Limina/Story

AreaStory

Story (Post-Remaster)

Note: The Limina storyline was remastered under the KMS story team's new continuity in the NEXT Update.

Toward the Black Mage

At the Labyrinth Core, the Adversary demanded to know why Orchid had been hiding her identity from them all along. Orchid revealed that after Black Heaven, she had gone to see Guwaru in the Forest of Spirits in order to reclaim her original power as a Spirit of Darkness, as she had learned that the Black Mage had been manipulating events for centuries, including the events which had led to Lotus' death. She explained that Guwaru had agreed to grant her power, but only on the condition that she lend her strength to the Adversary at the final battle. Guwaru had also given her a mask to hide her identity from those who would take revenge on her, which would also allow her to communicate with him. She then told the Adversary that in order to face the Black Mage, they would need to destroy the Labyrinth Core. The Adversary expressed their doubts about whether they could trust her, causing Guwaru's spirit to manifest from Orchid's mask. Guwaru told the Adversary that Orchid's words were correct, to which the surprised Adversary asked him whether he was the one who had given Orchid back her power. Guwaru revealed that he hadn't bestowed his power upon her, but rather, he had merely shown her some of the powers that spirits could use, as she would need it to aid them in the final battle against the Black Mage. He revealed that only the Adversary had the power to escape the Path of Destiny that the Black Mage had set, and that they needed to destroy the labyrinth and face the Black Mage.

The Adversary suddenly noticed that the Labyrinth Core was glowing and wondered whether it was because Hilla had been defeated. Guwaru explained that the core contained the power of the Transcendents, and that it could not be destroyed through normal means. He revealed that only the power of the Adversary could destroy the core, to which the Adversary paused. Orchid asked them why they were hesitating, believing that it was because they still didn't trust her. Frustrated, she attempted to use her powers to destroy the core herself, though her attack did no damage. Guwaru told Orchid that just as he had said, the power of the Transcendents could not be damaged through normal attacks, causing Orchid to note in frustration that she couldn't avenge Lotus with her own power. Guwaru then told the Adversary that the great power to bend causality had been granted only to them, though the Adversary replied that they had no idea how they could draw out that power for themselves. Guwaru told them that they already knew the answer and asked them what it was that drove them.

He explained that for himself, he had fought with great willpower centuries ago, driven by his desire to protect nature. However, he added that he lacked a sense of direction, as he himself had been a product of nature as well, and that it was for that very reason why he had become a minion of the Black Mage as the shifting balance of the Transcendents had shifted his own balance as well. He then asked Orchid what drove her, to which she explained that in the past, she had originally only wanted to have ignorant bliss and fun, as she had been too naive to know what was precious to her and what wasn't. However, she revealed that what motivated her now was vengeance, as she would do whatever it took to avenge Lotus' death. Guwaru then asked the Adversary what drove them, to which they began thinking back to their journey. They admitted that there were still too many things for them to know for sure, though they noted that what they wanted most was to protect the lives of their loved ones, their own life, and the world itself, and that they knew for certain that they would sacrifice their own life if they had to. Guwaru told the Adversary that risking their own life was a powerful drive, and that it would certainly be enough to draw out the power of the Adversary. By focusing on their strong determination, the Adversary summoned a small portion of the Seal Stone's power, shattering the Labyrinth Core and collapsing the labyrinth to reveal Limina, a cascade of waterfalls.

Immediately, Tana's necklace which Neinheart had given them earlier began shining, with Guwaru recognizing the red jewel as an anti-magic stone. However, he noted that there was something different contained inside it, to which the Adversary revealed that it had belonged to Tana. Orchid recognized Tana as the Transcendent of Light and wondered whether the necklace was responding to the presence of its owner. The surprised Adversary realized that Tana must be close by, with Guwaru adding that the Black Mage must be there as well. He warned the Adversary that the Black Mage would soon create the Genesis Crux, explaining that it was a seed from which the new world would blossom and replace what came before. He explained that the Adversary would need to destroy the Genesis Crux, as the Genesis Ritual would not stop otherwise.

Just then, several Alliance soldiers found the Adversary, with Orchid quickly pulling her hood up to hide her face peeking out from the shattered mask. The Alliance soldiers were relieved to find the Adversary and explained that with communications back online, everyone had been ordered to return back to the fleet immediately in preparation for the final assault. Suddenly, Orchid spoke up and told the Adversary that they couldn't leave, as they had barely managed to make it as far as they had. She asked them whether they were truly going to turn back when it was their destiny to face the Black Mage, after which she told the Alliance soldiers to leave without them. Recognizing Orchid as a dangerous foe, the Alliance soldiers prepared to stand off against her, to which an unconcerned Orchid reminded the Adversary that only they had the power to defeat the Black Mage, and that everyone else who couldn't help would only get in the way. However, Guwaru then spoke up and told Orchid that she was wrong, as everyone's collective determination was needed to defeat the Black Mage. The Adversary then asked the Alliance soldiers to return back and inform the Alliance that Orchid was on their side. They also explained that they were planning to go with her to face the Black Mage themselves, for which the soldiers reluctantly agreed before Orchid used her power to teleport them back to the White Spear.

The Adversary and Orchid then proceeded to move ahead, following the trail of red light from Tana's necklace leading to the Genesis Crux. As they made their way past the waterfalls, Guwaru warned them that he was sensing pure Erdas up ahead. They soon discovered several strange monsters, which Guwaru explained were primordial creatures which had sprung from the raw power of creation. He added that though the creatures had no egos, they would instinctively attack anyone attempting to scale up the waterfalls. He also warned the Adversary to take care, as the waters of the Arcane River were different from those of Maple World. As the Adversary fought past the monsters, they took care to hide from the Erda Surge that occasionally washed away all the monsters. Scaling up the waterfall, Orchid noted that Tana's necklace was glowing even brighter, meaning that she must be close by. Suddenly, they were stopped by Guard Captain Kellad, who warned them that they would not be permitted to go any further. Though Kellad appeared human, Orchid warned the Adversary to be on their guard, as she could sense the Black Mage's energy inside him. She explained that though Kellad may have once been human, he certainly wasn't anymore. Kellad admitted that it filled with him sadness to hear that, claiming that though his body and the power inside him weren't human, the emotions that he felt very much were. He then warned the Adversary to heed his words, claiming that the more they raised their blade to protect others, the more their future and everything they sought to protect would crumble before them. He added that having experienced that first-hand, he could say that with more certainty than anyone else.

Suddenly, Kellad transformed into Guard Captain Darknell and told the Adversary that he would test the will in their blade. Declaring that he would stop all his liege's enemies, Darknell summoned the five Elite Bosses to face the Adversary and Orchid while he disappeared to guard the Genesis Crux. Realizing that they had little time, Orchid teleported herself and the Adversary to the top and ordered them to reach the Genesis Crux while she handled the Elite Bosses, claiming that they needed to save their strength for the final battle. She also gave them her mask, claiming that Guwaru's power would mask their presence from the Elite Bosses. Orchid then teleported back to face the Elite Bosses alone, declaring that they would not be able to defeat her so easily. Though the Adversary was worried about Orchid, Guwaru assured them that she would be fine, as she was stronger than before. The Adversary was surprised, as they had believed that Orchid couldn't use her powers without Lotus. Guwaru told the Adversary that they were correct, and that Orchid was instead drawing out her original Spirit of Darkness powers. However, he revealed that since Orchid now had a human body, the cost of using her spirit powers in such a way was her lifespan, adding that perhaps there may even be a greater cost than that.

Meanwhile, Orchid began facing the Elite Bosses, who quickly began gaining the upper hand. In order to pursue the Adversary, the Bad Brawler, the Mad Mage, and the Black Knight broke off from the battle, leaving behind the Vicious Hunter and Rampant Cyborg. Nevertheless, Orchid refused to be beaten, explaining that she hadn't felt alive ever since Lotus had died, and told the pair to attack her with everything they had using their weapons, not their words. As she fought them, the Adversary defeated the other three Elite Bosses as they scaled up the waterfall before finally reaching the Genesis Crux at the top. Guwaru told the Adversary that they could still avoid the worst by destroying it before the Genesis Ritual began. Just as he spoke, however, Darknell appeared and congratulated them for reaching the top. As he struck the Adversary with his blade, Guwaru used his spirit powers to create a shield around the Adversary, blocking Darknell's surprise attack before it could reach them. With the magic in the mask fading, Guwaru told the Adversary that he had something to say before the connection severed. He explained that mortals were always wandering, adding that even he had made a wrong choice and regretted it once. Because of this, he urged the Adversary to make the right choice, and to not be confused on their true goal. He then asked them to step off the Path and save the world before disappearing.

Darknell noted his impressment with seeing their power and walking along the path that the Black Mage had chosen, for which he offered to show them their destiny. He introduced himself as the captain of the Black Mage's personal guard and declared that out of respect for them, he would fight with all his heart without yielding. Suddenly, the Genesis Crux activated and began absorbing the Black Sun, turning the waters crimson red. As darkness fell upon them, the five Elite Bosses appeared to reinforce Darknell, who issued them their combat orders. After a fierce battle, the Adversary managed to defeat Darknell and the Elite Bosses. As the Elite Bosses turned back into their human forms and perished, a mortally wounded Darknell warned the Adversary that they would not escape the Light of Annihilation, adding that everything transpired according to the Black Mage's will. Darknell then returned back into his human form and collapsed as Orchid arrived and realized that the Genesis Ritual had already begun.

