Moonbridge/Story

AreaStory

Story (Post-Remaster)

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

The Tenebris Expedition Goes to War

With the fusion of the Black Moon and White Sun, a storm zone was created over the Arcane River that grew stronger with each passing day, eventually making its way to the Esfera base camp. Knowing that the time had come, Neinheart ordered all Alliance forces in Esfera to return to Ereve in order to prepare for the final battle against the Black Mage. The Adversary accompanied Neinheart across the storm zone by airship, where Neinheart explained that he was taking them to the Outpost, which was the center of the Alliance's preparations for the final battle. He told the Adversary that not long after they had departed for the Arcane River, immense chains with an ominous aura had begun to appear across Maple World, pulling their world closer into the Arcane River. Neinheart explained that it was a sign that the dimensional collapse had reached critical levels, but just as he was about to continue, large purple meteors began falling from the storm zone, with Neinheart realizing that the strange creatures which were invading Maple World had found them. The attack quickly destroyed the airships, causing the Adversary and Neinheart to plummet to the ground.

Upon awakening in Ereve, Neinheart noted that it was fortunate that they had gotten close enough already before the airships had been destroyed. The Adversary then looked around in awe at the massive chains which had fallen from the sky, with Neinheart warning them not to get too close. Just as he spoke, several Wandering Soot Glare monsters were summoned and began to attack. Together, the Adversary and Neinheart fought through the monsters, with Neinheart using a heavy book to whack the monsters away, joking that he couldn't be the one who always got hit. After defeating them, the pair encountered Kiriko, Kizan, and Kidan patrolling the area. They reported that the Soot monsters, which had begun appearing around Maple World, were appearing with greater frequency each day, with more and more chains falling from the sky. However, they also noted that the Adversary's return to Maple World must signify that the final battle was coming. Neinheart then asked them whether they had seen Ollie, Shubert, and Melange, tasking the scouts with informing the trio to meet at the Outpost.

After the scouts left, Neinheart told the Adversary that the Arcane River had been created from the collision of worlds, and that dimensional collapse had reached critical levels, which had resulted in the chains and monsters appearing. As all of existence would cease to be if the Black Mage succeeded, he emphasized that even with the Alliance preparing countermeasures, it was imperative that they stop the Black Mage once and for all before his new destiny was completed. At the Adversary's confusion, Neinheart began leading them on foot towards the Outpost as he explained. As they walked, the Adversary noted that they couldn't see any people in Ereve, with the Cygnus Knights gone and only the Piyo scouts remaining. Neinheart explained that everyone had gone to the Outpost to prepare for the final battle, and that he had left behind only the minimum number of troops to defend Ereve. He told the Adversary that when they had gone into the Arcane River, he hadn't simply sat idly by, and that he had done everything in his power to learn more about the Black Mage and his goals. As they arrived at the Conference Pavilion, Neinheart explained that after he had resolved to look deeper into the Black Mage's past following the Black Heaven incident, Eckhart had recovered an important clue from the Black Mage's laboratory in Magatia. He then presented the Scroll of Destiny to the Adversary and revealed that inside the laboratory, Eckhart had discovered writings that suggested that the Black Mage had been able to predict events before they happened, as he had foreseen not only the creation of the Adversary, but also the birth of the Arcane River and the fusion of the Black Moon with the White Sun. He then showed the Adversary the final prophecy written on the scroll:

They who cross the breath of twilight and turn towards the sun,

on broken wings will be crushed and undone by despair.

A light whose brilliant glory is lost

will face the soul of the world whilst steeped in mire and rot.

A crimson tear will spawn a giant that swallows hearts,

and when determination is swallowed by the deepest dark,

a new destiny will be written, a destiny apart.

Neinheart explained that he had been able to interpret most of the other prophecies in the scroll based on what the Alliance knew of the Black Mage, but he added that the final prophecy which he had just shown them was still unclear. He also added that he was uneasy about the prophesied new destiny, as a destiny written by the Black Mage could only end in disaster. However, he explained that the Alliance had already begun preparing for it, adding that thanks to the Adversary's paper boat, their warning had given him enough time to begin researching the Black Mage in the first place. He revealed that the Cygnus Knights had sent letters to summon the leaders of the Alliance, who had all agreed to make a final stand against the Black Mage, though he added that the Empress had been uneasy about the decision. He explained that Cygnus had the power to see the future as well, and that she had been plagued by nightmares every day about the Alliance falling in battle ever since the massive chains had begun appearing across Maple World. He added that Cygnus's nightmares had been very similar to the Black Mage's final prophecy, and that no one had been sure whether it had been because of stress or her ability to see the future. Fearing that she would be leading her people into a destruction that she would be too weak to protect them from, Cygnus had sought out Shinsoo at her refuge in Leafre.

