Gaon

Gaon
Title	Black Tortoise
Current Residence	Shangri-La
Gender	Male
Race	Sage (Black Tortoise Anima)
Affiliations	Elders of Grandis Four Symbols Adversary Keira
Enemies	Gerand Darmoor Kaling Shensung Maolang Xula
Status	Alive
Name (Other Servers)
ChinaMS	伽温 (Jiā wēn)

Gaon the Black Tortoise is one of the Four Symbols, the protectors of Shangri-La.

Story

The Ancient War

Gaon was a black tortoise Anima who lived in Grandis during the Ancient War. Gaon and his people were attacked by an Ancient God, who brought about the near-extinction of the black tortoise Anima, leaving Gaon as the last survivor. Because of this, Gaon developed a fierce hatred of the gods, believing that their power only brought about chaos and destruction.

Gaon dedicated his life to fighting the tyranny of the Ancient Gods and participated in the Ancient War until he was severely injured in battle. In order to heal himself with his abilities as a black tortoise Anima, Gaon searched the world for a source of pure water, though the carnage of war made it difficult to find any such sources.

Eventually, Gaon - heavily wounded - washed up on the shores of Carcion, the Cradle of Life, where he was found by an Ancient God named Keira, a water goddess who had protected Carcion and its snake and turtle Anima, who had fled the chaos of the Ancient Gods.

A staunch opponent of the gods' disregard for mortals, Keira healed Gaon and allowed him to recuperate in Carcion. Gaon slowly changed his stance on the gods and came to become a close friend and protector of Keira. During this time, an Ancient God named Brihini - an enormous sea serpent capable of creating devastating whirlpools - attacked Carcion, enraged that Keira refused to oppose the Overseers. Though Gaon and Keira managed to drive Brihini away, many Anima were killed and injured in the battle. To protect them, Keira infused her divine blessings into the waters of Carcion, which healed the Anima and strengthened their abilities.

The Four Symbols

Eventually, the elders of Grandis were tasked by the Overseers to create Adversaries in order to defeat the Ancient Gods, for which the elders created the floating laboratory of Odium. Knowing that those who feared the power of the Adversary, as well as those who coveted it, may attempt to attack Odium, the elders gathered four of the strongest Anima in Grandis.

Gaon was chosen by the Overseers to protect the elders as they worked to create Adversaries. Upon seeing how conflicted Gaon was at the realization that he would be helping the Overseers seal her away, Keira chose to help him by making the decision to seal herself away first, declaring that she would do her part to quell the primordial chaos. Before falling into dormancy, Keira gave Gaon a jewel infused with her powers, which was embedded into her spear. However, by the time that Gaon arrived at Odium, the divine power within the jewel had already faded away with Keira's slumber.

Alongside three others - Baekyeon, Shuli, and Ara - Gaon severed his ties to his old lives, becoming one of the Four Symbols. These four Anima were imbued with the divine blessings of the Overseers, giving them a nearly infinite lifespan. With this divine blessing, Gaon ascended to sagehood and became known as the Black Tortoise.

Protector of Shangri-La

Following the end of the war, the elders decided to clear away their research and sequester themselves away in Shangri-La, a magical realm created to halt the spread of their contamination, which threatened to erase their humanity. Shangri-La was created in the image of a beautiful painting and structured with four inner realms that corresponded to the four seasons.

The outermost barrier was Spring, which led deeper into Summer, Autumn, Winter, and finally to the innermost pavilion where the elders lived. Shangri-La was created to be closed to outsiders, with only a true sage being allowed to enter and leave, either physically through a special hanging scroll, or by astral projection through their dreams.

In order to prevent outsiders from forcing their way into Shangri-La, the Four Symbols who protected the elders were tasked with guarding each of the inner realms and their barriers. Ara the Blue Dragon protected Spring, Shuli the Vermillion Bird protected Summer, Baekyeon the White Tiger protected Autumn, and Gaon the Black Tortoise protected Winter. Each of the Four Symbols had their life forces tied to special scrolls that served as gateways in and out of their respective realms.

A New Adversary

Eons after the end of the Ancient War, Tai Yu brought a new Adversary to Shangri-La after the Angler Company's invasion of Odium. Immediately upon arriving, however, Gaon the Black Tortoise appeared and pointed his spear at them. Upon seeing Tai Yu, Gaon explained that he had been wondering how they had managed to elude all Four Symbols.

He told Tai Yu that he had known that Tai Yu had been given permission by the elders to go back and forth from Shangri-La and the world below, though he added that Tai Yu definitely hadn't been given permission to interfere in the affairs of the outside world as he pleased, chiding him for having brought outsiders to Shangri-La.

Tai Yu smiled and told Gaon that he appreciated the concern, though he added that Gaon had given them a bit of a scare. He turned to the Glory Guard and introduced Gaon as the Symbol of Winter. Turning back to Gaon, Tai Yu explained that though he hadn't expected a warm welcome, he added that Gaon ought to hear him out first.

Just then, the other three Symbols appeared – Ara, Baekyeon, and Shuli. Baekyeon joked that Gaon was a bit impatient, to which Ara told Baekyeon that he shouldn't talk about Gaon like that, especially since Baekyeon hadn't stopped them either. Shuli then noticed the Adversary and noted that she could clearly see why such outsiders had been brought into Shangri-La.

She explained that she had heard from Tai Yu about an Adversary who had been created in the outside world. She told the Adversary that the Four Symbols had protected the elders and the researchers when they had been conducting their experiments, and that in all the ages since then, none of them had seen anything quite like the Adversary, who was the only one of their kind to have retained their sense of self. She added that she would be lying if she were to say that their existence wasn't a surprise, not only to them, but to the elders as well.

Just then, Zigang, Maolang, Shensung, and Weio appeared to greet the Adversary, and were shocked to find that not only had they retained their humanity and sense of self, but that they had also escaped their preordained death, despite having fulfilled their purpose by killing a god.

Upon learning that Gerand Darmoor had broken their Seal Stone, thereby saving their life, Zigang and the other elders realized that the Adversary had rejected the will of the world, and that they would one day throw the world into chaos. Zigang ordered the Adversary and the World Heart, which they had brought from Odium, to be locked in Shangri-La. He also ordered Ara to throw Oz and Brighton, who had accompanied the Adversary, out of the realm, as well as for Baekyeon to seal Tai Yu in Autumn until the elders decided what to do with him. With that, the elders disappeared and the Symbols left to carry out their instructions.

However, Gaon stayed where he was and expressed his shock at what he had heard from the Adversary and Tai Yu. He explained that he had known that Tai Yu and several others had gone down to the world below, though he had only heard that it had been to tie up some of the loose ends that the elders had inadvertently created there. However, based on what he had heard, he noted that it must mean that there had never been order in the outside world and asked the Adversary if it was true that the world was not at peace.

Before the Adversary could answer, Gaon changed his mind and told them that there was nothing more for them to say, as he had only been tasked by Zigang to take them to Winter. The Adversary paused and thought to themselves that though they were about to say something, it seemed that Gaon wouldn't listen. Realizing that resisting would cause trouble for Oz, Brighton, and Tai Yu, they decided that they would follow his orders for now.

Kaling's Invasion

Gaon then led the Adversary to Winter, with snow immediately beginning to appear as they left the pavilion. The Adversary noticed a large scroll and realized that it was just like the one that they had seen in Spring. Suddenly, the Adversary spotted an assailant closing in and immediately warned Gaon, who blocked the attack with his spear.

Just then, Gaon spotted many more assailants approaching and quickly realized that it was an invasion force. He began wondering how it was possible that invaders could have come to Shangri-La, which was disconnected from the outside world. The Adversary realized that if Shangri-La was inaccessible from the outside, then it likely meant that someone from within had allowed the invaders to enter.

However, Gaon replied that it made no sense, as the elders had all been hand-picked by the will of the world itself. He explained that even in spite of how long it had been, and in spite of the contamination, their sense of duty to follow the will of the world shouldn't have changed. He noted that Shangri-La being attacked had never happened before, and that the only possibility was that there was a crack in their defenses somewhere. He then realized that Ara might be in trouble in Spring, as Ara was the gatekeeper of Shangri-La. The Adversary also realized that Oz and Brighton were with her, and that they would need help as well.

At Gaon's conflicted silence, the Adversary told them that to answer his earlier question about whether peace and order had vanished from the outside world, they explained that after the Ancient War, the world had been in danger countless times since, and though they had fought to protect the world and to save everyone's lives, the conflict, even now, still wasn't over. After processing the Adversary's words, Gaon told them that if they were telling the truth, then it meant that his conception of a peaceful world down below was nothing more than a delusion.

Upon seeing Gaon's shock and confusion at this revelation, the Adversary told him that though they didn't know what kind of world he had been expecting to see, they explained that there was one thing that they were sure of – that if he truly wanted peace, then he couldn't leave it to anyone else to secure it, as he needed to protect the world himself with unyielding determination.

Gaon began reflecting on the Adversary's words, but after a moment, he shook his head and told them that he couldn't deny what Zigang had said either, as it was also true that they were an Adversary who had defied destiny, meaning that they had the potential to create great chaos in the world. Though he told them that he couldn't just let them go, he also admitted that, given the situation, joining forces wasn't out of the question for the time being. He told them that they would head for Spring immediately in order to rescue their friends.

Though the Adversary was grateful, they nevertheless asked Gaon whether he himself was okay with working together, as the elders likely wouldn't be happy with him working with them. A somewhat unsure Gaon noted that he hadn't caused any problems like Tai Yu had, and so he hoped that the elders would overlook a single transgression. Though the Adversary noted that Gaon was clearly nervous about defying the elders for the first time in his life, they nevertheless followed him to Spring.

Confronting Maolang

There, however, they were shocked to find that the scroll of Spring was degrading. Gaon explained that the scrolls were intimately connected to the Symbols, and the fact that the scroll had been damaged to such an extent meant that Ara was gravely injured. As he began calling out to Ara, Maolang the rabbit elder appeared and noticed Gaon, who immediately asked her if she was alright.

Maolang told him that she was unharmed, though she added that she wasn't the one that he should be worried about. She then asked him what he was doing in Spring before noting that she could surmise the answer for herself. As Winter had been attacked, she supposed that he had come to determine whether the attack had come from the outside, since no one could enter Shangri-La without passing through Spring.