Orchid noted in frustration that even if they were going to die, she wanted to hit the Black Mage at least once, to which the Adversary told her that even if the ritual had begun, they could still stop it by defeating the Black Mage. Realizing that they still hadn't given up after everything, Orchid realized that they truly were the Adversary destined to stop the Black Mage. She then told the Adversary that she couldn't guarantee their safety if they were to get caught up in the ritual, for which she decided to use the last of her strength to send them back to the Alliance. She tasked the Adversary with preparing alongside the Alliance for a final offensive while she delayed the ritual for as long as she could. As she refused to give up on her revenge, Orchid told the Adversary that she would trust them because they hadn't given up either, after which she told them to be sure to escape the Path. After Orchid sent the Adversary back to the White Spear and left to confront the Black Mage, a dying Kellad looked around to see all his comrades fallen. With all the people of Sharenian finally dead, Kellad realized that their curse of servitude was finally broken at last. Noting that he had followed Prince Sharen's final command until the very end, Kellad noted that though nothing in the sky could last, loyalty was eternal. With that, Kellad and the Sharenian Knights scattered into Erda and disappeared.

Meanwhile, the Adversary was teleported back to the White Spear, where they found the Alliance bombarding an enormous giant whose heart was the Genesis Crux. With the Alliance's barrage too out of range, the giant released a wave of energy that began rocking the White Spear. Neinheart then turned to see that the Adversary had returned, expressing his relief that they were safe. He explained that the giant had burst forth from the crimson waters flowing out of the Genesis Crux, which had stained the Origin Sea red. He explained that the next part of the prophecy, "A crimson tear will spawn a giant that swallows hearts", had come to pass, with the giant serving as the Black Mage's declaration that he had become a god. Realizing that they had just been in the heart of the giant, the Adversary was shocked to realize that Orchid had just been in the midst of the wave of energy that the giant had just emitted. Cygnus then ordered another barrage against the giant, which once again emitted a wave of energy in response to the ineffective cannon fire. Neinheart then ordered all Alliance forces to clear a path for the Adversary to return to the Genesis Crux, adding that he had something important to tell them in the meantime.

Light of Annihilation

Before talking with the Adversary, Neinheart turned to Edea and Kyrin and finished relaying his orders to them, warning them that their job wouldn't be easy. After the pair left to carry out their mission, Neinheart wondered to himself whether sending their allies to their possible deaths was a necessary risk. He then turned to the Adversary and explained that he wanted to tell them more about the Black Mage's true goals. Neinheart began by telling them that the Black Mage's ideal world was one without Transcendents. In order to achieve this, he had not only defeated Rhinne, Alicia, and Tana, but he had kept the first two from passing on their powers while absorbing the latter. Neinheart was intrigued that he had managed to do so under the most unfavorable conditions. Bound by the laws of the Overseers that even he could not break, the Black Mage was unable to battle the other Transcendents directly, which was why he had recruited the Commanders to aid him. However, the Commanders had their own agendas, and so the Black Mage had needed to manage them carefully in order to ensure that they wouldn't turn against him to advance their own goals. In order to do so, he had needed to convince the Commanders that their goals aligned with his, while simultaneously hiding his true intentions from them. The Adversary then recalled how Damien had planned to betray the Black Mage by stealing Alicia's powers, while the Heroes had stood against him. Though none of the parties involved had supported his goals, the Black Mage had still been able to emerge victorious. Neinheart then recalled what the Black Mage had told Cygnus in her nightmares: "Your fate is sealed." Though he had initially believed that the Black Mage had merely been boasting, Neinheart had come to realize that the Black Mage was speaking literally, referring to the Path of Destiny. Neinheart told the Adversary that Grendel's analysis of the core fragment would soon be completed, allowing them to find the missing element in the puzzle.

Just then, an Alliance soldier reported that one of the Resistance ships needed immediate reinforcements. As the Adversary headed over to help them, Neinheart contacted the ship and told Belle to take point on the assault. Belle grew furious at Neinheart's orders, as not only was their ship damaged, but Neinheart was also keeping the White Spear and its escorts out of firing range. As she and the other Resistance leaders began demanding to speak with Cygnus, Claudine arrived and told them that they needed to follow orders in order to win the battle. Neinheart thanked her and explained that reinforcements would soon arrive. The Resistance leaders were outraged to find a single one-man ship arriving until they realized that the Adversary was aboard. Claudine assigned the Adversary to the starboard deck, where they rescued the soldiers and stopped the monsters from destroying the ship's cannons. After helping the Resistance retake the ship, the Adversary received orders to return back to the White Spear in order to get Grendel's analysis of the core fragment.

As they headed out, Claudine briefed the other Resistance leaders on Neinheart's plan to have them get as close as possible to the giant and fire directly into its heart. The Resistance leaders were taken aback by Cygnus's plan, as she never usually put them in such a dangerous position, but Claudine told them that they needed to trust that she had a good reason. They then began firing on the giant, damaging its exterior and leaving it exposed. As Claudine ordered a retreat back to the White Spear, a massive wave of light emanated from the Genesis Crux. The soldiers who were caught in the Light of Annihilation immediately scattered into Erdas. Though dumbstruck by their heavy losses, Claudine decided that they would hold a memorial for their fallen soldiers later, as they had no time to mourn in the middle of a war. The Resistance leaders agreed that they wouldn't let their sacrifices be in vain, and that they would make the Black Mage pay.

Back on the White Spear, Grendel told them that he had finished his analysis of the core fragment. The Adversary then asked Grendel to explain what destiny the Black Mage had in store for them. Grendel noted that he could tell that the Adversary was afraid that the Black Mage's destiny would swallow them whole and lead them to ruin. He explained that mortals tended to regard fate with a mixture of awe and fear because of how unpredictable the future was. Though there were some mortals who could see the future, such as the Empress, Grendel explained that they could only see fragments, rather than the full scope and the process by which their vision would come to pass. Though the future was determined by the present, there were so many variables in any given present, such as fate, chance, and free will, that countless futures were constantly being created and erased. Grendel claimed that it was impossible to process such vast possibilities, likening it to a two-dimensional creature perceiving a three-dimensional world. However, he revealed that the Black Mage had somehow managed to perceive destiny, allowing him to change it.

Grendel cited how the Black Mage's choice to praise the Demon had set off a new destiny by putting Arkarium on the path to destroy the Demon's family, which had resulted in everything that had happened, from Black Heaven, to Damien, to Aeona, thus placing the whole world on the Path to Genesis. Though he conceded that everyone had behaved according to their own free will along the way, he explained that they hadn't realized that the Black Mage had been influencing their decisions. He then showed them the core fragment from Gloom and explained that within the fragment were futures that had once existed before being erased by the Black Mage. Having examined the timelines within the fragment, Grendel noted that the single great constant was that the ones who had done the most damage to the Black Mage's grand design had been his own Commanders. He added that the only Commander who had fully known the Black Mage's plan and had embraced it was Will, while the other Commanders had inevitably betrayed him in order to ensure their own survival. Grendel pointed out how the Black Mage had manipulated events perfectly, such that the Commanders would serve him until they were defeated by the Alliance before they could interfere with his plans. The Adversary asked whether it was possible to stop the Black Mage after having learned of the Path, but Grendel pointed out that even the fact that they had realized the existence of the Path was part of the Black Mage's plan. He then told them that he could see no action that would allow them to change the fate laid out by the Black Mage.

As the Alliance prepared to counterattack, the Adversary was left speechless by the revelation that everything they had done had all been predetermined by the Black Mage, even up to their current moment. As they began wondering whether they could really defeat the Black Mage if their destiny had already been decided, Cygnus snapped them out of their stupor and told them that she was afraid just like them, as she feared whether she even deserved to be the Empress if everything had already been preordained by the Black Mage. However, she told them that despite those fears gnawing away at her, she would continue to fight no matter what, as she couldn't back down when there were so many people depending on her. She then asked the Adversary to continue lending their strength to the Alliance once again, reminding them about how they had already done the impossible many times before, and that if there was anyone who could defy destiny, it was them. Just then, Neinheart reported that the giant's exterior layer had been shattered, and that the path to the Genesis Crux had been opened. Realizing that the time had come, Cygnus ordered all the core members of the Alliance to gather for the final battle. She then turned to the Adversary and told them that she trusted them, for which she asked them to trust her as well. She told the Adversary that together, they would prove that they were not merely pieces on a chessboard, and that they could live with their own free will, not as puppets of the gods.