There, Shinsoo had noted that a dark shadow had fallen, blotting out the brilliant light. Neinheart explained that Cygnus had confided her nightmares and worries that she kept buried deep within to Shinsoo. Upon hearing her troubles, Shinsoo had asked Cygnus who ruled the world, to which Cygnus replied that it was all the people who inhabited it. Shinsoo had then asked Cygnus what she would do if someone threatened to destroy their world, to which Cygnus had hesitantly replied that they would fight, though she admitted that she nevertheless had fears about what would happen in such a battle. Shinsoo asked Cygnus whether she believed that their destiny had already been decided by the Black Mage's prophecy, and whether that meant that everything which they had done up until that moment was rendered meaningless.

After reflecting, Cygnus noted that their efforts had not been in vain, with Shinsoo encouraging her to put aside her fears. She then created a jeweled bracelet upon Cygnus's wrist, explaining that the wings of the Divine Beast had the power to protect and embrace the weak. However, she admitted that her body was in such a weakened state that she no longer had the power to do so. She then explained that she had bestowed her strength upon Cygnus and asked her to use that power to protect the determination of the Alliance, as only Cygnus had the power to do so. Shinsoo then told Cygnus that humans were delicate and fragile beings, as they had moments of weakness when fear could easily grip their hearts. However, she revealed that Cygnus was the light of hope that would save them all in the depths of their despair.

After finishing recounting the story, Neinheart told the Adversary that Shinsoo had also revealed that the determination of countless warriors would become their strength to fight in the coming battle. He explained that after Cygnus had returned with a shield imbued with Shinsoo's divine power, Shinsoo had fallen back into slumber at her refuge in Leafre. With her resolve having been strengthened by Shinsoo's counsel, Neinheart revealed that Cygnus had sent letters to all members of the Alliance, announcing the great expedition into the Arcane River. He added that since that time, everything had gone exactly as prophesized, though he admitted that it had helped them get a timeframe of when exactly the full-scale battle would take place. As he spoke, the pair arrived at the Sky Ferry, where they began flying towards the Outpost on airship.

At the Outpost, a large floating island in its own right, Neinheart explained that it was the center of the Alliance's operation, and the place where its commanders would unite the determination of its warriors. He then showed them the White Spear, explaining that the massive airship would serve as the Alliance's flagship, modeled into a spear to symbolize their will to carve out their own destiny, and large enough to shield their allies, embodying the Empress' will perfectly. As they landed, Neinheart explained that warriors from all over were still gathering at the Outpost, including the Nova and the Guardians of Time. Just then, two Cygnus Knights arrived to greet them, with Neinheart ordering them to let the Empress know about their arrival. At the center of the Outpost, the Adversary noted a brazier with a brilliant blue flame, which Neinheart explained was a divine flame created from the determination of countless warriors. He noted that just as Shinsoo had said, that fierce determination would become the strength to overcome the darkness that they faced.

Just then, Ollie, Shubert, and Melange greeted them, noting that they had heard how the monsters had attacked them on the way from Esfera. Ollie explained that they had been some distance away from the enemy's attack, and so they had managed to evacuate unharmed. Meanwhile, a dozing Melange began mumbling in his sleep about a crux bursting forth, with Shubert wondering in confusion what he was dreaming about. With that, the three prepared to head off to their respective assignments, noting that their mission with the Adversary had finally come to an end. Neinheart then told the Adversary that it wouldn't be a bad idea to speak to the warriors of the Alliance now that they had returned back to Maple World. He pointed out Athena Pierce in the distance and explained that she had been handling the various monster attacks across Maple World, noting that the worlds were facing disturbances from the dimensional collapse. Believing that the return of the Alliance's ace would boost morale, Neinheart asked the Adversary to speak with the soldiers in order to help motivate them as the final battle approached.