She laughed that he was quite trusting, as her first instinct would have been to suspect someone from the inside, for which she would have checked the pavilion in order to ensure that all the elders were where they ought to be. However, she told him that as the Symbol of a barrier, he would've figured the truth by now anyways – that the only way an outsider could enter Shangri-La without the barriers being affected was by someone from the inside allowing them entry, such as how Tai Yu had let the Glory Guard in.

She then laughed at Gaon for being so loyal that he would never allow himself to believe that someone would do so, adding that she could see why the other elders cared so much about him and the other Symbols. She noted that it seemed like such a waste to dispose of someone so talented, though she told him that he had saved her quite a lot of trouble, as she had been wondering how she would get the Adversary to come to her, as she, too, was wary of Zigang. She then attacked a shocked Gaon, though her attack was intercepted by a wounded Ara, who noted that as Gaon seemed to be fine, it meant that Zigang wasn't one of the betrayers.

Ara told Gaon that though she was relieved that he wasn't hurt, she had been worried that he would be coerced into joining the enemy. She explained that several elders were actually spies for Darmoor, and that they were planning to bring Kaling into Shangri-La on his orders. She then turned to Maolang and asked her how she could betray her companions – whom she had known since the dawn of time – to some inexperienced, newcomer Transcendent like Darmoor.

She demanded to know whether Maolang had abandoned her duty and her sense of responsibility as an elder, adding that Maolang ought to be ashamed of herself. Maolang amusedly noted that Ara had found her way back and laughed at her words, claiming that despite Ara's gall in addressing her in such a way, she was also quite short-sighted, as Ara could have avoided her fury by laying down quietly.

Maolang then attacked Ara once again, who managed to deflect the blow. Ara turned to the Adversary and told them that their comrades were fine, as they had already moved on to another season. Claiming that she could handle Spring alone, she asked them to check on the other seasons, as she was worried about Shuli and Baekyeon. Just as Gaon told Ara that he refused to leave her to face Maolang alone, several more assailants arrived to reinforce Maolang.

Ara reminded him that the Shangri-La that they knew, and even the elders that they had protected, were no more. Nevertheless, she added that she refused to give up, as she wouldn't allow Shangri-La to fall apart any further. Because of that, she told him that she would stay and protect Spring, reassuring him that she would be fine, as no one knew it as well as she did. She then told Gaon to leave with the Adversary and save the others.

Defeating Taowu

Gaon and the Adversary then entered Summer, where they reunited with Oz and Brighton. Brighton told Gaon that they owed him an apology, explaining that despite having promised Ara, they had failed to protect Shuli, the Symbol of Summer. As Gaon checked on Shuli's condition, he asked whether the attack was over. Just then, however, the Adversary sensed more enemies nearby.

Just as they began checking the scroll of Summer, darkness engulfed the realm as Taowu appeared before them. Gaon immediately recognized Taowu as one of the Perils that had gone missing. He then realized that if Taowu had managed to get past Spring and reach Summer, it meant that Ara must have fallen. Oz asked the Adversary if they would be fine, to which the Adversary reassured her that they would be, as they weren't fighting alone. Brighton agreed, noting that alongside the Glory Guard was one of the Four Symbols.

After a fierce battle, the Adversary and their allies managed to defeat Taowu. Shuli then regained consciousness and expressed her relief that Gaon was alright. She began warning him about the traitorous elders, to which Gaon reassured her that he was aware. He explained that Winter had also been attacked, and that Ara had sent them from Spring, as she had been worried about Shuli.

He regretted that he had come too late, as he might have been able to protect her if he hadn't hesitated. However, Shuli reassured him that they all knew that he was doing his best, promising that he hadn't come too late. She then weakly asked him to check on Baekyeon, after which she passed out from her injuries and exhaustion once again. After Oz checked on Shuli and determined that she would be fine, the Glory Guard and Gaon headed towards Autumn.

A Ruined Autumn

In Autumn, Tai Yu and Baekyeon faced Shensung together. Though Shensung was overwhelmed by their combined power, he managed to turn the tables by grabbing the scroll of Autumn, thereby sealing Baekyeon inside it and breaking the barrier. With Baekyeon sealed inside the scroll, darkness engulfed the realm as the Glory Guard and Gaon arrived in a ruined Autumn. The Adversary began asking Tai Yu whether he was alright, just as they looked around at the battlefield and marveled at how many enemies Tai Yu had been able to face. Gaon then asked Tai Yu where Baekyeon was.

Tai Yu answered that Baekyeon had been taken by Shensung and noted that they had arrived just in time, as he had barely been able to hold off the assailants without Baekyeon's help. Gaon was shocked to know that even Shensung had sided with Darmoor. Shensung laughed upon thinking that he had lived long enough to see the Black Tortoise, whom he called a kid, provoke him.

He then teleported right in front of the surprised Adversary and told them that it was nice to see them in one piece, explaining that their talents had caught Darmoor's attention. He added that though he wished that he could talk more, he had to get going, as he had something to take care of. He then laughed that they would see each other next time, adding that he hoped that they wouldn't be defeated in their current battle until then, after which he disappeared.

After Shensung left, Brighton felt the ground tremble and noted that something was coming. Suddenly, a revived Hundun appeared, whom the Adversary immediately recognized. A shocked Oz wondered how Hundun could be alive, as he was no longer fused with the Godsphere. Brighton replied that Hundun wasn't really alive, pointing out that the Hundun standing before them wasn't the same one that they had met in Odium.

The Adversary realized that the fact that Hundun was still moving had to be because of Kaling, or even Darmoor. However, they noted that it wasn't important, as they needed to stop him no matter what. The Adversary then faced Hundun, and after a fierce battle, they managed to defeat him. Tai Yu noted in satisfaction that the Adversary had taken care of Hundun successfully. However, he pointed out that Shensung had escaped, lamenting that he should have seen it coming, especially since he had now taken away Baekyeon.

Gaon reassured Tai Yu that Baekyeon would likely be fine, as Shensung wouldn't have taken the scroll if he had wanted to kill Baekyeon. Tai Yu jokingly noted that Gaon seemed quite relaxed after having encountered the Perils, though the Adversary cut in and reminded them that the fight wasn't yet over. Tai Yu agreed and reminded Gaon that it was too early to relax, as Kaling hadn't even shown herself yet. He noted that the Perils were fearsome enough on their own, but the power that they had demonstrated wasn't their full extent. He then realized that only Winter was still standing, to which Gaon pointed out that they still had Ara.

However, Tai Yu reminded Gaon that Shangri-La was a well-protected land, which Kaling – even with Darmoor backing her – couldn't release the Perils into so easily. He explained that if the barriers had all been intact, then they wouldn't have run into the Perils in the first place, meaning that Ara must have fallen.

The Adversary then realized that if the barrier of Winter was the only one standing, then they needed to protect it. Tai Yu agreed, adding that if Winter were to fall, then so would Shangri-La. Gaon told them that for what it was worth, he was the Symbol who knew Winter best, and so he suggested that they hurry as soon as possible.

Defeating Kaling

The Glory Guard then returned back to Winter, where they discovered Kaling. Kaling noticed the Adversary and told them that between the impudent Angler child and a rebellious Hundun, she had been kept quite busy since the invasion of Odium, with even the elders, whose faces she had never thought she'd see again, standing in her way. However, even in spite of them all, Kaling angrily told the Adversary that they were the one who had impeded her the most.

She reminded them that she had warned them not to get in her way and asked whether they even realized what they had done. Growing increasingly angry and desperate, Kaling explained that she had only barely managed to gain Darmoor's trust, and that the Adversary had single-handedly managed to make her lose it all. Furiously, she yelled at the Adversary and demanded to know what they had done with the Godsphere, ordering them to hand it over to her immediately.

However, the Adversary plainly refused and explained that they didn't care about the demands of an Apostle of Darmoor, nor did they care about what Darmoor had intended when he had broken their Seal Stone, or even that he had been the one to change their destiny, as they refused to falter. They explained that all that they cared about was protecting the world that they and their friends lived in, and so they refused to allow her to take it.

However, Kaling laughed scornfully and asked if they were really trying to compare their Seal Stone, which she called a human-made imitation, to the World Heart. However, she noted that despite the Seal Stone being a counterfeit, it had still been infused with the Overseers' power and asked if they had felt like a hero while carrying something containing the power of a god. She then angrily told them to get off their high horse, revealing that they weren't the Adversary that Darmoor was looking for.

Though the Adversary was shocked by her words, Gaon urged the Adversary not to listen, as they were merely the words of a contaminated researcher. Just then, Kaling fused with Hundun, Taowu, and Qiongqi and unleashed the full extent of her power. The Adversary faced Kaling in combat and, after a fierce struggle, they managed to defeat her. A wounded Kaling collapsed before the Adversary, shocked that someone like her – an Apostle hand-picked by Darmoor to serve him, and one who had performed the most perfect research – could have lost.

Suddenly, the Adversary's Godsphere began glowing with a divine light. Kaling immediately recognized the light coming from the World Heart as it began draining her and her monsters of all their strength. Kaling, broken and defeated, collapsed in despair at having lost all her power and effort in a mere instant. Severely drained, Kaling weakly looked up at the Adversary and asked how it was that they got to keep their humanity and shine so brightly without having had to give up anything at all. She then outstretched a hand towards the Adversary before collapsing in pain and scattering into ashes.

As Winter returned back to normal, the Adversary asked Gaon whether the rest of the elders were still at the pavilion, as it seemed that there was one more thing that they needed to hear from the elders. Gaon agreed and noted that the Adversary had saved both the elders and Shangri-La. He then told the Adversary that for a long time, he had stood protecting the order of Shangri-La, for which he had attempted to stop them earlier.

However, he admitted that if peace and order had fallen, and if it was true that conflict could no longer be avoided, then he believed that he had no other choice but to leave Shangri-La and protect the outside world that he and his friends had once lived in. He added that he had more to tell them, though it was something that the elders ought to hear as well, and so he asked them to follow him to the pavilion and hear him out there.

