the Deeper Abyss 