The Adversary first met with Athena, who noted that the soldiers seemed to be getting nervous. She admitted that even she was getting nervous herself, despite having lived for centuries and experienced many crises in her life. At her request, the Adversary met with a Nova soldier, who told the Adversary that it was an honor to meet them, and that he was ready to go. He explained that he had thought that he'd had enough of boring battlefields, though he added that it felt strange to fight in another world, with their enemy being a Transcendent at that. Though he claimed that neither he nor any Nova soldier would be afraid, he admitted that he was still nervous after seeing the immense black chains falling down across Maple World, with their immense size and terrible power making him believe that an invisible hand was manipulating the world from above. He noted that if they didn't stop the Black Mage, Maple World itself would be dragged into those chains, for which he resolved to do his part and protect his allies' world from the threat of the Black Mage.

The Adversary then met with a Resistance soldier, who greeted them and explained how he had heard that the Adversary had already gone into the Arcane River. The Adversary then asked the soldier about his concerns, to which he admitted that he was worried about the state of Maple World, as things had been quite chaotic when he had arrived. However, he noted that it was expected with the chains and the mobilization of the entire Alliance. He added that the Alliance was also working to dissuade panic amongst the citizens. He explained that Ariant, in particular, was said to be on the verge of collapse, as the Alliance had little presence in the area and its queen was rumored to be incompetent. He told the Adversary that only the Black Mage's defeat would restore peace to Maple World, for which he vowed to fight his hardest.

Finally, the Adversary spoke with a Cygnus Knight, who reported that preparations had completed, adding that he hoped that the expedition would begin soon. He admitted that he was more worried than nervous, as he had seen something terrifying while standing watch near some of the chains across Maple World. He explained that everything that came near the chain turned to dust and disappeared, with the Magician Association in Ellinia having explained that it was because their Erdas were disappearing. Upon hearing the Knight's explanation, the Adversary realized that it must have been the reason why Neinheart had warned them not to get too close to the chains. The Knight then told the Adversary that he knew for certain that all life would disappear from Maple World if the Black Mage wasn't stopped, and that he was committed to doing his part in the battle. He then asked the Adversary to protect Maple World, adding that everyone would clear the way for them, even if it cost them their lives.

After speaking with the Alliance soldiers, the Adversary returned back to Neinheart, who escorted them to meet Empress Cygnus, dressed in full battle armor and carrying an ornately-crafted sword. She thanked the Adversary for their instrumental role in pushing forward through the Arcane River, revealing that they had paved the way for the Guardians of Time to investigate the area, which had set the stage for discovering the Black Mage's prophecy and all their countermeasures, including the White Spear itself. However, Cygnus added that the Adversary themselves were the greatest symbol of hope for the Alliance and asked them to lend their strength once again. She noted that the final battle was far more dangerous than anything they had ever fought, for which she would not force them to fight, though the Adversary readily accepted her request. Cygnus thanked them for their bravery and told them that she would engrave their determination deep inside her heart.

At Cygnus's command, Neinheart took the Adversary aside so that Athena could brief them on the situation. As they waited, Neinheart began to summarize the Adversary's journey through the Arcane River, and how they had bested Commanders Lucid, Arkarium, and Will in their travels. After summarizing, however, Neinheart pointed out how Will had called them an Adversary, revealing that they had found one more writing in the Black Mage's laboratory that stated: “Only the Adversary can counter immortality's fate with the strength of a Seal Stone.” Though Neinheart admitted that he didn't want to immediately trust it, given who had written it, he felt that they needed something to believe in while waging war against a god. Just then, Athena Pierce arrived, with the Adversary greeting her and asking whether she would be coming with them. Athena explained that Maple World was suffering from critical dimensional collapse, and that she needed to remain behind and manage the situation, as there would be no world to get back to otherwise even if they defeated the Black Mage. Neinheart told the Adversary that regional leaders like Athena were remaining behind to keep Maple World safe as the rest of the Alliance fought the Black Mage.

He then told the Adversary that what he wanted to discuss with them and Athena was determination, noting how the Flame of Determination was emitting special power as the determination of warriors gathered. He explained that the determination which Shinsoo had spoken of wasn't simply a metaphor, and that the Alliance had concluded that it, alongside the Seal Stone and the Adversary, were the three elements to secure their victory. Because of this, he asked Athena and the other regional leaders to remain behind and keep that flame alive. After Athena agreed, Neinheart asked her to take care of things on Maple World while the Alliance prepared to embark on their mission. Athena Pierce then told the Adversary that she planned to distribute emblems of the Alliance to each ship before departing in order to boost morale. She gave the Adversary their own emblem and asked them to give one to Kyrin aboard the Nautilus, explaining that Kyrin would represent the Explorers in her place while she remained behind on Maple World. Aboard the Nautilus, the Adversary gave Kyrin the emblem, as well as a letter from Athena Pierce reminding her that they were all in the fight together.