A Decision to Leave

After returning to the pavilion, Zigang reluctantly thanked the Adversary for saving Shangri-La. After briefly explaining what the World Heart was, Zigang told them that he couldn't speak on the matter any further, as they already knew too much. He explained that some of the elders had been against the idea of even allowing them to return to the pavilion, and that they had wanted Gaon to use his remaining power to seal them and the World Heart away. He admitted that he was inclined to agree with the other elders, as the Adversary was far too dangerous. However, he conceded that the reality was that they had saved Shangri-La, and so he would overlook it just this once.

He then turned to Gaon and added that the same went for him, warning him to never defy the elders again, after which he ordered the Adversary to surrender the World Heart and leave Shangri-La immediately. Gaon then nervously spoke up and told Zigang that he wanted to leave with the Adversary and go down to the world below.

He admitted that he understood that they had just fought off Kaling and the Perils. However, he explained that in his time in Shangri-La, he had been under the impression that the outside world had been a utopia, adding that he wanted to stop believing the things that he had simply been told without seeing the truth for himself. He explained that he had been afraid that any intervention on his part would have caused chaos in the world, and because of that fear, he had been blinded for far too long.

He admitted that he could not look away any longer, as he believed that he needed to use his strength to protect the world. However, an angry Zigang immediately refused his request, reminding him that the Blue Dragon and White Tiger had been taken away by the traitorous elders, and that the Vermillion Bird was resting from her severe injuries. With Spring, Summer, and Autumn all having fallen, Gaon and the barrier of Winter were all that protected Shangri-La. He then demanded to know whether Gaon intended to neglect his responsibility given by the will of the world itself.

Just then, Tai Yu interrupted and told them to settle down, as fighting wouldn't help anyone. He explained that Shangri-La, in its current state, wasn't suited to hide something as important as the World Heart. He also noted to Zigang that they both knew that once Gaon's mind was made up, it would be difficult for anyone to change it. He admitted that the elders could try to force their hand, though he added that it would a waste for them to use their remaining power in such a way.

He then presented an alternate arrangement and offered to stay in Shangri-La himself, explaining that with the strength that he had gained from his travels, combined with the strength of the remaining elders, they would be able to create new barriers for Shangri-La. Regarding the World Heart, Tai Yu pointed out that there wasn't much choice but to leave it with the Adversary, as it seemed much safer than leaving it with the elders, given everything that had happened.

Brighton asked Tai Yu whether he was up to it, as Shangri-La had, from its creation, been guarded by four protectors, not one. Tai Yu laughed and explained that while his strength couldn't match that of the Black Tortoise, he could more than make up for it with a few tricks, adding that it would be quite simple with the elders' cooperation.

Weio, the sheep elder, noted that Tai Yu's words were sound, and so she asked him to come close. Zigang begrudgingly concurred and told Tai Yu to prove himself if he was so confident. The elders then bestowed their power onto Tai Yu, who combined it with his own magic to strengthen the core of Shangri-La and restore the other seasons. Zigang noted that he could feel a portion of the other seasons returning, and though it wasn't perfect, he admitted that it was good enough for the time being.

He then told Tai Yu that he was right, and that they couldn't protect the World Heart, nor could they stop Gaon from leaving. He also admitted that Tai Yu's suggestion for the elders to lend their strength hadn't been without merit, and so he curtly told them to leave it at that and ordered Gaon and the Glory Guard to leave immediately.

After Zigang disappeared, Gaon thanked Tai Yu for standing up for him. Tai Yu smiled and told Gaon that he should have listened to him earlier about hearing him out when he had first brought the Glory Guard to Shangri-La. He asked Gaon whether he was right that both the Adversary and the outside world were quite different from what Gaon had first thought.

Gaon admitted that Tai Yu was right and added that Ara had also told him to protect the world, and that Shuli had believed that it hadn't been too late either. He noted that even Baekyeon, who never turned a blind eye to anything, would support his decision to leave Shangri-La. He then vowed that he would protect the world and bring back the captured Symbols. Weio warmly noted that Gaon had a good heart before telling the Adversary that she still had one more thing to say.

Weio told the Adversary about the bell mysticant that some of the elders had created in the hope of washing away their sins and contamination. She explained that when the bell had rung and their contamination hadn't gone away, the elders had come to realize that their sins weren't something that could magically be washed away, and that it was the elders' duty to face their sins head-on. In order to help the Adversary on their journey, Weio told them more about the World Heart and tasked them with learning how to awaken its power.

Weio then invited the Adversary to return to Shangri-La any time if the needed help, promising that she would personally see to it that they would be allowed to return. She then jokingly told Gaon that she hoped that he would serve as an excellent tour guide for her upon his return. Gaon told Weio to stay in good health until he came back, adding that he wished the same for Shuli. Weio then told Gao to accomplish all that the elders couldn't do from Shangri-La, and to return soon, so that she would have good news to tell Shuli when she awakened.

Tai Yu then told the Adversary that it seemed that all their matters had been settled. The Adversary thanked Tai Yu for everything that he had done for them since Odium. Tai Yu smiled and explained that he hadn't done it for gratitude, though he added that if they really wanted to thank him, then they could find his apprentice down in the world below and ask him to visit sometime, adding that they could come with him too. The Adversary promised that they would, after which the Glory Guard and Gaon began making preparations to head out.

Contamination Spreading

Before the Adversary headed out on their journey, Tai Yu asked them to come see him with Gaon, as he had a request for them. The Adversary and Gaon found Tai Yu in the pavilion, speaking with several of the researchers. Gaon asked Tai Yu whether something was wrong, to which Tai Yu explained that something strange was happening to the researchers of Shangri-La lately, though he noted that everyone had expected things to be confusing for a while, as the four seasons' ability to control the contamination wouldn't be the same as before.

He explained that the contamination was spreading more severely than both he and the elders had thought, and that something was very wrong in Shangri-La. He added that though it would be nice if the elders could handle it on their own, they wouldn't be able to do so with everything that they were dealing with. Gaon asked whether it was because of their guests from the outside world, noting that it had been a while since someone had come from the world below.

Tai Yu agreed and added that he had also thought that things had been strange, as news from the outside world had gone completely dark, which made him believe that someone had been deliberately blocking news from entering Shangri-La. The Adversary wondered to themselves whether it had been the work of the elders who had left Shangri-La.

Tai Yu explained that as a result of the elders being overwhelmed with the backlog of everything that they had missed, they didn't have the time to focus on anything else. As the path to Shangri-La had been opened, Tai Yu feared that something evil could come inside, and since he had other responsibilities to focus on, he asked the Adversary and Gaon to patrol Shangri-La for him, to which they agreed.

On Gaon's suggestion, they began their investigation in Winter, where they encountered Haia the pig elder, whom the Adversary recognized from the pavilion. Gaon greeted Haia and asked her what she was doing in Winter, though Haia merely stared back without saying anything. Gaon explained that he had been planning to say goodbye before leaving Shangri-La, though he had regretted that she hadn't been there at the time.

To his surprise, however, Haia merely replied that she didn't care. She then added that since she didn't care, there was nothing that she had to take care of, which meant that she didn't have any problems to worry about. Haia then ran off, leaving Gaon to stare sadly after her. The Adversary asked Gaon whether he was okay, asking if Haia was one of the elders.

Gaon explained that Haia was the youngest to join the elders in Odium, and that though she was a bit shy at first, she was one of the sweetest people that they would ever meet once they got to know her. He told the Adversary that Haia was kind to everyone, and that she had many friends as a result, including all the elders and the Four Symbols. After a pause, he somberly added that he had hoped that Haia would've understood his choice to leave Shangri-La.

The Adversary pointed out that Haia had lost not only him, but many of her other friends all at once, and that she might be feeling lonely as a result. Gaon wondered whether it could also be because the contamination had started affecting her as well. Hoping to be wrong, he suggested that they continue with their investigation quickly. The pair headed deeper into Winter, where they were shocked to find contaminated researchers in the area being possessed by a dark power.

Gaon realized that Tai Yu had been right, and that it hadn't just been the contamination that was causing problems, as he could also sense an aura being cloaked so that it couldn't be easily recognized. He then told the Adversary that they should calm down the researchers and find out what was possessing them. While fighting the researchers, the Adversary found several stone fragments that they brought back to Gaon, who immediately recognized them as part of Winter's treasure of the study.

Winter's Inkwell

He noted that the Adversary must also have felt Kaling's power inside the fragments, to which the Adversary wondered how that could be possible when Kaling had already fallen. Believing that it would be easier to check directly, the pair proceeded deeper into Winter when owl monsters suddenly manifested and began attacking them. Gaon realized that the monsters had been drawn in ink, just like Shangri-La itself. The Adversary noted that the owl monsters seemed to be guarding a large inkwell in the distance.

Gaon explained that the inkwell was part of the four treasures of the study – the inkwell, ink, brush, and paper that the elders had created in order to paint the realm of the sages inside an enchanted painting. After Shangri-La had been created, the elders had separated and stored each of the four treasures in a different season.

Gaon then noticed something embedded into the inkwell, which the Adversary recognized as Kaling's button. They told Gaon that they now understood why the barriers of Shangri-La had fallen, even with the Four Symbols guarding them, as Kaling's button had contaminated the four treasures of the study. Gaon then approached the inkwell and attempted to destroy the button with his spear, though his attack had no effect.

He then asked the Adversary to try destroying the button. Just as they succeeded, a claw-like arm appeared from the button and attacked the Adversary, causing them to collapse as Kaling's energy infected them. Suddenly, more of the owl monsters appeared and surrounded the pair. As Gaon fought them off alone, the Adversary began witnessing some of Kaling's memories, in which Zigang had ordered her to be banished from Odium and sealed away, alongside the Four Perils.

The Adversary then awoke to the sound of Tai Yu's voice. They got up and found Gaon and Tai Yu checking on their condition, as well as the inkstone purified of its contamination. Tai Yu asked the Adversary if they were alright, to which they replied that they weren't seriously hurt. They then returned back to the pavilion, where the Adversary told them about the four treasures of the study being contaminated as a result of Kaling's button, which contained her memories. Tai Yu noted that something bigger than expected was happening, though he added that telling the elders what they had just learned was enough for now, and so he told the Adversary that they didn't need to look into it any further.