Aboard the White Spear, the greatest heroes of the Alliance assembled together: the Explorer, Tess, Olive, and Rondo, the Chief Knights, the Resistance leaders alongside the Demon and Xenon, the Heroes, Edea and the Nova, the Flora, the Anima, Kinesis, and Zero. Cygnus then addressed the gathering and told them that the time had come to defeat the Black Mage, who had cast darkness upon all of Maple World. She explained that their fight had begun centuries ago when the Black Mage had first tried to destroy the world, resulting in the death of Empress Aria as she moved for peace. Though it had felt as though the world itself had been ending, the sacrifice of one lone mercenary - Ryude - had become a spark to signal the crisis on Ossyria, gathering together brave Heroes who had risked their lives to seal the Black Mage away. She added that though the Heroes had fought alone hundreds of years ago, things had changed considerably, as there were brave heroes from Maple World and other dimensions who had gathered together. Though she noted that they all seemingly had nothing in common, they had all united together under one Alliance to save the world. She explained that they all had something that they would risk their lives to protect, and that they would fight for that very reason. She then declared that it was time to commence the final operation with determined minds by facing the Black Mage together alongside all their allies. She explained that the White Spear would pierce through the giant and open the way to the Black Mage, with the flagship serving as the transport vessel for the Alliance's heroes to reach him safely.

Going Beyond Destiny

The White Spear then pushed forward into the giant's heart, where the Alliance arrived at the Temple of Darkness. There, the Adversary and their allies confronted the Black Mage, who addressed the Alliance from the Throne of Darkness and declared that their path had always been preordained, and that they were only quickening their pace to its end. Facing the Black Mage, the Explorer noted to their allies - including Sugar, who had appeared as the Goddess of Maple World - that they had finally made it to the end of the road at last. They declared that they would stop the Black Mage no matter the cost before he destroyed the Maple World that they loved so dearly. The Goddess of Maple World then blessed the Explorers as they charged into battle. Cygnus then addressed the Black Mage and declared that the Maple Alliance would never support him before she rallied the Chief Knights into attacking. As they did, Claudine told the Black Mage that the Resistance finally stood before him, and that the people of Edelstein, who had once been oppressed, had found freedom at last. She declared that they would not allow that freedom, which had been born of countless sacrifices, to disappear in vain. Xenon agreed and noted that he still remembered his friends and brothers who had died, declaring that he would take the Black Mage down and put an end to that vicious cycle. Elex added that they needed to put an end to sacrifice for their generation, while Checky noted that they needed to create a future where their children could live happily. Brighton vowed that he would protect everyone, to which Belle added that they would deal a great blow to the Black Mage.

Edea agreed and noted that Claudine was right, adding that they couldn't allow all those sacrifices to be in vain. She then told the Black Mage that it was her first time seeing him. She declared that the Nova understood the meaning of sacrifice, which was why they had all gathered to stand before him, as fighting corrupted Transcendents like him mattered greatly to them. Edea added that the people of Grandis would not go down easily, to which Kaiser added that if the Black Mage wasn't stopped, it would impact not only Maple World, but Grandis as well, for which he vowed never to stand down. Kain then asked the Black Mage how a fallen Transcendent could talk about a predetermined destiny, declaring that his Malice did not follow any preordained path, and that he would not relinquish the freedom that Luska had given him. Cadena then wondered whether it was just her who was feeling gloomy, noting how she had no choice but to run away in the past when she had no power, though she added that things were different now. Angelic Buster agreed with Cadena and vowed that she wouldn't cry anymore, and that she would fight proudly. Cadena was pleased to hear Angelic Buster's response and noted how cool she sounded, to which Kaiser called upon the Nova ancestors to grant them strength, with the Nova and the Resistance charging in together.

Adele then declared that no path would stop her convictions, and that she would wake him up from his perfect dream. Illium agreed and noted that whether it was the Black Mage or Darmoor, arrogance would certainly be their downfalls, as there was no place in the world for corrupted Transcendents. Khali declared that destiny could always be changed if even a single person had a strong enough will, just as Rasha had taken the fate meant for her. Ark told the Black Mage that it was time to end things once and for all, and that he would no longer tolerate such cruelty anymore. As the Flora jumped into battle, Lara declared that their path was not always set, just like when she had followed the Mountain Kids to the restricted sanctuary, which had proven that she had always had the choice to step off any predetermined path. Hoyoung then chimed in and asked the Black Mage whether he was so certain that he was correct before telling him to open his ears and listen to a sage's words when he said that even small, seemingly inconsequential choices could easily change their destiny, as everyone forged their own path. Ren agreed and added that the path she walked had always been her own, and that she would decide where she walked.

With the Anima charging in, Alpha scoffed at the Black Mage's predetermined path, noting that it was just like the fate which had failed to keep him and Beta imprisoned. Beta added that they had broken through and come out on the other side, with Alpha declaring that they would get off the Black Mage's path as well. As they charged in, Kinesis noted that whether it was the Black Mage or the White Mage of Friends World, both of them were the same. However, he pointed out that the White Mage of his world had failed, and that it would be the same for the Black Mage as well. As Kinesis jumped forward, the Demon declared that it was time to put an end to their long history. He noted that while they had stood alone centuries ago, things were different now, as he would use the same power that he had once wielded for the Black Mage to destroy him, adding that winning the battle wasn't just for him, but for Damien as well. Mercedes noted that it felt strange to be fighting alongside both former enemies and countless allies, to which Luminous added that though the fight had been long, they would soon put an end to what had been started hundreds of years ago. Phantom agreed and noted that he had made mistakes in the past while blinded by revenge, though he would seek vengeance no longer and instead protect the world, just as Aria had asked of him. Aran then told the Black Mage that paving a path ahead had always been her specialty, and that she would definitely defeat him this time. Mercedes added that though Freud was no longer with them, those who carried on his legacy still were, and that the Black Mage would not escape them.

She turned to look at Evan, who remained silent for a moment as he prayed for Freud and Afrien to watch over them. At Mercedes' concern, Evan laughed embarrassedly and explained that he had simply been praying for a moment, and that he wasn't afraid. He then told Mir that they would stake it all on the honor of the Dragon Master and the Onyx Dragons before declaring that he would fight in the name of Freud and Maple World. Luminous then told the Black Mage that he had been waiting for this moment for a long time. He declared that for everything that the Black Mage had done to Maple World and to the members of Aurora who had followed him, he would wipe the world clean of the Black Mage's darkness and make him regret the day that he had left him behind. Meanwhile, Shade noted to himself that he wasn't sure what would happen to him if the Black Mage were to disappear, as his existence might disappear as well. However, he vowed that even if no one remembered him, he would put an end to his long history with the Black Mage once and for all. As the Demon and Heroes charged in, the Black Mage then used his power to create his two knights of light and darkness, the Aeonian Rise and the Tanadian Ruin.

After the Adversary and the Alliance defeated the knights, Eckhart noted that the battle had been difficult. Hawkeye jokingly asked Eckhart whether he was tired already, with Irena reminding him that they still had a long way to go, as they had only beaten the gatekeepers. Oz encouraged everyone to keep going, reminding them that they still had the strength to fight on. Cygnus agreed and pointed out that the true battle was now beginning. Phantom then yelled at the Black Mage to show his face, to which the Black Mage got up from his throne and addressed them, claiming that he had seen a world constricted by chains in the name of balance, an indolent god, and mankind that had lost the meaning of its own existence. Luminous immediately warned everyone to be wary of the Black Mage's chains, while Claudine scoffed at the Black Mage's claim that humanity had lost its meaning. Evan agreed, declaring that there wasn't a single unnecessary person in the world. Edea them told the Black Mage that even if humanity had no meaning, it wasn't his place to decide that, with Aran adding that she couldn't listen to his nonsense any longer. Shade declared that the Black Mage had no qualifications to exact his plan, to which Cygnus then warned everyone that the battle was about to begin, just as the Black Mage invited them to approach and meet their destiny.

The Adversary and the Alliance then began fighting fiercely against the Black Mage. As their battle intensified, the Black Mage declared that the end of the world was approaching as an unknown energy burst forth from him and swallowed the Temple of Darkness, transporting the exhausted Alliance into an ethereal, galaxy-like realm, where the Adversary was surprised to find Orchid. Orchid revealed that after the Genesis Ritual had begun, she had found herself within the inner realm, where she had been fighting the Black Mage the whole time. She explained that her attacks seemed to have no effect, and that the Adversary would have to end things after all. She revealed that the best time to finish off the Black Mage was now, as things would change as the time of Genesis approached. She told the Adversary that if such a time came, their only chance was to destroy the Genesis Crux before the ritual completed. As the Adversary vowed to do whatever it took to destroy the Black Mage - even sacrificing their own life - the Black Mage suddenly manifested before them as a powerful being of light, having ascended to become a god in his own right. The Black Mage then told the Adversary to risk everything they had as the Adversary and Orchid worked together to fight the Black Mage and his godlike powers of creation and destruction.

The overwhelming energy from their battle soon engulfed everything in the surrounding area and created a void of black and white, where the Adversary found that the rest of the Alliance had vanished. They realized that Genesis was about to begin, just as Orchid had warned, and that they would need to summon the power of the Adversary in order to win. They noted that everyone would die if they failed to stop the Black Mage, and that they would risk everything they had for it, just as he had asked of them. Vowing to sacrifice their own life if necessary, the Adversary fought the Black Mage alone in a fierce battle, just as the Genesis Crux appeared before them. Realizing that the critical moment had arrived, the Adversary began to summon the full power of the Adversary by focusing on their strong determination to sacrifice their own life, but to their shock, the small amount of divine power drawn from the Seal Stone proved to be insufficient in destroying the Genesis Crux.

