Loki hasn't been himself ever since losing Mikaboshi, paying little heed even to Fenrir. Repti shows up with an important message for her. Meanwhile, Io's group attempts to defeat the Otherworld Cocoon before its absorption of the Omnipotent's power is complete.
Loki
...
Shortly after Io's group takes off, one individual quietly emerges and stares at the sky with a blank expression.
Loki
...
Watching him far from behind are three other figures.
Zwei
How long does he plan on keeping that up?
Gandharva
Who knows. Seeing a fellow Astral's passing must've affected him.
Fenrir
...
Fenrir
Loki's not that kind of person... Or at least he wasn't.
Zwei
Oh? Not like it makes a difference to me.
A disinterested Zwei sighs and looks up at the fractured sky.
Zwei
I once only cared about wrecking anything and everything...
Zwei
But now that the world is really ending, I can't say I feel all that content.
Zwei
Then again, I'm not exactly feeling motivated to stop the world's end either.
Gandharva
Tsk, eager to die, are you? The epitome of gloom and doom.
Zwei
Hah, look who's talking.
Zwei
The quest for ultimate strength only leads to death, because you're eventually going to lose to someone.
Gandharva
What a roundabout way of saying I'm the one eager to die. You don't understand a thing, do you.
Zwei
What?
Gandharva
I'd be dead already if I wanted to die. I'm not the type to lie around waiting to be killed.
Gandharva
In my eyes, one's life is always a gamble.
Gandharva
I don't want to lose it, but I'd gladly put it on the line for a good challenge.
Zwei
...
Zwei
You're disgusting... Why not follow Necesaria and go pick a fight with god then?
Gandharva
That god doesn't look like it'll be active anytime soon. What fun is beating on a wooden dummy?
Zwei
Heck if I know...
A flabbergasted Zwei shrugs her shoulders and shuffles off.
Gandharva
Worried about your master, mutt?
Fenrir
Call me a mutt again, and I'll bite your hand off.
Gandharva
At the end of the day, nothing's going to change if you don't act upon it.
Gandharva
Bottling up that hatred won't do you any good. You have to relieve it.
Gandharva
If you want him to know how you feel, how about smacking him good and waking him up from his half-dead stupor?
Fenrir
Shut up...
Gandharva lightly grunts in response before taking his leave.
Fenrir
...
Feeling a certain resolve, Fenrir slowly walks up to Loki.
Fenrir
Loki.
Loki
Mm... Yeah, Fenrir?
Fenrir
What were you looking at?
Loki
The sky and... airships. I noticed Necesaria went into the fray.
Fenrir
He'll be back soon enough with that dumb look on his face...
Loki
He won't. At least that's what my gut tells me.
Seeing how certain Loki seems to be of Necesaria's fate, Fenrir glares at the cocoon.
Fenrir
What's that supposed to mean?
Loki
To echo someone else's words, the stage is set.
Loki
There is no beginning without an end. In other words, to begin means that the ending draws ever nearer.
Loki
You know, I'm kind of relieved. Relieved to know that my journey's coming to an end.
Fenrir
...
Fenrir
No way are you okay with that...
Loki
Hm?
Fenrir
Whaddya mean the journey's gonna end! Just like you decided when to start, you get to decide when to end it!
Fenrir
Because it sure as hell ain't much of a "journey" if you're just letting yourself get swept up every which way!
Loki
...
Fenrir
This ain't the first time you've lost your stride.
Fenrir
Heck, I'd even say it's never mattered to you where you are in the moment.
Fenrir
You might've always looked down to stay grounded and remind yourself of where you are...
Fenrir
But having a place to belong was never the goal; it was just a means to an end.
Loki
Well...
Fenrir
I don't care where you end up, Loki. I'm coming with you.
Fenrir looks straight ahead at Loki, who is at a loss for words.
Fenrir
In the end though, you're the only one who knows what you're looking at!
Fenrir
Doesn't matter where you are, Loki. I only ask that you decide your next destination.
Loki
...
Despite Fenrir's best intentions, she doesn't quite get through to Loki.
Loki
I'm sorry, Fenrir...
With that, Loki walks away from her.
Fenrir
...
As Fenrir sees him off, a voice calls out.
Repti
Excuse me... I was wondering if you had a moment.
Fenrir
Not for you. Get lost.
Repti
Sniffff... Shame that you won't even lend me an ear.