The Adversary protested, claiming that the elders didn't have the time to deal with what was happening, and that the contamination in Shangri-La needed to be dealt with immediately before it got any worse. However, Tai Yu reminded them that they had already once saved Shangri-La when the elders had been scrambling around, and that it would be okay if the elders were to clean up the rest of their own mess by themselves. He explained that even though it had been inevitable during the fight with Kaling, he couldn't allow the Adversary to be put in danger again. He then asked Gaon to help escort the Adversary out of Shangri-La safely.

On their way, however, the Adversary instead asked Gaon to come with them to find Autumn's treasure of the study, reminding him that it was an opportunity to help Shangri-La and learn more about Kaling, and that there was a chance that they could even learn more about Darmoor and the traitorous elders. Gaon agreed, explaining that he, too, had been reluctant to follow Tai Yu's orders.

Autumn's Inkstick

The two then secretly made their way to Autumn, where they found more contaminated researchers and sable monsters created from ink. Realizing that Tai Yu might hear them if they caused a commotion, Gaon suggested that they clear up the researchers and monsters first. After clearing the area, they found an inkstick with Kaling's button embedded into it. Just like before, a claw-like arm attacked the Adversary when they destroyed the button, infecting them with Kaling's energy.

Gaon began noting to himself that it was strange that the button – even if it did belong to Kaling – could have such an impact on Shangri-La. He also realized that though the button was contaminated, he could feel a certain energy from inside it that he remembered feeling before in Odium. He recalled that he had felt it inside something that Kaling had created – an object that could draw out strong power that only an Adversary could reach. Just as he realized what it could be, more sable monsters appeared. As Gaon defended the unconscious Adversary, he noted that the monsters were weaker now that two buttons had been destroyed, though there were growing more fervent, which meant that their next battles would be more difficult.

Meanwhile, the Adversary continued to see more of Kaling's memories, witnessing the private investigators of Cheong-woon freeing her from her degrading seal, taking her in as one of their own, their deaths at the hands of Qiongqi, and Kaling being found by Darmoor as she mourned them. The Adversary then awoke to the sight of the purified inkstick and a worried Gaon, who noted that they didn't look very good.

The Adversary explained that they had seen Darmoor inside Kaling's memories. Gaon replied that he understood how they felt, and added that though he wished that they could take a break, they needed to hurry, as the monsters were being drawn to defend the buttons, and that they were growing more resistant with each one that got broken. The Adversary then recalled that the button had shown up in Kaling's memories as well, and that it had been a gift to her from the people who had unsealed her. Gaon noted that though he couldn't be sure, the button didn't appear to be something simple.

Summer's Paper Scroll

The Adversary told Gaon that they believed that they would be able to figure out the truth behind the buttons if they saw the next memory, and so Gaon led them into Summer, which was filled with more contaminated researchers and crane monsters created from ink. The pair fought through the enemies and soon encountered the contaminated paper scroll, with Kaling's button embedded into it. The Adversary once again destroyed the button, allowing Kaling's memories to flood into them.

After witnessing Kaling's memories of Darmoor and her time as an Apostle, the Adversary awoke and found that the paper scroll had been cleansed of its contamination. The Adversary told Gaon that, from the memories of Kaling, they knew what Kaling's buttons were, and that the last button would have the information that they wanted. As they headed to Spring, the Adversary explained everything that they had learned. Gaon realized that since the button was a failed Godsphere, it explained why he hadn't been able to destroy it.

Gaon realized that though the button had failed as a Godsphere, it must have been effective in attacking Shangri-La, as nothing made researchers more vulnerable than a contaminated Godsphere. He then corrected himself and noted that since it hadn't been properly made, he didn't know whether he could even call it a Godsphere. The pair then arrived in Spring, where they found more contaminated researchers and butterfly monsters. Gaon warned the Adversary to be careful, for while there was only one button left, the monsters – while weaker – would be much more vicious.

They soon discovered the contaminated paintbrush, but to their surprise, they found that there was no button nearby. As the Adversary wondered whether someone had removed it, Zigang appeared and explained that it was still in Shangri-La. He revealed that since the buttons could contaminate from afar, there was no need for the other buttons to be there in the first place.

The Adversary and Gaon turned to find Zigang arriving with Tai Yu. Zigang explained that Tai Yu had informed him that the four treasures of the study had been contaminated. Gaon was surprised to see Zigang, believing that he had been too busy to investigate, though Zigang replied that no matter how busy he was, he still had a duty to take a look around at the place where he lived. He then turned to the Adversary and explained that he had never thought that he would see them again after they had decided to leave, though he was once again indebted to them, thanks to their timely warning.

Tai Yu then lightly scolded the Adversary for going against his instructions to stop their investigation after trusting them to listen, as well as Gaon for going along with their idea. He added that it was good that they were becoming friends, though he didn't know how to feel about the fact that it was because of them both disobeying his instructions together, noting that they should've at least considered how much he had worried about them.

However, Zigang told Tai Yu to leave it be, explaining that even if one had a child that they cared about, they couldn't keep that child with them for the rest of their life, adding that he would know. Upon hearing Zigang's words, the Adversary asked him whether he was talking about Kaling. Zigang merely gave the Adversary a pensive look before noting that the residual energy inside the four treasures of the study belonged to ‘that child'.

He asked the Adversary whether they had any idea what the button was, to which they explained that it was a contaminated Godsphere created by Kaling, which they had learned through the memories contained within the buttons. Zigang realized that the last button must have important information contained within her memories, such as information about the fallen Transcendent or the elders who had escaped.

He explained that it was his belief that amongst the remaining elders, there were some who were in touch with those who had left, and that he suspected that one of them had the button, as there was no other reason why they would hold onto an object that would worsen their contamination. Based on Zigang's words, Gaon immediately realized that Zigang suspected Haia to be the contaminated elder.

Zigang confirmed his suspicions, adding that they must have met her earlier as well. Though Gaon protested, Zigang reminded him that he had been Kaling's master, and that he had known her quite closely before she had been contaminated. He noted that Kaling had changed considerably, and that it would be no different for everyone else. Turning to the Adversary, he told them that if they had seen that transformation happen in-person, they also would have understood.

Though the Adversary had their doubts, they realized that objecting wouldn't change Zigang's mind. Because of that, they admitted to Zigang that they had seen Haia head towards Spring, and that since she had known that they had been investigating the contaminated seasons, she might have taken the button in advance and run. Since they couldn't know for certain, the Adversary decided that they would also check with the other elders. Zigang agreed and decided to head out first.

Finding Haia

After he left, Gaon expressed his shock that Zigang would suspect Haia. Tai Yu noted that it had only been recently that Zigang had been able to see Kaling's changed nature personally, and that it must be complicated for him. He then told the Adversary that they had done a good job of meeting Zigang in the middle.

The Adversary and Gaon then spoke with the other elders about Haia, causing them to realize that she was exhibiting symptoms of contamination. However, Wushuai told them that Haia wouldn't turn out like Kaling, citing how Haia had helped him as he had struggled with his own contamination. Upon hearing Wushuai's words, Gaon decided that they needed to find Haia and talk to her, and that he had an idea of how to do so.

He explained that Shensung and Baekyeon were very playful, and that even though they both liked Haia, they would sometimes tease her. Whenever she would feel upset, Haia would always run away somewhere into Winter. In order to make her feel better, they would make sky lanterns and launch them into the air so that she would come back. In order to follow the lantern to Haia, Gaon asked the Adversary to collect fabric, bamboo, and a small candle from the Chest of Wisdom in the pavilion.

Using the materials, Gaon made a sky lantern and launched it into the air. They then followed the lantern across Winter, where it finally reached a surprised Haia. Gaon approached Haia, who smiled tearfully upon seeing him. He then apologized to her, explaining that it was something that he should have said properly before leaving. He told her that he had realized that if they didn't part well, they were bound to end up hurting each other.

He then explained that it wasn't that she wasn't as precious to him as everyone else, but before he could continue, Haia told him that he didn't need to say anything else, admitting that it was all because she was being stubborn. She then pulled out the button and explained that though she had known that they were searching for it, it was the last thing that Maolang had given her, promising that it would be able to lead Haia back to her.

After resolving the situation, they met with Tai Yu, who noted that they had had a hard time running back and forth, and that there was a real breeze in the air now, even if it was a bit precarious. Gaon noted that everyone had moved forward, one step at a time, to which Tai Yu agreed, adding that so had Gaon. Gaon then told the Adversary that they were slowly awakening too, as the journey wasn't over yet.

Return to Maple World

Soon after, Tai Yu bade farewell to the Glory Guard, warmly adding that the Adversary didn't need any advice from him, and that he didn't need to worry about Gaon, as he had faith that Gaon would return back safely. He told Gaon that he ought to take the opportunity to meet people in the outside world, reminding him that all the sages had left some trace behind in the world below. Gaon admitted that he was right and told Tai Yu that he would keep it in mind. After Oz and Brighton thanked Tai Yu for all his help, Tai Yu used his powers to send them back to Maple World.

The Glory Guard was teleported to the Six Path Crossway. As Gaon began looking around in curiosity, Brighton noted his impressment that Tai Yu had managed to send them back to Maple World all in one go. Gaon then explained that even though it had been quite a long time since he had left Shangri-La, Maple World didn't seem to be too different from the Grandis that he remembered.

Just then, however, he noticed a fight happening in the distance. The Glory Guard was shocked to find Flora mercenaries attacking a squad of Cygnus Knights. After they defeated the mercenaries, the Cygnus Knights thanked them for their help before explaining that the High Flora army had invaded Maple World.

At the shocked reaction of the Glory Guard, the Knights explained that though they didn't know much about the specifics, several areas of Maple World were currently under attack, and that the Cygnus Knights had been mobilized in order to fight off the invaders. Brighton asked whether Edelstein was also under attack, which the Knights confirmed. He then turned to Oz and apologized, explaining that he needed to head back home immediately, entrusting her and the Adversary with delivering their mission report to Ereve.

After he left, Oz contacted Neinheart in order to report that the Glory Guard had returned back to Maple World. She informed him that they had heard the news about the High Flora invasion and asked whether the Empress was safe. Neinheart noted that she seemed to be caught up on what was currently happening and asked her to return to Ereve immediately with the Adversary. As they prepared to head out, Gaon asked whether he could accompany them, as the situation seemed quite serious, to which Oz agreed, explaining that she had just been about to ask him the same thing.