Meanwhile, Athena met with Edea and explained that she had come to see the expedition off. She then gave Edea an emblem, thanking her for the Nova's help. Edea replied that she should be the one thanking Athena, as the Alliance had played a major role in retaking Heliseum. She added that the Nova would wear the emblem with gratitude and determination to protect the world. She then told Athena that the Black Mage's influence covered not only the Arcane River, but Maple World as well. Though she had prepared countermeasures with the help of Maple World's leaders, including Grendel, she feared that their efforts may not be enough, as their enemies had been created from the Black Mage's thoughts. For this reason, she asked Athena to lead the soldiers in her place while she was away at Tenebris.

Elsewhere, Neinheart met with Claudine, who asked whether the time to embark had arrived. Neinheart confirmed her suspicions and gave her an emblem, to which she noted that they were all once again setting off into battle together for the Alliance. She added that though Edelstein had been liberated, a dark curtain still covered the world, and that their freedom was not yet complete as long as the Black Mage still lived. She then told Neinheart that though they had once been enemies, they were now part of the same Alliance which had overcome many hardships together. Brighton then noted that an expedition that transcended dimensions was quite exciting and asked Belle whether she agreed. Belle reminded him that they weren't going to a picnic and told him to be more serious, to which Brighton replied that being lax was better than quaking in their boots. Neinheart laughed and noted that they were still the same, jokingly likening them to a pair of cockroaches. Belle quickly grew furious, while Brighton laughed awkwardly, with Checky attempting to calm Belle down. Neinheart then assured her that he was joking before asking the Resistance leaders to take care during the battle.

Back at the White Spear, Cygnus told the Adversary that the emblem of the Alliance represented their mutual trust and the courage to stand against evil. She showed them the jewel on her wrist that Shinsoo had given her and explained that as commander, it was her duty to nurture that trust and courage, adding that she was determined to do just that. Cygnus then announced that it was time to launch all Alliance ships to Tenebris. Before they launched, however, Neinheart told the Adversary that he had something to give them. He presented them Tana's necklace which they had recovered in Sellas, explaining that it would be helpful for them to keep it with them, as it was an item which had once belonged to the Transcendent of Light. With that, Cygnus commanded the Alliance fleet to take off, with hundreds of smaller ships launching alongside the White Spear, including the Lumiere and the Nautilus, heading straight into a large portal that would take them into the Arcane River.

Terror in the Fog

Several hours later, Neinheart reported that they were passing over the Esfera base camp, which had vanished without a trace. He told the Adversary that they would soon be arriving at Moonbridge, which was the Alliance's name for the path that had bridged Esfera with the Black Moon, before it had become the Black Sun. As they entered Moonbridge, Kyrin reported that the Nautilus had encountered heavy turbulence ahead, with monsters emerging from the thick fog to attack the fleet. Just then, Edea and Claudine reported that powerful monsters had just attacked the Nova and Resistance fleets as well. Disturbed by the turbulence behind the fog and the monster attack, Neinheart asked the Adversary to handle the incoming enemies first and obtain samples from them. The Adversary returned with Wicked Soul Remains, which Edea began analyzing. As she did, the Adversary reported that there seemed to be no shortage of monsters, which seemed to be coming out of the fog. Just then, Kyrin reported that a thick wall of fog was blocking the fleet's path, with Cygnus realizing that it was the source of turbulence. Neinheart realized that it would be difficult to pierce through, while Claudine added that she was certain that the monsters were being created from behind it.