Repti
But what if I said I could grant your wishes? Would you be willing to hear what I have to say?
Fenrir
Too bad for you that I'm not some gullible half-wit.
Repti
It's only natural to be wary. But the proposition I have for you isn't some makeshift solution.
Repti, despite his lack of sight, seems to gaze at Fenrir's face.
Fenrir
The heck is your problem?
Repti
Yes, there can be no doubt. I do know you.
Repti
As one who's had a hand in creating primal beasts, I recall the rumors that used to be spoken of you.
Repti
A primal beast so insolent, so impious, and so inauspicious that she was buried in anonymity.
Repti
Your lost power is the key to overcoming whatever comes next.
Repti
...
Do I have your interest now?
Fenrir
...
Having some faint idea of what Repti may be referring to, Fenrir finds her curiosity piqued.
Io
...
Io's group has landed on the barren Edan Island with an Istavion Kingdom airship.
They march toward the pulsating Otherworld Cocoon atop the Legion Void.
Necesaria
We're not seeing much movement despite all those boastful claims from Maxwell earlier. Gives me an uneasy feeling.
Eugen
Whatever the case, that thing being immobile is definitely an advantage we want.
Eugen
Getting in the first strike would definitely help, but I'm sure it'll still be a tough battle...
Eugen
Just so we're clear, I won't be focusing on keeping you safe.
Necesaria
A shame... No worries though. I wasn't expecting any special favors to begin with.
Necesaria
I should also ask you not to expect too much from me on the battlefield.
As Eugen and Necesaria keep each other in check, Io remains silent in her downcast mood.
Rosetta
Io...
Io
Huh? A-ah, yes, Rosetta?
Rosetta
...
Io
Rosetta?
Rosetta
It's perfectly fine if you'd prefer to stay behind with Gran's group.
Rosetta
I believe everything the blind Astral said to be true.
Rosetta
It just goes to show how vast the power I sense from the Otherworld Cocoon is.
Rosetta
It may be docile for now, but I doubt that will be the case once it awakens.
Rosetta
That's why...
Io
Rosetta.
The primal lifts her gaze from the ground, but Io is no longer where she was a moment ago.
Without a word, she had wrapped her arms around Rosetta.
Rosetta
Io...
After being briefly comforted by Rosetta's head pats, Io pulls away to continue their conversation.
Io
Thanks... I'm okay.
I'm okay now, Rosetta.
Io
For one thing, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid...
Io
But I want to fight beside you, Rosetta... For everyone's sake.
Io tightly grips the staff in her hand as a show of resolve.
Io
Say we just run away or call it quits...
Io
Even more innocent people would be caught up in the terrible battle.
Io
Those who can barely defend themselves would be forced to fight...
Io
If there's anything I can do to prevent that from happening, then of course I'm going for it.
Io
And besides, you'll be right there with me, Rosetta! That's how I know this is going to turn out okay!
Rosetta
...
Rosetta
Mm-hm... I'm not afraid of anything either as long as you're with me, Io.
Io
Right? Ehehe...
Necesaria comments on their heartfelt exchange.
Necesaria
That's nice, isn't it?
Necesaria
Do you have anyone like that? Someone you care about?
Eugen
...
I've got a daughter. But she's fightin' her own battle elsewhere right now.
Eugen
If I want to show her what a cool dad she's got, retreat definitely ain't in the cards.
Necesaria
"Cool dad," huh? That's a fun way of putting it.
Necesaria
I'm quite fond of that actually. Sounds like the ideal dad to me.
Eugen
Heh... That's the kind of thing I'd rather hear from my daughter.
Necesaria
And I'm sure she'll have plenty of compliments for you once this battle's over.
The ominous silence of the wasteland grows ever more oppressive the closer they get to the Legion Void.
In the center of it all is the sinister pulsating cocoon, its true nature unknown.
Otherworld Cocoon
...
Eugen
We're getting close, but no reaction from the thing yet.
Rosetta
Though I do feel the presence of a massive power...
Rosetta
It feels like it could explode at any moment... Perhaps it's being contained?
Necesaria
The Omnipotent, was it? The god that the Otherworld absorbed.
Necesaria
Maybe it takes time to digest? Just a thought.
Io
That works out perfectly for us if it's true!
Io
We just have to take action and blow the thing to bits before digestion's complete!
174: Twilight 