Invasion of Ereve

Together, the three of them traveled to Ereve, where they found Neinheart and Cygnus at the command center overseeing the battle with a holographic projection of the city. The pair greeted the Glory Guard, though Neinheart was confused upon seeing Gaon. Oz introduced Gaon as a resident of Shangri-La and handed Neinheart a report that she explained contained more details.

Neinheart briefly skimmed through the report, including the details on the World Heart, and noted that they seemed to have had their hands full during their mission, especially the Adversary, who had gained a new power. He then told the Adversary that they would speak more on the matter later before turning to Gaon and welcoming him to Maple World. As Oz and the Adversary had placed their trust in him, Neinheart explained that the Alliance would welcome him as a friend, though he added that now was not the time for pleasantries.

After Neinheart explained the situation and gave the Adversary their assignment, he asked Gaon what he wished to do, explaining that remaining in Ereve would be the safest thing to do if he wished to avoid danger. However, Gaon replied that he would join the Adversary on the battlefield, as he wished to repay them for their help in Shangri-La. Neinheart then noted that he was one of the Four Symbols who protected Shangri-La, and that according to Oz's report, he was a person of considerable strength. After he entrusted the mission to them, the Adversary and Gaon headed to the Sky Ferry, where Kiriru greeted them and explained that he had been waiting.

Just then, the Adversary turned to Gaon and asked him whether he was really okay with accompanying them to the middle of a battlefield, reminding him that it would be dangerous. Gaon noted that he could feel the tremors and the distant sound of gunfire from afar. He told the Adversary that they were right about the war not being over yet, adding that though he had never thought that he would witness it with his eyes so soon, he was relieved to be able to face the battlefield head-on. He asked the Adversary to be careful and told them that he would do his best not to be a burden to them.

Suddenly, Arteria appeared and launched a powerful laser cannon that disabled Ereve's shield. In order to restore it, the Adversary and Gaon worked with Irena to defeat the Flora mercenaries and restore the barrier stones. As they rushed to help Oz restore her barrier stone, the Flora sent a massive wave of mercenaries to face them. Though Oz noted that there were too many soldiers, Gaon reassured her that he would fend them off and asked her to call for backup in the meantime.

While Gaon held off the enemy, Oz contacted Neinheart, who asked her to hold on. The Adversary and Gaon then helped repel the enemy, though Reina soon arrived and froze them all in ice before storming the command center. The Adversary and Gaon broke free from the ice and rushed to save Cygnus, though they found her kidnapped and Neinheart injured. Just then, Shinsoo arrived with reinforcements to help their besieged forces.

Neinheart then began to make a plan for their counterattack and asked the Adversary to handle infiltrating the battleship. He then asked Gaon to accompany the Adversary, apologizing for throwing him into one treacherous situation after another when they had only just met, though Gaon replied that he would gladly lend his aid. Shinsoo then bestowed her power to the World Heart, causing Gaon and the others to realize that Shinsoo was an Ancient God, though Gaon noted that despite this, Shinsoo had a warm enough heart to sacrifice her own power to protect what was most precious to her.

Rescuing Cygnus

The Alliance then boarded Arteria and mounted a rescue attempt. As Eckhart ordered his forces to clear a path for the Adversary and Gaon, Gaon bitterly noted that everyone was prepared to die fighting just for their sake, to which the Adversary apologized for getting him involved. Gaon told them not to worry about him before adding that he had merely been thinking whether their current situation was how it had always been for the Adversary. He noted that there were so many people's wills and expectations on the Adversary's shoulders and asked them how they withstood such a heavy burden.

The Adversary replied that it was something that they had to do, as there was no one except them who could accomplish it. Gaon explained that he had always done everything that he could to fulfill his duty of protecting Shangri-La, though, as the Adversary now knew, that duty was now meaningless, which was why he had come to the outside world, as he had wanted to find some other cause that needed his strength.

However, he admitted that at the same time, he hadn't realized the weight of what it meant to protect an entire world. Though he was embarrassed to say so, he promised that he wouldn't run away, just like the Adversary never would. He then apologized for talking too much at such a time and suggested that they move forward.

The pair then fought past the High Flora soldiers and proceeded ahead until Lystor suddenly appeared and attacked them with his sword. The pair managed to dodge the attack and jumped back, though Gaon immediately realized that if Lystor had managed to get to them when he had been fighting Eckhart, it meant that Eckhart may have fallen.

Lystor told the Adversary that they were persistent, if nothing else, as they simply didn't know when to give up. However, he declared that things would finally end here, and that he would make them realize how powerless they were. Gaon told the Adversary to go on ahead, to which the Adversary immediately protested. However, Gaon replied that he wished to help bear the duties and expectations placed upon them, reassuring them that they didn't need to worry about him, as he was one of the Four Symbols for a reason.

As Lystor moved to attack, Gaon intercepted the blow, allowing the Adversary to rush past them. As the pair fought, Lystor told Gaon that he was testing his patience, to which Gaon replied that he couldn't give up. However, Lystor retorted that Gaon would regret not giving up, explaining that while the Adversary seemed incredibly strong, they would be no match for Reina. He mockingly asked Gaon whether he could still speak of hope after seeing the Adversary frozen to death, to which Gaon replied that it wouldn't be happening, as the Adversary was stronger than Lystor realized.

As the battle raged on, Eckhart arrived in order to support an injured Gaon. Gaon apologized for being unable to hold off Lystor. However, Eckhart replied that he should be the one apologizing for putting Gaon in danger by involving him in their situation, though he added that it was because of Gaon that they had been saved, as he had helped fend off the enemy for so long.

Just then, Lystor arrived and noted that he was surprised that the Alliance had managed to hold out with such a small force. However, he told them that it made no difference, as his forces held the advantage in numbers, and that they would soon be wiped out. Eckhart then told Gaon that he would buy time for him to escape, noting that Gaon surely hadn't left Shangri-La just to die in such a place as the one that they were in.

However, Gaon refused, claiming that no matter how briefly, they were comrades who had each other's backs, for which he could not leave Eckhart behind. Eckhart replied that he didn't mind dying in such a way, as it had always been his dream to die fighting for Ereve. Just then, Irena – along with Claudine and their reinforcements – arrived and jokingly told him that while it was rather cool of him to have such a dream, it wasn't his time yet.

The Alliance then pushed into the throne room, where they found Reina confronting the Adversary, who was barely standing between Cygnus' body. Shocked to find that the Empress had fallen, the Alliance leaders immediately surrounded Reina. Enraged at having been pushed to her limits, Reina decided that she had no other choice but to use her last-resort. Using her draining crystal, Reina unleashed its divine power to boost her ice magic with a strange red energy, which she used to freeze the Alliance leaders and the Adversary's feet in place, though she immediately kneeled over in great pain as a result.

As Claudine wondered what sort of power Reina had used, the Adversary attempted to break free from the ice in order to continue fighting Reina, despite Gaon warning them that they were reaching their limit, to which Reina noted that the Adversary had been holding on for a surprisingly long time. Irena furiously declared that what Reina had just done to Cygnus was nowhere near the same as when she had ambushed Ereve, vowing that she would never forgive her.

Suddenly, Lystor flew into the room with his wings and quickly pulled Reina into his arms before taking her a safe distance from their enemies. Lystor desperately asked Reina whether she was alright, to which she replied that their mission was complete, and that the God-King would be satisfied. She asked Lystor whether he had made preparations for detonating a Vision Bomb, which he confirmed, explaining that the gas would soon fill up the ship, and that they should hurry and leave.

Reina then looked back at the Alliance and grudgingly admitted that she had underestimated them all, and that she looked forward to the day that they would meet again. As they fled from the throne room, the Alliance leaders managed to break free from the ice. Gaon yelled that the enemy was getting away, to which the Adversary attempted to force themselves to pursue them, declaring that they had to avenge the Empress.

However, Claudine pointed out that they were grievously injured, and that it would be far too dangerous for them to pursue Reina in their current state. She also reminded them that the Empress wouldn't have wanted them to hurt themselves like that. Just then, all eyes turned to Cygnus' body, whose finger had just briefly moved. Claudine immediately rushed to her side and noted that Cygnus was still alive, though she was extremely weak and severely injured. She explained that she would provide as much emergency treatment as she could, though Cygnus needed proper medical care as soon as possible.

Suddenly, Irena realized that poison gas had begun to fill the ship from the Vision Bomb, causing Gaon to wonder how the High Flora could do such a thing when their own mercenary soldiers were still on board. Irena then noted that with the poison gas spreading throughout the ship, they couldn't go after Reina with no plan and so many casualties, as they needed more time to recover their strength. The others accepted her idea, after which the Alliance leaders began gathering their soldiers in order to escape. After fighting their way through the soldiers, the Alliance managed to escape Arteria and return to Ereve.

Keira's Call

Soon after the battle with Arteria, Gaon attended an emergency Alliance conference. The Adversary was surprised to find that Gaon had also been invited, to which Gaon explained that he had been intending to go after Baekyeon and Ara, though he explained that it was difficult for him to track their energy, which he speculated was because they had been sealed inside the scrolls. He told the Adversary that he had been discussing the matter with Neinheart, who had invited him to attend the conference.

Neinheart explained that Gaon had been extremely helpful during the last battle, and that, as the Alliance's tactician, he couldn't allow someone so talented to pass him by. He noted that though Gaon had been invited as a guest to the conference, he hoped to formally induct Gaon into the Alliance soon. With all the major leaders of the Alliance having arrived, Neinheart decided to begin the meeting.

After giving an update on Cygnus' status, Neinheart introduced the Alliance to Gaon, explaining that as he had detailed in the Alliance report, Gaon had come to Maple World after helping the Adversary defeat Kaling, and that he had aided the Alliance during Reina's attack. Gaon greeted the Alliance leaders and explained that he was a black tortoise Anima, and that he would do everything in his power to help Maple World. Edea was surprised to hear that Gaon was a black tortoise Anima, which were one of the strongest amongst the Anima subspecies that possessed special powers.

As Neinheart continued giving updates, Gaon suddenly began shifting uncomfortably, as though there was something that he wanted to say. Nevertheless, Neinheart continued on by explaining that many of the Alliance's communication lines had been severed, and that despite this, their main priority was to strengthen Ereve's barrier and continue gathering intel.