The Black Mage mocked them for believing that they had escaped the Path of Destiny. He declared that they would not live to claim the true power of the Adversary, and that their destiny had already been decided. He then entered the Genesis Crux, leaving the Adversary aghast that even this very moment had been preordained. As the time of Genesis approached, the Adversary collapsed in exhaustion and found themselves in a dreamscape filled with crystals containing scenes from their own memories. They began lamenting how, even at the end, they had been unable to defeat a Transcendent who had become a god. Looking up at a crystal containing the memory of them fighting Hilla, the Adversary realized that she had been so much stronger than before, and that they had only managed to beat her through pure luck. Upon seeing a crystal with Cygnus's face, they noted how Cygnus had trusted them and apologized for betraying that trust. Finally, looking at the memory of Tana, they began wondering whether saving her life had truly been the right choice, though they noted that even now, they still didn't regret saving her.

As they began wishing that they could turn back time, they thought back to their journey through the Arcane River in reverse, recalling how Jean had been smiling until the very end in the Morass. They wondered how the Rock Spirits were doing in Arcana after the Song of the Forest had been returned, and they began apologizing to Protective Mask in Lachelein for failing to win their freedom on their own, just as he hadn't. Looking back on Chu Chu Island, they realized that the villagers had lived bravely, even without knowing their identities. Finally, they thought back to the Vanishing Journey and realized that they finally understood Kao, as both of them had now failed to protect their world. Though they wished once again that they could turn back time like Kao had, exhaustion quickly began overtaking them as they realized that there was nothing left to do but rest until the end came for them. As they closed their eyes, however, a formless white light appeared and spoke with Tana's voice, asking them whether this was truly the end that they wanted. She reminded them about how they had saved her in Esfera when she had called out for Jean to help her and asked whether they were giving up now after everything.

The Adversary weakly looked up at Tana and told her that they didn't want to give up, though it was too late now. Tana then revealed to the Adversary that the world didn't want them to die, with memories of Athena Pierce, Neinheart, Claudine, Cygnus, and others speaking aloud to the Adversary from within the crystals, reminding them of the Alliance's commitment to surviving together. Tana then used her power of creation to craft an enormous maple leaf, from which a voice of someone close to the Adversary spoke to them, helping them find the strength to keep fighting. As the Adversary got up, Tana asked them whether they were still choosing to give up, to which the Adversary vowed that they understood the truth now. They explained that they had been prepared to sacrifice themselves all the while that they had faced the Black Mage, but what they had instead needed to believe was that they needed to survive and save everyone, including themselves, not to give up on themselves and die for the sake of a world that wanted them to live.

As the divine power flowed through the Adversary, the Genesis Crux began to shake, creating a powerful golden glow from within the giant's heart that the exhausted Alliance fleet saw from the distance. With Tana sending them back to the Genesis Crux, the Adversary confronted the Black Mage and declared that it was time to end things. Channeling their fierce determination to survive, the Adversary awakened the full power of the Seal Stone and summoned a divine blade, with which they prepared to deal a decisive blow to the Black Mage. The Adversary declared to the Black Mage that there was no fixed fate, which was why they stood now before him. The Black Mage retorted that their hopes were futile, to which the Adversary vowed that their collective determination would bring forth a miracle. They explained that they could hear the voices of many people inside them - Jean telling them that they needed to win, the Small Spirit crying that he didn't want to disappear, Protective Mask asking them to bring freedom to the world, Simia promising to make them delicious food if they survived and came back, Rasol telling them that they would see the sun together in Friends World, and Legato affirming that the Adversary would win.

With the voices of everyone filling them with strength, the Adversary vowed to defeat the Black Mage and return back to those who were waiting for them to come home alive. Tana's voice then called out and told the Adversary that their determination was finally fully attuned to the determination of the world, revealing that the world was crying out that it didn't want to disappear, and that she would leave the rest to them. The Adversary then the memory of Kao asking them to create the future that they themselves couldn't, to which the Adversary promised their future self that they would carry on that will. With the full power of the Seal Stone, the Adversary cleaved the Black Mage and the Genesis Crux in half, returning Cygnus and the other heroes of the Alliance back into the giant's heart. Orchid noted that the Genesis Crux had vanished, while Oz realized that she couldn't sense the Black Mage's aura anymore. As everyone began celebrating their victory, Cygnus outstretched her hand and asked the Adversary to come back with her, as everyone was waiting. To her shock, however, the Adversary suddenly scattered into Erdas and vanished. As Cygnus fell to her knees in anguish, the Chief Knights reported that the giant was moving, with Claudine urging her to retreat. With Cygnus remaining unmoving, Claudine told Cygnus not to let the Adversary's sacrifice be in vain, to which Orchid asked everyone to lend her a portion of their magic, as it was her first time teleporting so many people. Meanwhile, Neinheart watched in earnest as ten minutes passed since the giant had fallen silent. Suddenly, Cygnus reported that the Genesis Crux had been destroyed, causing the soldiers to begin cheering. However, she struggled with how to break the news that the Adversary had been destroyed.

Elsewhere, in the Erda Flow, the Adversary awoke and wondered whether they had died before finding that the White Mage was standing before them. The White Mage explained that their body had been annihilated, and that their soul would dilute and disappear after some time. He then congratulated them on their victory, explaining that they had saved the world. The Adversary asked why he had appeared before them if the battle was over. The White Mage replied that he only wanted to share a few words, as he had been waiting to speak with them for a long time. The Adversary was surprised that he had been waiting for them, to which he explained that they were the only one who could save him from the prison of immortality. He noted the irony that the very nature of a Transcendent prevented them from destroying themselves. The Adversary then realized that his ideal world without Transcendents also included erasing himself. The White Mage confirmed their thoughts and explained that it was the very reason why he had needed them. The White Mage revealed that as a result of their actions, they had shattered the fate that had bound them both. He explained that the axis of fate had been tilted the moment when they had refused to take Tana's life. He then asked what had led them to make that decision, to which they replied that it had been because Tana had cried out for help, and that she hadn't wanted to disappear.

After a pause, the White Mage told them that though he been the one to ask them why they hadn't killed Tana, he had perhaps known the answer all along, explaining that he had been in a similar situation. He revealed that the moment that he had awakened as a Transcendent, he had also become a pawn of the Overseers. He explained that while trapped in his destiny set by the Overseers, he had tried going against them and had eventually succeeding in carving out the future that he had desired. He noted that it was ironic that the same destiny that he couldn't accept had been forced upon the Adversary. He explained that even if someone had set the path of destiny, a soul like the Adversary's, which had been forged from the belief engraved in their heart, could not waver or bend to another's will. He told the Adversary that such a soul was the result of having lived a life and added that they really were just like him, as they were both people who had fought against destiny. He noted that as the Adversary had traveled, they had likely experienced the beauty of the world, and that they must have met and walked alongside many others. He explained that those experiences had made them evolve into a being who didn't forget to live with harmony, even in the face of despair, and one whose heart could lead the way by shining a light in the darkness. The White Mage then told the Adversary that life was precious because it was finite, and that, having lost sight of the value of life, he believed that he wasn't qualified to realize his grand ideals. He explained that he had believed that he couldn't change fate as a mortal, and so he had sought to borrow the power of the divine by becoming a Transcendent. He then wondered whether he had lost his qualifications to realize his ideals from the moment that he had cast aside his humanity.

The Adversary suddenly felt a strange sensation as their body began disappearing from their fingertips, to which the White Mage told them that it couldn't have been stopped for long. The Adversary then asked him why he had kept fighting if they had already won when they had changed fate in Esfera. The White Mage replied by asking what they had felt as they had walked the Path of Destiny, when they had begun to question their own free will. After considering it, the Adversary replied that they had felt a sense of helplessness, as they had known that mortals didn't have the power to change their destiny, as those destinies had been set by gods who were too powerful to overcome, just as the White Mage himself had learned firsthand. However, they explained that they couldn't give up simply because it was difficult. The Adversary then noted that what they had really felt upon learning about the Path of Destiny was both anger and the will to live, all at once. They added that their desire wasn't some grand dream of wanting to protect the world, but merely the will to fight for what they believed in, their free will, their belief, and their unwavering faith. They told the White Mage that destiny wasn't set by anyone, but rather, it was shaped by them simply living in the present. The White Mage then noted that the higher beings whom they fought against would see their resistance as futile and asked if they still wouldn't give up, even while knowing that. The Adversary agreed that those higher beings would regard them as pathetic and weak, but nevertheless, they believed that they shouldn't accept their destiny without question.

The White Mage was satisfied with their answer, after which the Adversary noted that they now had a better understanding of his thoughts and goals, as being deprived of one's free will and being forced to live in accordance with someone else's destiny was a painful existence. However, they told the White Mage that they still couldn't sympathize with his evil deeds, even in spite of understanding his suffering. After a pause, the White Mage told them that when he had first learned about the chains of destiny, he had likely felt the same as them. Though he had felt rage when he had realized that he had been losing his free will, he had still felt uncertainty. As he had been alone for all his life, he had tried deciding his own path himself, but the moment that he had stopped believing in himself, he had been shaken. In contrast, he told the Adversary that making connections with countless people must have helped them during moments when their faith in themselves had been wavering, which made the Adversary recall Empress Cygnus and Tana. After a pause, the White Mage told them that even though his plan had been perfect, he had started questioning it. He cited how Kao had lost to him in the past, and how he had sent them back in time, adding that such a risky action of sending a variable back in time could only be done once.

