The chancellor is about to finish off Ares, but Katalina manages to save the primal. Ares comes to terms with her life's regrets, entrusting her primal powers to Katalina and then merging with Alby into Luminiera Malice. Luckily Lyria arrives to help Katalina, and the two skyfarers fight as one.
Ares
Haaaah!
Chancellor
...!
The killing intent behind Ares's attack is so overwhelming that it forces the woman to make a hasty retreat.
Ares
I'm not done yet!
Anticipating her opponent's actions, Ares immediately launches another wave of attacks.
The harsh clang of metal against metal echoes off the empty walls of the arena.
Chancellor
Very impressive. You fight without a shred of doubt.
Ares
...
Ares
(Nothing will sway my focus. I only need one slash to put an end to this.)
Ares
Haah!
Ares
(But this feels so nostalgic.)
Ares
(There it is... Attack right, pivot left. Show a feint while aiming for the legs.)
Ares
(Just like old times. I know this pattern.)
Ares
(I adored how she danced across the floor, her breathing perfectly matching her movements.)
Chancellor
...!
Ares
(But now death comes for her.)
Ares
(I chose the knight's path, and I will never veer from it. I will kill her!)
Ares
Haaaah!
Chancellor
...!
Ares charges in with a heart-stopping battle cry. The woman deflects the powerful attack, but her stance has been broken.
Ares
I've got you now!
Ares targets the brief gap with pinpoint accuracy, stopping the tip of her sword just before the young woman's neck.
Chancellor
...
Ares
You're finished—
Chancellor
Oh, am I?
This is the chance the woman has been waiting for. She quickly slaps the sword away while Ares is in midsentence.
Ares
Unh!
Chancellor
What's the matter? Don't tell me you forgot how much I hate losing!
The woman drops down with lightning speed and sweeps Ares's legs from under her.
Ares
What!
Ares
Damn you!
Chancellor
You're not going anywhere.
The chancellor leaps onto Ares's back to render the primal beast immobile. She then flips Ares over, pinning her to the ground.
Ares
(I got careless. She has me!)
Ares looks up at her assailant, whose dark figure silhouetted against the moon conjures up a memory of the past.
???
Ah... Thank goodness you're still alive.
Ares
(That's right. I remember now.)
Ares
(I put you through that, didn't I...)
Chancellor
...
Even as the chancellor raises her sword over Ares's head, the primal beast remains motionless, simply content to watch.
That is until a winded voice announces the entry of another into the fray.
Katalina
Stop. I don't need to tell you what will happen if you swing that sword.
Chancellor
...!
Feeling a prick of cold steel against the nape of her neck, the young woman immediately backs away from Ares.
Ares
How does your body feel?
Katalina
I'm not sure, but I can move at least. That's why I came to see you.
Katalina
You were right about everything. Will you let me handle things here?
Ares
...
I refuse.
Katalina
Why?
Ares
Stop pushing yourself. You and I are so alike.
Ares
I know what you're thinking. Alby resembles someone close to you.
Katalina
...
Ares
So you plan on casting aside your humanity in my stead? Did you honestly think I would approve?
Katalina
If that's what it takes to obtain power, then I—
Ares
Forgive me. I was the one mistaken in that regard.
Ares sheathes her sword. She removes her helmet and stands down.
Ares
It's all clear to me now. I finally understand what this is all about.
The primal beast takes several strides toward the chancellor. There's no hostility in her gait, no sense of wariness hanging about her.
Chancellor
...
Katalina
Wait! What are you doing!
Ares
I wasn't looking to fight you. This is what I've wanted to do from the start.
Ares places her arms around the woman's shoulders and slowly draws her close.
Chancellor
Hehe... Took you long enough to be honest with yourself.
A gleam of light born of the young woman's contentment soon surrounds both her and Ares.
Katalina
I don't understand...
Ares
There must be a reason why I ended up in the Otherworld instead of perishing.
Ares
I believe what's happening right now is that reason.
Ares
I became so preoccupied with adhering to guardianship in the strictest sense that I turned my back on everything else.
Ares
But I've finally found it. Or rather I've opened my eyes to who's always been in front of me. The one person I can entrust everything to.
Ares has her eyes trained on Katalina.
Ares
Entrusting all of my power to you is an elegant solution, wouldn't you agree?
Katalina
All of your power?
Ares
Fate judged my life be ended at the hands of that man.
Ares
The connection between my core and that which constitutes my power as a primal beast continues to grow unstable.
Ares
I bequeath to you the primal powers that have been excised from me.
Ares
And with that power, perhaps you'll be able to come to terms with who you are. I hope you learn to love yourself.
Katalina
Wait! What will happen to you?