Gaon quietly attempted to interrupt Neinheart, who continued speaking and asked Edea to gather information from her contacts in Grandis. He also asked Irena to contact Rusty in Hotel Arcus in order to see whether he had any new information to share. Gaon again attempted to quietly interrupt, though Neinheart once again didn't hear him and began asking Claudine to mobilize the Resistance. Gaon then spoke up and loudly told everyone that there was something that he needed to share.

Just as everyone turned to look at him, the tip of Gaon's spear lit up with a magical blue light, emitting a stream of glowing water. A surprised Neinheart noted that the stream of glowing water seemed to be a compass of some sort, as it was pointing towards Grandis. Gaon explained that the spear was what he had just been about to explain. He then revealed that the jewel embedded into his spear had been given to him by an old friend, an Ancient God named Keira, who had placed her divine blessing upon it.

Gaon's Story

Neinheart was confused by how Gaon could have been friends with an Ancient God when he had been chosen by the will of the world to seal the gods away. After hesitating for a moment, Gaon told them that in order to explain, he needed to tell them a story from the time from before he had been chosen as one of the Four Symbols. Gaon began by explaining that during the beginning of the Ancient War, the black tortoise Anima had been swept away in the flames of war, resulting in his entire species going extinct, leaving his as the last survivor.

Following the end of his species, Gaon had traveled the world, saving those who had been caught in the chaos that the Ancient Gods had wrought in order to prevent anyone else from dying needlessly. He explained that one day, he had sustained a grave injury, and though the black tortoise Anima had the power to heal themselves, they needed a source of pure water in order to do so.

However, as there were few sources of pure water amidst the carnage of war, he had instead wandered the world with his dying body, eventually stumbling by chance across the place where his spear pointed towards now: Carcion, the Cradle of Life. He explained that Keira had been ruling over Carcion, and that she had found him heavily injured on the beach.

When Keira had offered to treat his injuries, he had been surprised that an Ancient God would ever help someone, to which Keira had told him that she pitied him for having been caught in a war waged between foolish gods. She had explained that she was different from the rest of those fools, after which she had healed him and allowed him to remain in Carcion. Gaon explained that Keira had been a staunch opponent of the Ancient War, and because of this, she had taken him in as a victim of a war that she hated.

Eventually, Gaon had been chosen by the will of the world as one of the Four Symbols, which meant that he would need to leave Carcion. Keira had then promised him that in order to end the age of chaos, she would fall into a deep slumber. As a symbol of their friendship, she had also placed a portion of her divine power into his spear.

Neinheart noted that the researchers of Odium had been chosen to destroy the Ancient Gods and wondered how they would have allowed him to defend Odium when he held the same power that they sought to eradicate. Gaon explained that Keira's blessing had faded away by the time that he had reached Odium, which he believed was because Keira had already sealed herself away into a deep slumber.

The Adversary then realized that the fact that Gaon's spear had started glowing meant that Keira must have opened her eyes once again. Edea added that the light from the spear was likely a sign that Keira was calling to him, possibly because something had happened to her. The Adversary noted that Neinheart was right about the High Flora being after the power of the Ancient Gods, as they likely must have invaded Carcion, just as they had invaded Ereve.

Neinheart lamented that the Alliance was, once again, one step behind, as it was possible that Darmoor had already stolen Keira's power. Gaon then apologized to Neinheart for leaving so suddenly after being invited to the conference, but he explained that he needed to hurry to Carcion at once. Neinheart asked the Adversary to accompany Gaon, which the Adversary immediately agreed to, noting that just as Gaon had helped them, it was now their turn to help him.

Mission to Carcion

In order to rescue Keira, Gaon traveled with the Adversary, Claudine, and Eckhart to Carcion aboard a small airship. As they sat in silence, the Adversary noted that Gaon seemed uneasy and asked whether he was worried about Keira. Gaon explained that when the beam of light had emerged from his spear, he had been able to feel Keira's heart shaking. He noted that Keira was strong enough that he couldn't imagine her being defeated, but nevertheless, he was quite uneasy.

Claudine told him to try not to worry too much, as it would hurt his decision-making. Gaon realized that she was right, noting that they could only do what they could. He pointed out that it would take a while until they arrived and asked whether they ought to plan out their attack formation once again. Eckhart replied that their current plan ought to be sufficient, adding that he was more curious about Carcion itself, such as its terrain and layout.

Gaon told him that though it had been a long time since he had been there, the area likely wouldn't have changed at all, as it was a hidden place in the corner of the continent. He explained that Carcion surrounded a large river that flowed into a sea, consisting of an archipelago called Pinjar and a tropical rainforest called Laguna, with the river separating them being called Ishfira, all of which collectively made up Carcion.

Eckhart noted that the terrain sounded quite dangerous and asked why Keira had chosen to remain in such a place. Gaon explained that the waters of Ishfira were extremely pure, and that it was said that the river had existed since the creation of the world itself. He noted that Keira, as a river goddess, had wished to take up residence around such a pure source of water, adding that it had also been a paradise to the Anima subspecies that lived near water, such as himself.

He explained that snake and turtle Anima had dwelt in Carcion even before he had arrived, and that they had worshiped Keira as their patron god and guardian after fleeing the Ancient War. Claudine noted that Keira hadn't fought in the Ancient War, to which Gaon explained that Keira despised war and destruction of any kind, likening the world to a cycle, just like the flow of water, which was most beautiful in its natural state. Believing that the war had broken the natural cycle, she had taken in the Anima refugees in order to protect them as much as she could.

Gaon explained that when he had first met Keira, he had believed that the power of the gods could only bring chaos and destruction, though seeing how Keira used her powers to protect living things had changed his mind. When he had been chosen by the will of the world, he had been deeply conflicted about following its call, as it would mean that Keira would be forced into eternal slumber by another higher being.

Because of his mental conflict, Keira had chosen to alleviate his pain by making the decision to fall asleep on her own, accepting her fate and asking him to protect the cycle of life in her stead. He explained that Keira had told him not to worry about her, as it was undeniable that her kind had brought great chaos to the world. When he had asked whether they would ever meet again, she had reassured him that she would be awaiting him in a new world.

Gaon noted that he was a fool, for even though he had known the burden that she had been shouldering, he had desperately wanted to make himself believe that following the will of the world was the only path that he could walk. However, he explained that he would no longer act on someone else's whims, and that he would make his own path, just as the Adversary did.

Polluted Waters

Suddenly, Eckhart told them to focus, explaining that their destination was in sight. As the Glory Guard looked down, they were amazed to see the beautiful greenery of Carcion. However, as they got closer, they were shocked to find several High Flora battleships, identical in appearance to Arteria, which had already landed by the beach. In order to avoid being detected by the enemy, the Glory Guard landed a safe distance away and decided to travel by foot.

Gaon explained that Keira was located on the central island between Pinjar and Laguna, where a large tree grew. At the top of the tree was the source of Carcion's pure water, which was also where Keira's temple had been built. Gaon noted that it was the most likely place where Keira would have sealed herself. He then noticed the waters around them, which had been stained purple in many places, and noted that the High Flora must have mixed something into it.

The Adversary wondered why the High Flora would want to pollute the water, to which Gaon explained that the waters of Carcion were imbued with Keira' divine power. He told the Adversary that in the past, there had been an Ancient God who had resented Keira for not opposing the Overseers, for which they had attacked Carcion.

Keira and the Anima of Carcion – including himself – had fought against that god and had successfully fended off their attack, though many Anima had been killed, with many others wounded. In order to heal the wounded, Keira had blessed the waters with the power of the gods, which had not only healed the Anima, but had strengthened them in all the ages since. Though he wasn't sure whether the High Flora knew about its properties, he noted that something strange was happening, and that he was worried about the Anima living in Carcion.

Along the beach, the Glory Guard found large purple fragments polluting the region with a strange energy. Unable to find any trace of the Anima, Gaon wondered what had happened there. As they proceeded ahead, the World Heart suddenly began reacting to divine energy in the area. As the Adversary worked to calm it down, they realizing that the power which had polluted Carcion was similar to the power that Kaling possessed, which had been given to her by Darmoor. They then realized that it meant that an Apostle of Darmoor had indeed invaded Carcion.

However, the Adversary was also concerned about how little control they had over the World Heart, though Gaon reassured them not to be disheartened, as the World Heart was on a completely different level from the Seal Stone that they had in the past. He also pointed out that all of Carcion was filled with the power of an Ancient God, and that it wasn't strange for the World Heart to be reacting in such a way.

The Adversary realized that the World Heart was reacting to the two different kinds of power mixed into the river – Keira's Ancient God powers and Darmoor's Transcendent powers. They then thought to themselves that simply filling the World Heart with power wouldn't be enough to control it. They noted that the World Heart only absorbing power bestowed upon them, or having it absorb power independently of their own will meant that they would never be able to truly master it.

Just then, Eckhart pointed out the arrival of several Specters. The Glory Guard fought past the Specters and attempted to push forward towards the central island. However, Gaon pointed out that the enemy was coming from the mainstream river, which was the fastest route to the island, indicating that the High Flora had already taken control of the temple. He suggested that they follow the side streams and hide themselves there, as the Anima lived at the ends of the various streams that branched off from Carcion, which would also give them a better idea of the situation.

As they followed the side streams, Gaon explained that Carcion's two Anima races had separated in order to live in places that suited them best, noting that the Anima were primarily a tribal species. He added that the turtle Anima lived in the Pinjar tributaries, while the snake Anima lived in their village built around the Laguna tributaries. He explained that if the Anima were still around, they likely wouldn't have changed their way of life.

Fighting their way through, the Adversary defeated several Monstrous Shadow Birds throughout the area, which Gaon noted seemed similar to the wildlife of Carcion. Eckhart pointed out that even the monsters' general structure seemed different from usual Specters, which made him believe that rather than being Specters themselves, they were merely animals corrupted by Specters, which Claudine speculated may have been because of the polluted waters.

Meeting the Turtle Anima

At the beach, the Glory Guard found several turtle Anima warriors being attacked by Specters. After the Glory Guard defeated the Specters, Claudine approached the turtle Anima, who immediately raised their weapons at her. Claudine assured them that she wasn't their enemy and asked them to let her treat their wounded, explaining that she was a doctor. However, the leader of the warriors, Duhan, replied that he would never leave the life of one of his own in the hands of a stranger and ordered her to identify herself.