Edea soon finished her analysis and revealed that a dark entity within the fog was crafting the monsters from pure Erda. Neinheart asked whether it was coming from Tenebris, to which Edea replied that it was difficult to say without piercing through the fog. Claudine suggested focusing their firepower on a single point, to which Neinheart replied that the White Spear's cannon was currently charging up, though the monsters were swarming around it, making it difficult to get a clear shot. Kyrin explained that she had learned that the monsters were being drawn to strong energy, which was likely why they were swarming around the cannon. In order to handle the threat, Neinheart proposed scattering the fleet and having each ship generate enough power to draw the monsters towards them, thereby clearing a path for the White Spear's cannon to pierce through the fog. Claudine decided to lead the charge, claiming that disruption and baiting was the Resistance's specialty. With the Nova taking the rear, Neinheart asked the Adversary to protect the Resistance ships as they drew in the monsters. The Adversary met with the Resistance leaders, who explained that Checky was planning to set off detonations to draw in the enemy. Together, they worked to set off the charges and finish off the drawing throng of monsters.

Soon enough, Neinheart reported to Cygnus that their line of fire had been secured. On Cygnus's command, the White Spear fired its cannon and created a large hole in the fog, allowing the Alliance fleet to push through. As the Alliance began celebrating taking their first step towards Tenebris, Cygnus thanked the Adversary for their help, though she warned that they didn't know what dangers awaited them on the other side of the fog. Some time later, the Adversary found Cygnus collapsed on the deck of the White Spear. They quickly rushed to her side and asked her whether she was okay, to which Cygnus apologized, noting that a commander shouldn't be showing weakness during a battle. She admitted that she was still afraid, as she feared what awaited them after getting past their first major hurdle. She added that she couldn't stop having such negative thoughts, and that she worried whether they would be able to defeat the Black Mage at all. The Adversary reassured her that they would prevail, to which Cygnus confessed that her fears made her wonder whether she would be able to fulfill her responsibilities as a leader and bring her people back home safely. Realizing that Cygnus was afraid of showing weakness to her allies, the Adversary consoled her and assured her that her fears were unfounded, and that she should focus on doing what only she could do.

Elsewhere, a Nova ship began entering an even thicker fog, where the Nova aboard the ship began hallucinating chains and thousands of terrible eyes staring through the fog, with several Nova being consumed by their despair and negative feelings, just as Cygnus had. Aboard a Resistance ship, the Resistance leaders noted that the fog had grown even heavier, and that they could feel an ominous chill in the air. Suddenly, a Resistance soldier arrived and reported that new enemies were appearing out of the fog and disappearing, leaving behind a feeling of dread and helplessness. On the White Spear, Neinheart explained that the Nova ships were reporting an emergency, for which the Adversary was dispatched to investigate. Arriving at the Nova fleet, the Adversary saw immense chains wrapping tightly around the ships. They rushed aboard, where they found one Nova soldier barely conscious amidst his unconscious comrades. At his request, the Adversary destroyed the chains, feeling the presence of a powerful soul as they did. Realizing that something was wrong, the Adversary reported back to Edea and met with the Alliance leaders remotely.

With all the Alliance leaders reporting that their soldiers were seeing chains and thousands of eyes, as well as losing their will to fight, Neinheart noted that they needed to find a way to respond to the threat. Edea replied that all the enemies were emitting strong thoughts, which meant that it had to be linked to the Black Mage. Neinheart realized that they needed to get closer to Tenebris in order to find the source, but just as he spoke, the Giant Monster Gloom emerged from the fog and loomed ominously in the distance. Edea noted that Gloom had been created from the malevolent thoughts of the Black Mage, which were strong enough to sweep any ordinary person away. Because of this, she explained that the ominous aura and feelings of despair were spreading from the monsters being created by Gloom with those malevolent thoughts. She noted that they would likely need to reach Gloom's core in order to destroy it, though she warned that it would be difficult to reach it. The Adversary immediately volunteered to reach the core, for which Neinheart ordered the fleet to regroup. Cygnus then declared that the White Spear would take point and lead the charge, replying to a surprised Neinheart that it was the very reason why the flagship had been made. On her command, the Alliance fleet began to regroup as the soldiers fought through the incoming wave of monsters for the Adversary to get closer to Gloom.

Looming Despair

Though Cygnus herself led the charge to boost morale, Neinheart reported that the front lines were falling as the Alliance soldiers began succumbing to the despair of the Black Mage's powerful thoughts. Refusing to let her allies give up, Cygnus used Shinsoo's bracelet to create a powerful shield of light in order to defend them from the onslaught. Emboldened by Cygnus's leadership, the Alliance soldiers pushed on behind her, with Cygnus noting to herself that her allies had protected her with bruised hands like hers were now, and that it was now her turn to protect them. From the distance, the Adversary saw the brilliant light from the White Spear and felt as though Cygnus was calling to them to keep pushing forward. Suddenly, however, Gloom emitted its own light as it shot a powerful beam of energy that easily shattered Cygnus's shield and unleashed a barrage of devastation on the White Spear. Cygnus quickly attempted to create another shield, but found that Shinsoo's power appeared to have been depleted entirely from it. Though she prayed to be granted the strength to protect everyone, Cygnus found that the shield had lost its light as she fell into despair herself.