He then revealed that it was then that he had begun to think deeply and had actually begun to notice the Adversary and the world more closely, noting that so many things had changed since he had first tried to take over the world centuries ago. He explained that unlike the selfish people of his time, so many good people had banded together in order to try and change the world. He added that the one who would lead them was not one who lived in fear, but rather, someone who could unite everyone, unlike himself. He then told them that their anger, the answer to his question about what they had felt upon discovering the Path of Destiny, was enough. He explained that life was full of trials and tribulations, but if people like the Adversary could come together and work together, they would be able to overcome any ordeal. He then told them that if the feelings that they had felt were real, then it was enough. As the Adversary began disappearing from the Erda Flow, the White Mage told them to never forget their anger. After a pause, he told them that the world which good-natured beings like them would create would be more perfect than anything that he could have made, and so he was content with leaving it all behind to them.

Back aboard the Alliance fleet, all the soldiers who had been scattered into Erda were restored to life. As the Adversary returned back into the material world, they heard the White Mage's final words congratulating them for their victory in having escaped the destiny that he had set for them and finding a new path. He told them that the future was now in their hands, adding that though he didn't know what kind of enemies they would face next, he trusted them to face it. He then asked them once again to keep persevering, and that he would give his blessings for the future that they would create. The Adversary then appeared before the astonished Alliance leaders, with Edea wondering whether the Black Mage had used the power of creation to resurrect them. However, Claudine happily declared that it didn't matter, as the only important thing was that the Adversary was alive. A teary-eyed Cygnus asked the Adversary to never disappear like that again before thanking them for coming back. With everyone in the Alliance slowly returning back to life, the Adversary spoke a final farewell to the Black Mage once and for all.

After getting some much-needed rest, the Adversary soon returned back to the Outpost, where Cygnus greeted them and asked if they had gotten some rest after defeating the Black Mage, to which the Adversary replied that it had been ages since they had been able to sleep as well as they had. Neinheart then told the Adversary that he had several things to report, with the first being that Orchid had disappeared after the battle. He explained that he had attempted to ask Guwaru about her whereabouts, though Guwaru had refused to cooperate.Neinheart added that the Alliance was continuing to track her down, and that though she had helped the Alliance during the Arcane River and Tenebris expeditions, they could not ignore all her past crimes. Nevertheless, he admitted that they would have to think about how to handle her if she had truly changed her ways. He then added that there were others waiting to meet them, causing the Adversary to worry whether there was another threat. Just then, several other leaders of the Alliance arrived, causing the Adversary to realize that Neinheart had merely been joking.

Meanwhile, at the Aboris Royal Palace, Melange presented the book that Will had dropped in Esfera and recited the Black Mage's prophecy of the final battle to Gerand Darmoor. Melange explained that he had found useful information in the book, and that he had detected the seed of the new world left behind by the Black Mage. Darmoor then ordered Melange to find Aeona and the Seed, claiming that all would be ‘there'.

Story (Pre-Remaster)

Toward the Black Mage

At the Labyrinth Core, Orchid told the Adversary that they were still as weak as they had always been. The Adversary was surprised to see Orchid, believing that she had lost her Wing Master powers. She revealed that she had gone to see Guwaru in the Forest of Spirits in order to reclaim her original power as a Spirit of Darkness, as she had learned that the Black Mage had been manipulating events for centuries, including the events which had led to Lotus' death. She explained that Guwaru had agreed to grant her power, but only on the condition that she lend her strength to the Adversary at the final battle. Guwaru had also given her a mask to hide her identity from those who would take revenge on her, which would also allow her to communicate with him. Guwaru's spirit then manifested from Orchid's mask and told the Adversary that they were the deciding factor in the final battle. Just then, the Labyrinth Core began to glow and the Adversary asked if it was because of Hilla's defeat. Guwaru explained that the core contained the power of the Transcendents, and that the Adversary had been chosen to end it all. He then instructed them to use the power of the Adversary to destroy the core. The Adversary attempted to muster the same determination that had allowed them to defeat Hilla, but found that they were unable to call forth the divine power.

Frustrated, Orchid told Guwaru that she had known all along that the Adversary was weak and used her power to destroy the core herself. Orchid then shattered her mask, severing communications with Guwaru, and decided that she would defeat the Black Mage herself. As she teleported away, the labyrinth collapsed and left behind a cascade of waterfalls. Several Alliance soldiers then found the Adversary and told them that a rescue team was on its way, since communications were back online. The Adversary was relieved to know that all the fallen Alliance soldiers had merely been illusions created by Hilla. The soldiers then told the Adversary that they had orders to regroup, but the Adversary refused and instead told them to let Neinheart know that the masked person from Esfera was Orchid, and that they were going after her. They then took the remains of Orchid's mask and headed after her, just as strange Transcendion monsters began appearing from the waters. Though the connection was fading, the Adversary contacted Guwaru with the mask and asked whether the Black Mage had sent the strange monsters. Guwaru explained that the creatures had sprung from the raw power of creation, and that they would recognize the Adversary as an intruder while in Limina. As the Adversary fought past the monsters, they took care to hide from the Erda Surge that occasionally washed away all the monsters.

After reaching the base of the waterfall, they began scaling it as they asked Guwaru how Orchid had destroyed the Labyrinth Core. Guwaru explained that she hadn't destroyed the core, but rather, she had merely compressed it into a different space with her gravity powers. The Adversary was surprised that she had done it without her Wing Master powers, to which Guwaru explained that she was eating away at her own life force in order to forcibly channel her original powers as a Spirit of Darkness in her human form. The Adversary then asked whether anyone besides themselves had the power to defeat the Black Mage, pointing out that Orchid had managed to destroy the Labyrinth Core, even without the divine power. Guwaru explained that it wasn't possible for anyone else to face the Black Mage, and though Orchid didn't want to believe it, he knew that she would come to realize it when she actually faced the Black Mage herself. Guwaru told them that the Black Mage was planning to create the Genesis Crux, a seed from which the new world would blossom and replace the original three. As the power of the mask faded, Guwaru warned them that only the power of the Adversary could allow them to step off the Path and destroy the Genesis Crux.

After Guwaru's voice faded away, the Adversary caught up with Orchid and told her that they needed to work together. However, Orchid refused and pointed out that not only had they failed to stop Will, even with his hands tied by the ritual, but they had also squandered their chance to kill Tana, which had allowed the Black Mage to gain the power of creation. She told them that they were weak because they had everything to lose, unlike herself, who had already lost everything when Lotus had died. Orchid then gave them one final chance to reconsider, but when they refused to back down, she challenged them to make it to the top of the waterfall. As the Adversary started following her, she created a black hole to swallow them and began shooting lasers as they continued ascending past the monsters. Just as they approached the top levels of the waterfall, Orchid unexpectedly stopped. Suddenly, the five Elite Bosses appeared to prevent them from reaching the Black Mage. Unwilling to entertain them, Orchid teleported away and left the Adversary alone. Furious, the Elite Bosses began chasing after Orchid, with the Adversary following suit. The Adversary continued ascending the waterfall while fighting off the Corrupted Warriors spawned by the Elite Bosses. Along the way, they also managed to take out the Bad Brawler, the Mad Mage, and the Black Knight.

At the top of the waterfall, the Adversary found Orchid taking down the Rampant Cyborg and the Vicious Hunter. Though she wouldn't admit it, she was impressed that the Adversary had finished the other three off so quickly. The Adversary then saw a large orb, from which Erda water was pouring, which they recognized as the Genesis Crux. Orchid immediately told them to step aside, claiming that they were of no use until the power of the Adversary awakened within them. Suddenly, the Genesis Crux activated and began absorbing the Black Sun, turning the waters crimson red. As darkness fell upon them, Orchid told them to stay where they were and teleported away. As the Adversary began trying to follow her, Guard Captain Darknell himself appeared. He told them that he was impressed by how far they had managed to come, but warned that they would not lay a finger upon his master as long as he was standing. Darknell then summoned the five Elite Bosses and his Corrupted Warriors before engaging in a fierce battle with the Adversary, who managed to defeat him and his forces.

Meanwhile, Orchid appeared some distance away from Tenebris and saw that the Genesis Crux had absorbed the Black Sun, causing it to glow brightly. The crimson waters that flowed out of the Genesis Crux began staining the Origin Sea red, out of which burst forth an enormous giant whose heart was the Genesis Crux. Shocked by its appearance, Orchid realized that Guwaru was right when he had warned that she couldn't handle the Black Mage alone. Back at the Genesis Crux, a defeated Darknell warned the Adversary that they would not escape the Light of Annihilation. Just as he fell, the Genesis Crux began quaking and the Adversary was knocked to the ground, unable to move. Orchid then reappeared and told them to warn the Alliance that they were still on the Path.