Ares
I will vanish like I wanted, my wishes fulfilled. I have no regrets.
Ares
I will trust you with the future. I know you can carry the torch.
Ares
Because you are, in the truest sense, the child that met all my expectations.
Katalina
Expectations?
Ares simply nods. She takes the chancellor's hand.
Ares
Alby is just a nickname. Her real name is Albion.
Ares
She was Luminiera's first pact keeper.
Ares
That's all I will say. Your instincts are sharp enough to figure out the rest.
Katalina
...
The light intensifies in Katalina's silence.
Ares
You'll be fine, Katalina. You have all the crucial pieces.
Ares
Do not lose sight of the path you determine for yourself. Grow strong being who you are.
Katalina
Ares?
A flash of light temporary blinds Katalina. When she opens her eyes, only a small orb of light remains.
Katalina
Is that...
Luminiera Malice
...
A giant primal beast suddenly erupts from the light orb and launches an assault on Katalina.
Katalina
...!
Katalina
It appears my trial hasn't fully concluded.
Katalina
(Now that I think about it, I feel power welling inside me.)
Katalina
(But how is that going to help me here?)
Luminiera Malice
...!
Sensing Katalina's indecisiveness, the giant assailant swings its sword down on the knight.
But instead of hitting Katalina, the sword smashes against a brilliant blue barrier.
Katalina
Lyria!
Lyria
Katalina!
Lyria
Everything's going to be okay!
Luminiera Malice
...!
Lyria
...!
Katalina
That's enough, Lyria! It's too much for you!
Lyria
I'm fine! It's my turn to protect you!
Lyria
I'm here with you now, so there's nothing to worry about!
Katalina
Lyria...
Something inside Katalina changes, her steely rationalizations melting away.
Katalina
(I'm doing it again, aren't I?)
Katalina
(I'm losing sight of what's important.)
Lyria
Katalina?
Katalina
I think I can see the big picture now, Lyria.
Katalina
I was pushing away those I hold dear again.
Lyria
Don't worry. No matter how many times you get lost, I'll be there to guide you.
Katalina
Mm, I know. Thank you, Lyria. With you beside me, I'm not afraid to fight!
Katalina
It's all going to work out. You give me the strength to go on, Lyria.
Katalina
There's no more time to waste. Gran's waiting for us. Let's go home to the Sky Realm!
Primal Beast
...
Astral power bequeathed to Katalina courses through her body. With her trusty sword always at the ready, this knight vows to protect all she holds dear.
While Katalina and Lyria are engaged in their battle, Rackam and Mikaboshi watch in disbelief as an Otherworldly army draws near and then suddenly stops. A single Otherworldly envoy steps forward, welcoming the visitors from the Sky Realm. Though the beings show no intention of attacking, the envoy's twisted smile feels sinister nonetheless.
Katalina and Lyria are busy fighting a fierce battle.
Meanwhile Rackam and Mikaboshi are faced with their own peril.
Rackam
Great, just what we need: more problems. What the hell is it this time?
Mikaboshi
It's the Otherworldly forces. Could be the main bulk of their army from the looks of it.
Rackam and Mikaboshi are the only two left who can keep an eye on Katalina, Lyria, and Ares.
But right now they're gawking at the mass of bodies cresting the horizon like an angry tidal wave.
Otherworldly beings of all shapes and sizes fill the ranks of this unsightly army.
Despite their unfathomable numbers, the aberrant creatures approach in lockstep.
Rackam
Damn it! I can't think of a way out of this!
Mikaboshi
It's not even worth asking whether we could fight back against their numbers.
Rackam and Mikaboshi resign themselves to hopelessness. But then for whatever reason, column after column of Otherworldly soldiers halts in formation.
Rackam
What's going on? Why'd they stop?
The skydwellers wait with bated breath, their wary eyes following the lone aberration that has come to the fore. To their surprise, it respectfully bows.
Envoy
Many greetings to you, lady Astral and sky gentleman.
Mikaboshi
Who are you?
Rackam
Hate to be rude, but we're not looking to play nice.
Envoy
Oh? There seems to be a misunderstanding. That saddens me.
Envoy
We'd suffer a terrible blow if we lost the girl in blue.
Envoy
Therefore we've only come to offer salutations. We have no wish to fight.
Rackam
You're here to welcome us?
Envoy
Yes, yes. Pleased to make your acquaintance.
Envoy
Very soon everything will be ours again. The time of restoration is upon us.
The Otherworldly envoy's mouth contorts itself into an unsettling smile.
The true meaning behind its words are lost on Rackam and Mikaboshi, but there's no doubt in their minds that no good can come of it.
128: A Knight and a Maiden 