He noted that though they didn't seem to be High Flora, outsiders shouldn't have been able to enter their territory. Because of this, he concluded that they must be affiliated with the Flora army and told Eto, his second-in-command, not to let her guard down. Gaon attempted to reason with him and asked him to allow them to get his injured comrades to safety, as their condition looked severe and more enemies might be on the way.

Upon seeing Gaon, Duhan realized that he was a black tortoise Anima, causing Eto to realize that he was Keira's guardian. Gaon was surprised to know that he had come to be known as Keira's guardian amongst the turtle Anima, though he confirmed that he was indeed the person whom they knew from their ancestors' stories. Duhan explained that according to the legends, all the black tortoise Anima had perished, save one, and that the black tortoise Anima who had saved the turtle Anima in the distant past must have been Gaon. Though he still didn't trust Gaon's companions, he nevertheless agreed to allow them to enter the village.

At the turtle Anima village, Duhan told them that they would be safe, as the Flora army had not yet managed to push so far in. Gaon asked Duhan whether Keira was safe, though he was shocked to hear that the turtle Anima had no idea about Keira's conditions. He asked Duhan how they could be so irresponsible when the Anima of Carcion had worshiped Keira as their patron god for ages.

Duhan explained that after Keira had sealed herself away, the Anima had continued to thrive under her protection, guarding her sanctuary where she lay dormant. Gaon realized that the snake Anima had also protected Keira and asked Duhan where they were, to which Duhan angrily told Gaon not to speak of those snakes to him, explaining that the turtle and snake Anima were currently at war.

He told the Glory Guard that the Anima of Carcion had long since been strengthened by Keira's divine blessings. However, over the ages, that blessing had weakened as a result of the seal. Gaon realized that the snake Anima had gone against Keira's desire to avoid war simply to seize the power of the gods for themselves.

Duhan explained that as a result of the snakes' greed, the snake and turtle Anima had been at war ever since, with control over the water source constantly shifting back and forth between them. He also added that the snake Anima had gone even further by calling the High Flora to wipe out the turtle Anima, allowing them to pollute the waters of Carcion so that they could take the power of the gods for themselves. Gaon refused to believe that the Anima would conspire with the High Flora, and that the High Flora would even agree to work with a race that they had deemed ‘inferior'.

However, Duhan angrily asked Gaon what he would know about the situation after having abandoned Carcion for so many years. He explained that even in isolation, they had heard rumors of the High Flora and their interest in unique powers and special life forms. He noted that the Anima of Carcion had long since possessed stronger bodies than ordinary Anima thanks to the divine blessings of the gods, adding that it wasn't surprising at all that the High Flora would take an interest in them.

When Gaon retorted that they still had no proof of the snake Anima working with the High Flora, Duhan claimed that they needed no proof, as all the turtle Anima in the village had seen it with their own eyes. He explained that on the day that the High Flora had attacked Carcion, their battleships had headed towards the water source.

As the source had been under the snakes' control at the time, the turtle Anima had been delayed in arriving at the temple. There, however, he explained that it was the snake Anima, not the High Flora, who had stopped them. Though the strength of the turtle and snake Anima had originally been the same, the Flora army aiding the snakes had resulted in the utter defeat of the turtles.

He also explained that the High Flora had attacked various turtle Anima villages through Pinjar, kidnapping their incapacitated comrades in the process. He believed that the snake Anima must have promised to sell out the turtles to the High Flora in exchange for their support. He added that despite their best efforts, the turtle Anima could do nothing against the snakes, who had inexplicably boasted an abnormally fast recovery rate. (A/N: This is another clue about the snake Anima actually being Specters in disguise, as Specters are known for being able to recover their health at an unnaturally high rate.) In order to hinder the turtles' own recovery, the High Flora had also polluted the waters of Pinjar with a strange substance, incapacitating those who had drank from it.

Claudine then realized that the injured turtle Anima in the village were those who had drank from the polluted water. At Gaon's silence, Duhan noted that Gaon still didn't want to believe his words. He angrily demanded to know where Gaon had been all these ages when their ancestors had called him Keira's guardian, adding that it wasn't just the snake Anima who had forsaken her.

At Gaon's guilty expression, Duhan declared that he had nothing more to say to them. He then ordered them to tell him why they had sought him out, adding that depending on their answer, he may chase them out for good. Eckhart retorted that they wouldn't simply accept Duhan's words lying down, to which Claudine cautioned him to remain calm.

Suddenly, Eto rushed over and told Duhan that the incapacitated Anima had gotten even worse. Duhan and the Glory Guard rushed over to the wounded, where Claudine immediately took out her supplies and began assessing their condition. After a moment, however, she regretfully told them that there was nothing that she could do for them anymore, as the water that the Anima had ingested was polluting their bodies from the inside.

She explained that in order to cure them, she would need to remove the polluted water from inside their bodies, or to neutralize the pollutant with another substance. However, she added that they didn't have enough time or the right materials to treat them. Gaon asked Claudine whether there was really no other way, to which Claudine explained that just as the Adversary had said before, if the pollution had come from the power of an Apostle, there was nothing that they could do.

Suddenly, Claudine's words caused the Adversary to realize that the power which had polluted the waters stemmed from a higher being. Upon examining the injured Anima closely, the Adversary began sensing the two different powers inside them. They then had an idea and approached the incapacitated warriors with the World Heart. Though Duhan was immediately suspicious, the Adversary asked everyone to trust them.

By channeling their strong will, the Adversary consciously controlled the World Heart in order to absorb Darmoor's power inside the polluted water that the Anima had ingested. As the Anima warriors began recovering, Claudine was amazed to find that the Adversary had absorbed the power of the gods from within the Anima in order to save them. Eckhart noted that it was quite a spectacular sight and asked them whether their body was alright after performing such a feat. Gaon was shocked and told the Adversary that they had truly managed to bring the World Heart under their control for the first time.

Laboratory in the Jungle

Just then, the snake Anima began attacking the turtles at the beach, though they quickly retreated when the Glory Guard arrived. As the snakes ran back into the rainforest, Gaon wondered why they had fallen back. Claudine noted that the snakes must have been wary of them, especially the Adversary. However, Eckhart realized that the fact that the snakes hadn't expected them in the first place was suspicious. He pointed out that the snakes had very few warriors, as though they had only expected to meet the turtles. The Adversary then realized that if the snake Anima had truly been allied with the High Flora, they would have already known about the Alliance's involvement.

Duhan then called to them and explained that with the injured being sent back to the village, they would begin pushing into the rainforest of Laguna. Gaon asked Duhan whether he was no longer planning to find the kidnapped Anima, to which Duhan explained that even if they were to rescue their people, the snake Anima would not halt their assault, meaning that before they could attack the temple and rescue the kidnapped turtles, they needed to destroy the snakes once and for all.

Upon seeing Gaon's expression, Claudine told him that though she agreed with him that destroying the snakes wasn't the answer, it was also true that they needed more information about the kidnappings. The Adversary agreed, adding that they ought to try talking to the snakes one more time, as there was something bothering them about the whole situation. They then asked Eckhart to scout ahead in order to see if the missing Anima were being held at the temple, to which Eckhart agreed, adding that he would regroup with them in Laguna.

Duhan told the Glory Guard that the snake Anima village was deep in Laguna, and that even the turtle Anima had no idea where its exact location was. However, he explained that Laguna was already under the control of the High Flora, which meant that they had no choice but to act quickly before the snakes' trail would get washed away. He suggested that they divide their forces into two, with one squad diverting the High Flora, while the other scoured the rainforest.

Claudine replied that such a plan was reckless, as splitting up would only increase the risk of being attacked. Duhan told her that it couldn't be helped, as it was their only option with the limited amount of time that they had. Gaon then volunteered to act as bait and asked Claudine and the Adversary to search Laguna in his place. Duhan sardonically asked Gaon whether he was finally planning to act like a proper guardian before telling the Glory Guard that he would leave the mission in their hands.

The Glory Guard then entered Laguna, which was filled with Specters, and attempted to follow the trail of the warriors who had retreated. Soon enough, however, they realized that the snake Anima's tracks had completely disappeared. As they wondered what they ought to do, Claudine noticed a strange building in the woods. Inside, they were shocked to find that the building was an abandoned laboratory filled with test tubes and computer monitors.

Duhan wondered what something like that was doing in the rainforest and realized that it must have been built by the High Flora. Upon examining the tools in the laboratory, Gaon realized that the entire place was filled with technology from Odium, and that the kidnapped Anima must have been taken to the laboratory.

The Adversary asked Gaon whether he knew what kind of experiments had taken place, though Gaon replied that the details of the experiments was outside the scope of his knowledge. Duhan was enraged to know that someone had been experimenting on his people, while the Adversary grimly realized that the presence of the laboratory meant that the elders who had betrayed Shangri-La were here in Carcion.

Cavern Trap

After finding nothing in the laboratory, Eckhart returned and explained that he had found the location of the missing Anima. At Duhan's insistence, Gaon led a team to rescue the Anima, while Eckhart and the Adversary went after the snakes. At the caverns, Duhan began to sense the presence of the captured Anima as they proceeded deeper into the cave.

However, he noted that the energy was quite faint, to which Claudine speculated that it may be a result of the experimentation, reassuring him that she would be able to treat them. However, Gaon noted that it was quite strange that they hadn't seen even a single guard inside since they had entered the cave, wondering why the enemy would be sending troops back and forth if they didn't intend to guard the area.

Proceeding deeper inside, the group found the captured Anima trapped behind a force field. Though they were surprised to know that both snake and turtle Anima had been taken prisoner, Gaon decided that they should free the captives first and used his power to break open the force field. Claudine immediately rushed ahead in order to treat the prisoners. However, upon sensing a strange energy emanating from them, she yelled at everyone to fall back, warning that it was a trap.

Suddenly, another force field appeared around the rescue party, trapping them where they stood. Claudine then revealed that the prisoners weren't Anima, just as the Anima transformed into Specters. Duhan was shocked to see that his people had been turned into Specters, to which Gaon explained that it was the opposite, and that the Specters themselves had been disguised as Anima. He added that the Specters had been able to replicate not only the shape of the Anima, but their scent and bioenergy as well, noting that the only ones capable of such a feat were the elders.