Light of Annihilation

Orchid then teleported the Adversary back to the White Spear, where they found the Alliance bombarding the giant with their cannons, though their barrage seemed to have no effect. They soon ran into Neinheart, who was relieved that they were safe. He explained that the next part of the prophecy, "A crimson tear will spawn a giant that swallows hearts", had come to pass, with the giant serving as the Black Mage's declaration that he had become a god. Neinheart then ordered all Alliance forces to clear a path for the Adversary to return to the Genesis Crux. The Adversary then told Neinheart what Orchid had said about the Path and asked him to explain what she had meant. Neinheart began by telling them that the Black Mage's ideal world was one without Transcendents. In order to achieve this, he had not only defeated Rhinne, Alicia, and Tana, but he had kept the first two from passing on their powers while absorbing the latter. Neinheart was intrigued that he had managed to do so under the most unfavorable conditions. Bound by the laws of the Overseers that even he could not break, the Black Mage was unable to battle the other Transcendents directly, which was why he had recruited the Commanders to aid him. However, the Commanders had their own agendas, and so the Black Mage had needed to manage them carefully in order to ensure that they wouldn't turn against him to advance their own goals. In order to do so, he had needed to convince the Commanders that their goals aligned with his, while simultaneously hiding his true intentions from them.

The Adversary then recalled how Damien had planned to betray the Black Mage by stealing Alicia's powers, while the Heroes had stood against him. Though none of the parties involved had supported his goals, the Black Mage had still been able to emerge victorious. Neinheart then recalled what the Black Mage had told Cygnus in her nightmares: "Your fate is sealed." Though he had initially believed that the Black Mage had merely been boasting, Neinheart had come to realize that the Black Mage was speaking literally, referring to the Path of Destiny. Neinheart told the Adversary that Grendel's analysis of the core fragment would soon be completed, allowing them to find the missing element in the puzzle. Just then, an Alliance soldier reported that one of the Resistance ships needed immediate reinforcements. As the Adversary headed over to help them, Neinheart contacted the ship and told Belle to take point on the assault. Belle grew furious at Neinheart's orders, as not only was their ship damaged, but Neinheart was also keeping the White Spear and its escorts out of firing range.

As she and the other Resistance leaders began demanding to speak with Cygnus, Claudine arrived and told them that they needed to follow orders in order to win the battle. Neinheart thanked her and explained that reinforcements would soon arrive. The Resistance leaders were outraged to find a single one-man ship arriving until they realized that the Adversary was aboard. Claudine assigned the Adversary to the starboard deck, where they rescued the soldiers and stopped the monsters from destroying the ship's cannons. After helping the Resistance retake the ship, the Adversary received orders to return back to the White Spear in order to get Grendel's analysis of the core fragment. As they headed out, Claudine briefed the other Resistance leaders on Neinheart's plan to have them get as close as possible to the giant and fire directly into its heart. The Resistance leaders were taken aback by Cygnus's plan, as she never usually put them in such a dangerous position, but Claudine told them that they needed to trust that she had a good reason. They then began firing on the giant, damaging its exterior and leaving it exposed. As Claudine ordered a retreat back to the White Spear, a massive wave of light emanated from the Genesis Crux. The soldiers who were caught in the Light of Annihilation immediately scattered into Erdas. Dumbstruck by their heavy losses, Claudine ordered a ship for her to see Cygnus immediately.

Back on the White Spear, Grendel told them that he had finished his analysis of the core fragment. The Adversary then asked Grendel to explain what destiny the Black Mage had in store for them. Grendel noted that he could tell that the Adversary was afraid that the Black Mage's destiny would swallow them whole and lead them to ruin. He explained that mortals tended to regard fate with a mixture of awe and fear because of how unpredictable the future was. Though there were some mortals who could see the future, such as the Empress, Grendel explained that they could only see fragments, rather than the full scope and the process by which their vision would come to pass. Though the future was determined by the present, there were so many variables in any given present, such as fate, chance, and free will, that countless futures were constantly being created and erased. Grendel claimed that it was impossible to process such vast possibilities, likening it to a two-dimensional creature perceiving a three-dimensional world. However, he revealed that the Black Mage had somehow managed to perceive destiny, allowing him to change it. Grendel cited how the Black Mage's choice to praise the Demon had set off a new destiny by putting Arkarium on the path to destroy the Demon's family, which had resulted in everything that had happened, from Black Heaven, to Damien, to Aeona, thus placing the whole world on the Path to Genesis. Though he conceded that everyone had behaved according to their own free will along the way, he explained that they hadn't realized that the Black Mage had been influencing their decisions.

He then showed them the core fragment from Gloom and explained that within the fragment were futures that had once existed before being erased by the Black Mage. Having examined the timelines within the fragment, Grendel noted that the single great constant was that the ones who had done the most damage to the Black Mage's grand design had been his own Commanders. He added that the only Commander who had fully known the Black Mage's plan and had embraced it was Will, while the other Commanders had inevitably betrayed him in order to ensure their own survival. Grendel pointed out how the Black Mage had manipulated events perfectly, such that the Commanders would serve him until they were defeated by the Alliance before they could interfere with his plans. The Adversary asked whether it was possible to stop the Black Mage after having learned of the Path, but Grendel pointed out that even the fact that they had realized the existence of the Path was part of the Black Mage's plan. He then told them that he could see no action that would allow them to change the fate laid out by the Black Mage.

As the Alliance prepared to counterattack, the Adversary was left speechless. They began wondering what the purpose of fighting was if their fate had already been determined. Cygnus then snapped them out of it, telling them that now wasn't the time to doubt themselves. The Adversary asked if Cygnus had known about the Path, to which she told them that she did, admitting that she had kept it from them because she was afraid that they wouldn't have come as far as they had if they had known. Cygnus then told them that they were the Adversary, but asked if they knew what they were the Adversary of. The Adversary replied that they were the Adversary of the Black Mage, but Cygnus revealed that they were actually the Adversary of Destiny. The Adversary then recalled what Neinheart had told them about what the Black Mage had written in his research, "Only the Adversary can counter immortality's fate with the strength of a Seal Stone."

Cygnus explained that they were the one piece on the board whom the Black Mage couldn't control, which was why he was trying to make them lose hope in order to prevent them from emerging victorious. She then had them board a one-man ship straight into the Genesis Crux and ordered them to return safely. As they headed towards the Black Mage, Cygnus ordered the fleet to close ranks against the giant in order to provide an opening for the Adversary. She then ordered the Chief Knights to the deck before having the White Spear push forward to support. Just then, Claudine boarded the White Spear and demanded to know what Cygnus was doing. She claimed that Cygnus had never been a coward before and asked how the Cygnus Knights could cower in the rear while ordering the rest of the fleet to head into annihilation. Cygnus refused to answer her and ordered Claudine to return to her ship. However, Claudine demanded to know Cygnus's motives, claiming that the Resistance was dying without knowing why. Cygnus then threatened to throw Claudine in the brig if she didn't listen to orders. Furious, Claudine declared that Cygnus was still a frail little girl under her armor before pinning her and demanding to get answers. As Cygnus winced in pain, Claudine was shocked to see that Cygnus was wounded, causing her to realize that she had been fighting on the front lines the entire time. Realizing that Cygnus had been risking her life as much as everyone else, Claudine decided to listen and returned back to her ship.

Going Beyond Destiny

Meanwhile, the Adversary's ship was sustaining heavy damage and threatening to fall apart at any moment. Just as it exploded, the Flying Fish arrived to carry the Adversary the rest of the way. It flew them through the heavy bombardment and managed to bring them straight to the Temple of Darkness. Critically wounded from the heavy fire, the Flying Fish told them that the world wanted them to win so that they could all survive, just as it scattered into Erdas. From the Throne of Darkness, the Black Mage addressed the Adversary and told them that their path had always been preordained. The Black Mage then used his power to create his two knights of light and darkness, the Aeonian Rise and the Tanadian Ruin. After the Adversary defeated the knights, the Black Mage got up from his throne and addressed the Adversary, claiming that they hadn't seen what he had. He explained that he had seen the chains constricting the world, a careless god, and people without a purpose. He then invited them to approach and meet their destiny. The Adversary then began fighting fiercely against the Black Mage. As their battle intensified, an unknown energy burst forth from the Black Mage and swallowed the Temple of Darkness, transporting them into an ethereal, galaxy-like realm, where the Adversary was surprised to find Orchid. Orchid revealed that she had been fighting the Black Mage from within the inner realm the whole time while the Adversary had been fighting him from the material world. She explained that her attacks seemed to have no effect and conceded that the Adversary would have to end things after all.

Suddenly, the Black Mage manifested before them as a powerful being of light, having ascended to become a god in his own right. Orchid told the Adversary that it was time to fight, both for her to get revenge and for them to save the world. Together, they fought the Black Mage and his godlike powers of creation and destruction. The overwhelming energy from their battle soon engulfed everything in the surrounding area and created a void of black and white. Orchid told the Adversary that Genesis was about to begin, after which the world would be erased. She then told them that when the Black Mage was weakened, they would need to summon up the power of the Adversary in order to deliver the final blow. The Adversary was unsure about their ability to do so, but Orchid told them that they had failed to destroy the Labyrinth Core because the Seal Stone inside them only activated off of powerful determination, adding that they needed to be ready to sacrifice their own life if needed.