Just then, the elders and Albaire arrived at the caverns. Shensung laughed that it had taken Gaon quite a while to realize the truth, adding that he still had a long way to go. Gaon was shocked to see Shensung and Xula, whom he referred to as ‘masters', causing Shensung to laugh that Gaon would still refer to them as such.

Shensung noted that after hearing how Gaon had left Shangri-La, he had been interested in seeing how determined Gaon was to see his decision through, though he laughed that Gaon was still as naïve as ever. Duhan then demanded to know where the real Anima were being kept, to which Shensung told him not to worry, as the captured Anima were sound asleep, alongside their precious goddess. He then mockingly imitated the cries of the Anima children begging for Duhan and Hinya to save them, and for Keira to grant them her blessing, adding that they had sounded quite pathetic.

Meanwhile, the Adversary, Eckhart, and the snake warriors arrived at the caverns and began fighting through the Specters in order to reach their comrades, whose energy they could sense up ahead. At the same time, Gaon and the others attempted to break the force field, which refused to budge. Gaon realized that the barrier had also been created by the elders, and that it had been designed to absorb any attack that they made from the inside.

As the water levels continued rising dangerously, Shensung noted that Albaire had chosen a cautious method of killing them, adding that he had been looking forward to a battle between a High Flora colonel and one of the Four Symbols. However, Albaire curtly replied that there was nothing that he would gain from exerting himself, as he had already seen Gaon's martial prowess.

Disappointed, Shensung decided that he would return back to the sanctuary, noting that as much as he wished to see Gaon's final moments, he also had work that needed to be finished. He then told Xula to follow him back before heading off. However, Xula remained for a moment and looked at Gaon silently before addressing him. She then revealed to him that Ara and Baekyeon were still alive and asked him to let that knowledge give him ease in his final moments before leaving as well.

Just as the water threatened to drown them completely, the Adversary arrived and rescued them. As the Specters self-detonated, Gaon used Keira's power in his spear to create a protective barrier. With enemy gone, Hinya and Duhan immediately raised their weapons at each other, demanding to know where each had taken the other's people. Claudine attempted to remind them that the kidnapped Anima were at the sanctuary, though neither warrior would put down their weapon. Gaon then attempted to reason with them, explaining that the enemy had disguised the Specters as Anima in order to turn them against each other.

Saving Keira

With hostilities continuing to rise, Gaon begged the Anima to calm down, noting that he was sure that the reason why Keira had asked for his help instead of theirs, despite them having protected her for generations, was because of their pointless feud preventing them from doing what needed to be done. Suddenly, Gaon's spear began to glow and produced brilliant shining water, which took the form of Keira herself.

Keira addressed everyone and introduced herself as the goddess of Carcion, explaining that she had been observing everything that had transpired through her powers contained within Gaon's spear. The Adversary asked Keira how she was able to manifest herself, to which Keira explained that she had been waiting for them to reach the sanctuary, as her powers were too weak to reach them when they had been so far from her physical body.

Hinya and Duhan immediately apologized for failing to protect the water source and asked whether she was unharmed. Keira explained that she was fine for the moment, though she told them that they didn't have much time, as the Apostle of Darmoor was breaking through her barrier as they spoke, with the kidnapped Anima being slaughtered indiscriminately.

She then turned to Duhan and Hinya and noted that they were the leaders of their tribes and the descendants of the Anima who had inherited her will. However, she rebuked them both for having forsaken that will by taking the power that she had given to heal the Anima and twisting it into an object of possession for which they had waged endless war. She noted that even when their people had been in danger, they had failed to look past their obsession over meaningless revenge as they had attempted to monopolize her divine blessings.

However, she told then told them that it wasn't too late and implored them to work together and save the Anima, adding that by combining their strength, they could become far stronger than the sum of their parts. Suddenly, Keira began fading as the barrier began to break. She asked Gaon to hurry and save her before the barrier completely failed, explaining that the enemy had something that could rob a god of their powers. Resolved to make up for their mistakes, the turtle and snake Anima agreed to work together in order to save their god.

As the Anima attacked the Specter army, the Adversary and Gaon confronted Limbo, who absorbed Keira into himself and attacked them in his Specter form. The pair fought Limbo in a fierce battle, but no matter how much damage they dealt, Limbo continued recovering from any damage sustained at an abnormally fast rate. Gaon realized that at the rate that things were going, they would run out of stamina, while Limbo would easily regenerate. Limbo then told the Adversary that he had been looking forward to fighting them ever since hearing about how they had gotten rid of Kaling, though he noted that they were still far from complete.

Just as he attempted to finish things, however, Keira manifested before them in her watery form. She explained that Limbo had absorbed her without being able to fully control her powers, which had allowed her to regain some of her strength. She told them that she would damage him from the inside, which would weaken his recovery rate and give them the opportunity to defeat him.

As Keira disappeared, Gaon began attacking Limbo, while the Adversary took out the World Heart and attempted to absorb Limbo's stolen power. However, the World Heart refused to obey their will, giving Limbo the opening to gravely wound Gaon. Refusing to give up, however, the Adversary continued pouring all their will into the World Heart, which finally responded with a brilliant light that extracted Keira's powers from within Limbo, allowing her to manifest her physical form once again.

As Keira fell unconscious, Gaon grabbed her and held her in his arms, just as Claudine, Eckhart, and the Anima arrived. The Anima immediately rushed to Keira's side and asked her whether she was okay. Keira explained that she was unharmed, though Gaon and the Adversary were wounded. Claudine began treating Gaon and explained that while his life wasn't in danger, his wounds were quite serious, for which she would give him emergency treatment.

Furious at his defeat, Limbo attempted to self-detonate and wipe out all of Carcion, though the Anima of Carcion combined their blessings together, which Keira used to defeat Limbo once and for all. Eckhart then began to interrogate Limbo about the elders' experiments, to which Limbo merely laughed and claimed that such experiments were nothing more than idle distractions for Darmoor to pass his time, declaring that their sole mission was the destruction of all life. Gaon was furious to know that the captured Anima had been killed for nothing more than a pastime, though Eckhart simply noted that Limbo could still afford to offer some clarification, adding that he would hear the rest of his explanations in the dungeons of Ereve.

Suddenly, Havoc appeared and began using a draining crystal to take Keira's powers. As Keira's power continued being absorbed into the crystal, Gaon vowed that he wouldn't allow Havoc to finish. With Keira's divine power inside his spear, Gaon created a protective barrier around the goddess, shielding her from the effects of the crystal. Havoc noted with mild interest that Gaon had managed to create a shield, though he declared that it didn't matter, as he had already filled the crystal, with the empty shell of a god meaning nothing to him. He then manifested his demon wings in a flash of red energy and retreated with Limbo.

Leaving with Keira

In the aftermath of the battle, the Alliance took Keira back to Ereve in order to recover. Soon after, the Adversary met with Gaon and Keira, and learned that they were planning to go after Ara and Baekyeon together. Gaon explained that after learning from Xula that they were both still alive, he felt that he needed to save his family. However, he promised that he would lend his aid to the Alliance, and that he would rush to the Adversary's side whenever they called.

The Adversary asked Keira whether she would consider staying in Ereve, to which she replied that with how much Gaon lacked common sense, she would feel more at ease staying by his side before he caused trouble everywhere he went. Though Gaon began laughing at her words as a joke, Keira told him not to laugh, leaving him to wonder whether she was being serious or not. After Keira told the Adversary more about the World Heart, Gaon and Keira headed off to find the missing Symbols.

NPC

Shangri-La

Plum Blossom-Scented Spring

Gaon
Location	Plum Blossom-Scented Spring

Orchid Leaf-Green Summer

Gaon
Location	Orchid Leaf-Green Summer

Chrysanthemum-Blooming Autumn

Gaon
Location	Chrysanthemum-Blooming Autumn

Bamboo-Resting Winter

Gaon
Location	Bamboo-Resting Winter

Sinners' Paradise

Gaon
Location	Sinners' Paradise

Four Seasons Pavilion

Gaon
Location	Four Seasons Pavilion

Harsh Winter 1

Gaon
Location	Harsh Winter 1

Drowsy Autumn 2

Gaon
Location	Drowsy Autumn 2

Drowsy Autumn 5

Gaon
Location	Drowsy Autumn 5

Gentle Summer 5

Gaon
Location	Gentle Summer 5

Six Path Crossway

Gaon
Location	Six Path Crossway

Ereve

Sky Ferry

Gaon
Location	Sky Ferry

Arteria

Operations Center

Gaon
Location	Operations Center

Supply Depot

Gaon
Location	Supply Depot

Northern Outskirts

Gaon
Location	Northern Outskirts

Western Outskirts

Gaon
Location	Western Outskirts

Eastern Outskirts

Gaon
Location	Eastern Outskirts

Hangar

Gaon
Location	Hangar

Bottom Deck Passage 1

Gaon
Location	Bottom Deck Passage 1

Bottom Deck Passage 6

Gaon
Location	Bottom Deck Passage 6

Carcion

Carcion Shores

Gaon
Location	Carcion Shores

Giant Coral Colony 1

Gaon
Location	Giant Coral Colony 1

Giant Coral Colony 3

Gaon
Location	Giant Coral Colony 3

Calm Beach 1

Gaon
Location	Calm Beach 1

Pinjar's Armor

Gaon
Location	Pinjar's Armor

Coastal Treeline 1

Gaon
Location	Coastal Treeline 1

Hidden Laboratory

Gaon
Location	Hidden Laboratory

Coastal Treeline 2

Gaon
Location	Coastal Treeline 2

Somewhere Deep Inside the Cave

Gaon
Location	Somewhere Deep Inside the Cave

Temple of Tears

Gaon
Quests involved	[Carcion] Last Chance
Location	Temple of Tears

Gallery

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  NPC Portrait of Gaon
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  NPC Portrait of Gaon
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  NPC Portrait of Gaon
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  NPC Portrait of Gaon

Trivia

• Based on the original Korean dialogue, Shuli is the third oldest of the Four Symbols after Baekyeon and Shuli, followed by Ara.