Suddenly, Orchid collapsed on the ground, having expended all her energy. Without her support, the Adversary faced the Black Mage alone, and after a fierce struggle, they managed to weaken him. After getting the upper hand, the Adversary checked up on Orchid, who warned them that the Black Mage needed to be stopped before he entered the Genesis Crux. The Adversary then attempted to summon all of the determination within them, focusing on their willingness to sacrifice themselves for everyone else. To their shock, however, the Seal Stone remained inert and unresponsive to their thoughts. Just then, the Black Mage mocked them for believing that they had escaped the Path of Destiny. Declaring that they would not live to claim the true power of the Adversary, the Black Mage entered the Genesis Crux, leaving the Adversary aghast that even this very moment had been preordained.

As the time of Genesis approached, the Adversary lamented how, even at the end, they had been unable to escape the Path. Just then, a formless white light appeared and spoke with Tana's voice, telling them that they had indeed escaped the Path, just by a single step. She reassured them that they had the determination to see things through, and that everyone was counting on them to stop the Black Mage. She then told the Adversary that the world needed them alive, not as someone who had given up. Her words helped the Adversary realized that they had been prepared to sacrifice themselves all the while that they had faced the Black Mage, but what they instead needed to believe was that they had to survive and save everyone, including themselves. As the divine power flowed through the Adversary, the Genesis Crux began to shake. Orchid, having regained enough of her strength, reappeared to teleport them to safety. Back at the Outpost, the gems in the hands of the Goddess Statues responded to the collective determination of the Adversary and the Alliance, transforming the gems into three large swords whose tips touched each other, from which a brilliant ray of light shot forth and traveled all the way to Tenebris, where it destroyed all the monsters on its path towards the giant's heart. Realizing that the time had come, Cygnus ordered the fleet to pull back so that the White Spear could proceed alone. The flagship then pushed forward through the path that the beam of light had cleared and pierced through the giant's heart, allowing them to enter the black and white void where the Genesis Crux was.

Meanwhile, Orchid teleported herself and the Adversary to the deck of the White Spear. Cygnus then told the Adversary that it was time to end the battle. The Adversary jumped off the deck of the ship and fell straight through the giant's heart into the black and white void. With the power of the Adversary, they summoned the divine blade and entered the Genesis Crux, plunging their sword straight through the Black Mage's heart. Orchid and Cygnus rushed into the void and congratulated the Adversary for killing the Black Mage. To their shock, however, the Adversary scattered into Erdas and vanished. As Cygnus fell to her knees in anguish, the Chief Knights reported that the giant was moving and urged her to retreat. As the giant closed up and trapped the White Spear inside, Orchid asked Cygnus to allow her to use the ship's power so that she could get them out. Meanwhile, Claudine and Neinheart watched in earnest as ten minutes passed since the giant had fallen silent. Troubled by the White Spear's disappearance, Neinheart weakly suggested moving fire away from the heart so as not to harm the White Spear, though Claudine reminded him that he was the one who had been against that idea before. She snapped at him to get it together so that the soldiers wouldn't see him so distraught, adding that she was worried about Cygnus and the others as well. Suddenly, the White Spear shot straight through the giant's heart, with Orchid amplifying the ship's power, and Neinheart ordered covering fire for them to escape. Cygnus reported that the Genesis Crux had been destroyed, causing the soldiers to begin cheering. However, she struggled with how to break the news that the Adversary had been destroyed.

In the Erda Flow, the Adversary awoke and wondered whether they had died before finding that the White Mage was standing before them. The White Mage explained that their body had been annihilated, and that their soul would dilute and disappear after some time. He then congratulated them on their victory, explaining that they had saved the world. The Adversary asked why he had appeared before them if the battle was over. The White Mage replied that he only wanted to share a few words, as he had been waiting to speak with them for a long time. The Adversary was surprised that he had been waiting for them, to which he explained that they were the only one who could save him from the prison of immortality. He noted the irony that the very nature of a Transcendent prevented them from destroying themselves. The Adversary then realized that his ideal world without Transcendents also included erasing himself. The White Mage confirmed their thoughts and explained that it was the very reason why he had needed them. The White Mage revealed that as a result of their actions, they had shattered the fate that had bound them both. He explained that the axis of fate had been tilted the moment when they had refused to take Tana's life. He then asked what had led them to make that decision, to which they replied that it had been because Tana had cried out for help, and that she hadn't wanted to disappear.

After a pause, the White Mage told them that though he been the one to ask them why they hadn't killed Tana, he had perhaps known the answer all along, explaining that he had been in a similar situation. He revealed that the moment that he had awakened as a Transcendent, he had also become a pawn of the Overseers. He explained that while trapped in his destiny set by the Overseers, he had tried going against them and had eventually succeeding in carving out the future that he had desired. He noted that it was ironic that the same destiny that he couldn't accept had been forced upon the Adversary. He explained that even if someone had set the path of destiny, a soul like the Adversary's, which had been forged from the belief engraved in their heart, could not waver or bend to another's will. He told the Adversary that such a soul was the result of having lived a life and added that they really were just like him, as they were both people who had fought against destiny. He noted that as the Adversary had traveled, they had likely experienced the beauty of the world, and that they must have met and walked alongside many others. He explained that those experiences had made them evolve into a being who didn't forget to live with harmony, even in the face of despair, and one whose heart could lead the way by shining a light in the darkness. The White Mage then told the Adversary that life was precious because it was finite, and that, having lost sight of the value of life, he believed that he wasn't qualified to realize his grand ideals. He explained that he had believed that he couldn't change fate as a mortal, and so he had sought to borrow the power of the divine by becoming a Transcendent. He then wondered whether he had lost his qualifications to realize his ideals from the moment that he had cast aside his humanity.

The Adversary suddenly felt a strange sensation as their body began disappearing from their fingertips, to which the White Mage told them that it couldn't have been stopped for long. The Adversary then asked him why he had kept fighting if they had already won when they had changed fate in Esfera. The White Mage replied by asking what they had felt as they had walked the Path of Destiny, when they had begun to question their own free will. After considering it, the Adversary replied that they had felt a sense of helplessness, as they had known that mortals didn't have the power to change their destiny, as those destinies had been set by gods who were too powerful to overcome, just as the White Mage himself had learned firsthand. However, they explained that they couldn't give up simply because it was difficult. The Adversary then noted that what they had really felt upon learning about the Path of Destiny was both anger and the will to live, all at once. They added that their desire wasn't some grand dream of wanting to protect the world, but merely the will to fight for what they believed in, their free will, their belief, and their unwavering faith. They told the White Mage that destiny wasn't set by anyone, but rather, it was shaped by them simply living in the present. The White Mage then noted that the higher beings whom they fought against would see their resistance as futile and asked if they still wouldn't give up, even while knowing that. The Adversary agreed that those higher beings would regard them as pathetic and weak, but nevertheless, they believed that they shouldn't accept their destiny without question.

The White Mage was satisfied with their answer, after which the Adversary noted that they now had a better understanding of his thoughts and goals, as being deprived of one's free will and being forced to live in accordance with someone else's destiny was a painful existence. However, they told the White Mage that they still couldn't sympathize with his evil deeds, even in spite of understanding his suffering. After a pause, the White Mage told them that when he had first learned about the chains of destiny, he had likely felt the same as them. Though he had felt rage when he had realized that he had been losing his free will, he had still felt uncertainty. As he had been alone for all his life, he had tried deciding his own path himself, but the moment that he had stopped believing in himself, he had been shaken. In contrast, he told the Adversary that making connections with countless people must have helped them during moments when their faith in themselves had been wavering, which made the Adversary recall Empress Cygnus and Tana. After a pause, the White Mage told them that even though his plan had been perfect, he had started questioning it. He cited how Kao had lost to him in the past, and how he had sent them back in time, adding that such a risky action of sending a variable back in time could only be done once.

He then revealed that it was then that he had begun to think deeply and had actually begun to notice the Adversary and the world more closely, noting that so many things had changed since he had first tried to take over the world centuries ago. He explained that unlike the selfish people of his time, so many good people had banded together in order to try and change the world. He added that the one who would lead them was not one who lived in fear, but rather, someone who could unite everyone, unlike himself. He then told them that their anger, the answer to his question about what they had felt upon discovering the Path of Destiny, was enough. He explained that life was full of trials and tribulations, but if people like the Adversary could come together and work together, they would be able to overcome any ordeal. He then told them that if the feelings that they had felt were real, then it was enough. As the Adversary began disappearing from the Erda Flow, the White Mage told them to never forget their anger. After a pause, he told them that the world which good-natured beings like them would create would be more perfect than anything that he could have made, and so he was content with leaving it all behind to them.

Back on the White Spear, Neinheart began to mourn the loss of the Adversary when Claudine suddenly saw something shooting out of the giant's heart. To their surprise, they saw the Adversary flying back on the Flying Fish. Claudine immediately ordered covering fire, allowing the Adversary to land on the White Spear. The Adversary then greeted Cygnus and told her that they had returned safely, just as she had ordered. As the soldiers began cheering for the Adversary, Neinheart told them that the giant seemed to be decomposing back into Erdas with the destruction of the Genesis Crux. The Adversary then noticed Orchid preparing to slip away, who claimed that she didn't want to hang around with Claudine glaring at her. The Adversary asked Orchid if it was true what Guwaru had said about her shortening her life by using her powers without Lotus. Orchid confirmed that she only had about a century left, and that she planned to live as a regular human. She then smiled, affectionately calling them a dummy, and told them that she would see them around before leaving. The Adversary then asked the Flying Fish if the battle was finally over. The Flying Fish confirmed that it was and told them to climb aboard so that they could say goodbye to everyone. Around them, the soldiers who had vanished into Erda from the Light of Annihilation returned back to life with the giant decomposing. Pleased to see that everyone was safe, the Adversary waved goodbye before leaving on the Flying Fish.

After getting some much-needed rest, the Adversary soon returned back to the Outpost, where Neinheart greeted them and asked if they had gotten some rest after defeating the Black Mage, to which the Adversary replied that it had been ages since they had been able to sleep as well as they had. Neinheart replied that it was good to hear, as the Alliance would be needing the Adversary at full strength. The Adversary was surprised and asked if there was something wrong. Just then, the other leaders of the Alliance arrived, causing the Adversary to realize that Neinheart had merely been joking. Meanwhile, at the Aboris Royal Palace, Melange presented the book that Will had dropped in Esfera and recited the Black Mage's prophecy of the final battle to Gerand Darmoor. Melange explained that he had found useful information in the book, and that he had detected the seed of the new world left behind by the Black Mage. Darmoor then ordered Melange to find Aeona and the Seed, claiming that all would be ‘there'.

Aftermath

For information on the full story, visit this page.

A World in Motion

Meeting Jean

Following the battle against the Black Mage, the Adversary met with Jean in the Morass. Jean noted that a strange wave of Erdas had been released and asked the Adversary whether they had defeated the Black Mage. He congratulated them for their victory and told them that he knew that they could do it, and that there was no one else he could have trusted but them to succeed. He then explained that with the Black Mage's death, Erdas would no longer be pulled from Maple World, after which he asked them what they planned to do now. The Adversary told him that they would return back to Maple World, to which Jean asked whether they were sure that there was no other work left for them to do in the Arcane River. At their confusion, Jean told them that they should meet with all the Erdas of the Arcane River, as they must all be worried.

Arcana

At Jean's suggestion, the Adversary first traveled to Arcana and met with the Small Spirit, who was pleased to see them return. He noted that they had gone off to do something important after the Vortex of Light had dissipated and asked whether they had finished their mission. As the other spirits of Arcana gathered around, the Adversary told them that they had succeeded in defeating the Black Mage. Though the spirits had no idea who he was, they believed that he must have been an evil person if the Adversary had killed him. The Adversary then asked how the spirits were, to which they explained that the Spirit of Harmony was no longer in hiding, and that everyone was happy together in the forest. However, the Small Spirit revealed that evil spirits still dwelled within the forest, though they were slowly returning back to normal.

Lachelein

After the Adversary finished catching up with the spirits, they traveled to Lachelein and met with Gray Mask, who was surprised to see them and asked whether they had completed their mission after they had set out with the red fog around Lachelein slowly rolling away. He then called over Protective Mask, who listened to the Adversary's story about the Black Mage. Gray Mask was surprised to learn that even Lucid herself had been someone else's subordinate, with Protective Mask noting his amazement that there existed someone stronger than the one who had dreamed up an entire city. He was pleased to hear that the Adversary had defeated the Black Mage and hoped that Lucid could find some peace, admitting that he didn't hate her, despite everything she had done. Though he wondered whether it was because he had been born from her mind, he noted that he only felt pity for her now. He explained that Lucid must have felt that she had needed to create a world of dreams, even though she had known that it was all fake, and that he hoped that she would find her freedom, just as the people of Lachelein had. Gray Mask then noted that the Adversary's purpose in traveling the Arcane River had been fighting the Black Mage from the beginning. He explained that though Lucid had vanished, the nightmare itself still remained, and that he had been worried that he may slip back into it again. However, he added that he was no longer afraid, as the Adversary had just defeated the real culprit behind the nightmare, for which they could all finally relax.

Chu Chu Island

The Adversary then traveled to Chu Chu Island, where Chief Lyon gathered together the entire village. The villagers learned about how the Adversary had defeated the Black Mage and recalled the Adversary's explanation about how the Black Mage was an evil Transcendent who was trying to destroy the world. Though they had little idea what that meant, Lyon congratulated the Adversary for saving the world regardless. Master Lyck expressed his surprise that they had been trying to get past Muto to defeat the Black Mage, as he had simply thought that they were searching for new ingredients. Pimi realized that the battle must have been why the Alliance had been rushing back and forth the Arcane River lately, with Pidol congratulating them on their victory. The Adversary told Pidol that the Arcane Symbol which he had given them as a gift had helped them in the battle, though Pidol quickly reverted back to his usual scatterbrained self again. Lyon then called for a festival in the Adversary's honor and invited the people of Yum Yum Island to attend as well. Simia and Lyck then prepared meals for everyone's different tastes, including Muto as well. At the village outskirts, Caster, Muppy, Bappy, and Puptail arrived to greet the Adversary, with Muppy and Bappy immediately beginning to dance loudly. Pibik then tasted a dish that Lyck had made especially for those with peculiar tastes, causing him to immediately collapse in disgust, which Lyck mistook for Pibik being overwhelmed by its excellent flavor. Simia then asked Caster whether the people of Yum Yum Island had peculiar flavor palettes and invited them to try all the food in order to find out for themselves.

Reverse City

After the festival ended, the Adversary met with the people of Reverse City, who were pleased to see them again. The Adversary then began recounting the full story about their journey in the Arcane River. Alamo was surprised to learn that the Black Mage had been pulling in Erdas from Friends World and wondered whether it was something that a normal human could do. He noted that it was a good thing that the Black Mage had been defeated so that there wouldn't be more victims of his machinations, such as Barr. Rasol then revealed to the Adversary that after they had left, people from Friends World had continued visiting Reverse City after being pulled into the Arcane River. She explained that the townspeople had done their best to send them back through the portal between Reverse City and Friends World, and that the displaced people had been quite cooperative, and even somewhat excited to be visiting after having read Barr's survival book. Rasol added that it was quite fun interacting with them, and that she wondered whether they could even go to Friends World themselves, noting how they had gone from hiding in the sewers to helping lost people.

Vanishing Journey

Finally, the Adversary traveled to the Nameless Town, where a surprised Chief Legato asked them why they had returned when Kao was gone and there was nothing else for them to do in the village. After the Adversary explained what had happened, Legato noted that even someone as powerful as the creator of the Vanishing Journey had met his end. He added that he shouldn't be surprised, as everything on the Vanishing Journey had an end. He explained that it was hard to feel emotion when someone passed away, as he and the other Erdas of the Vanishing Journey were barely holding on to fading memories. Nevertheless, he added that he felt a faint sense of happiness because of the Adversary, as it had been quite a long time since someone had come to him and told him their story. He then thanked them for visiting him and promised that their conversation would be hung upon the tree as a precious memory. With that, he bade the Adversary farewell and gave them his blessings for the journey ahead.

A Final Goodbye

Having said goodbye to all the Erdas of the Arcane River, the Adversary returned back to Jean, who asked them whether they had met everyone whom they had formed close bonds with. He noted that it would be impossible to meet everyone, as they must have undoubtedly met quite a number of people on their long journey. He asked whether they had felt happy or sad while meeting them, noting that though it may have seemed like a hassle, it was something that they ought to have done at least once before the Arcane River disappeared. At the Adversary's shocked expression, Jean told them that with the Arcane River having been artificially created by pulling in Erdas from Maple World, the Black Mage's death had made it so that those Erda would naturally scatter and return back to where they had originally come from. He apologized to the Adversary for overwhelming them, explaining that he had thought that they had already figured it out on their own. However, he reassured them that it would still take several hundred years for the Arcane River to fully disappear, as it was filled with an enormous volume of Erda. He told the Adversary that their conversation wasn't a goodbye unless they somehow never found themselves back in the Arcane River again, though he added that he was sure that wouldn't be the case.

He then noted his surprise that the Adversary appeared so sad about the Arcane River vanishing, as he had believed that they would be glad that the place which had given them so much hardship was disappearing. Nevertheless, he affirmed that it needed to disappear, as such an unnatural concentration of Erda drawn out from its original source would only cause great imbalance to the world. The Adversary asked Jean what he meant by the Erdas returning back to where they belonged, to which he explained that the Erdas had come from Maple World, and that they would slowly return back to Maple World over time. He admitted that he, too, was disappointed that the Arcane River was disappearing, explaining that his journey with the Adversary had been incredible, and that he likely wouldn't ever have that again. However, he noted that his home was Maple World, and that he would need to go back to his home someday as well. He explained that until then, he would remain in the Morass as Jean, as the townspeople would notice his absence otherwise. He then laughed that his current form was much more fun than swimming along the Arcane River as a Flying Fish, for which he invited them to visit him whenever they wished. After a pause, he thanked the Adversary for traveling across the Arcane River to hear the Erdas' voices, for defeating the Black Mage, and for saving the whole world, adding that he would never forget them.