As she collapsed, Cygnus heard the morale of the soldiers dwindling as their allies began succumbing to their injuries and their helplessness. In the depths of darkness, however, Cygnus recalled the Adversary's earlier words of encouragement to her, reminding her to do what only she could do. Remembering the determination which had led the Alliance to where they currently were, Cygnus inscribed those feelings upon her heart and vowed to do whatever was in her power to lead her people to victory, declaring that it was her duty as the Empress to shoulder the burdens of her people and become a shield to protect their determination. Resolute in her own determination, Cygnus stood up and empowered the Alliance soldiers to fight alongside her. Upon seeing the Empress still fighting, the others around her stood up and fought the monsters in spite of their injuries, just as the Adversary arrived at the White Spear. Relieved to see that they had managed to rendezvous with the flagship, Cygnus asked them to finish off Gloom while the others cleared a path to the core. The Adversary then confronted Gloom and destroyed its core, causing the giant monster to disintegrate into pieces.

With Gloom defeated, the Adversary returned back to the White Spear and met with Edea, who reported that the path to Tenebris would soon open up. They then encountered Ollie standing beside a chest leaking with ominous energy. Ollie explained that the chest contained a fragment of Gloom's core, and that she had been tasked with transporting it back to the Outpost for analysis, as the Alliance leaders believed that they could learn something important from the core, which had been formed out of the Black Mage's thoughts. The Adversary then met with Kyrin, who told them that they had all seen a beacon of light shining as a ray of hope in the midst of their despair, and that it had been through the Alliance's collective determination that they had secured victory. The Resistance leaders then congratulated the Adversary for their work in defeating such a powerful foe, adding that they would soon be moving ahead towards Tenebris, though they added that Cygnus wanted to speak with them first.

The Adversary then met with Cygnus, who thanked them for their hard work and encouragement, adding that it had been their words of advice which had brought her back from the brink of giving up when Shinsoo's shield had broken and she had believed that all was lost. She explained that she had finally learned what it was that only she could do: to never give up and to lift others' spirits up, even in the most desperate moments. She added that she would not waver again, as their collective determination was stronger than the darkness that sought to drag them down. Neinheart then reported that they would take a short break before resuming the operation to head towards Tenebris. Just he spoke, however, a Cygnus Knight reported in that an explosion had taken place while transporting the core fragment, and that Ollie had gone missing.

Story (Pre-Remaster)

The Tenebris Expedition Goes to War

With the fusion of the Black Moon and White Sun, a storm zone was created over the Arcane River that grew stronger with each passing day, eventually making its way to the Esfera base camp. Knowing that the time had come, Neinheart ordered all Alliance forces in Esfera to return to Ereve in order to prepare for the final battle against the Black Mage. As the moment of destiny approached, a divine light spoke to the Adversary, telling them that only the hope of heroes could stand against evil. It then asked them to be the one who stoked the flames of that hope. Meanwhile in Esfera, Shubert contacted the Adversary and Ollie and told them that he and Melange had finished evacuating the Temple Keepers. As they began their next mission to clean up the monsters in the area, Ollie told Shubert to focus on the outskirts while she and the Adversary took care of the inner area before rendezvousing at the base camp. After they all began heading towards their assignments, Ollie told the Adversary that they were likely wrapping up the investigation because preparations for the final battle had been completed. She noted that conditions around the Black Sun seemed dangerous as well, and that the storm would reach them at any minute. She shuddered at the thought of the Black Mage being so close before suggesting that they head back to the base camp, where Neinheart would be waiting.

At the base camp, the pair regrouped with Shubert, Melange, and Neinheart. Neinheart told them that the Alliance forces had been moved to the Outpost, and that he had remained behind in order to escort them there. He asked Shubert to teleport them to the Sky Ferry in Ereve, but Shubert's miscalculations resulted in the group being scattered across Ereve instead. The Adversary was taken aback by the enormous chains that had shot down from the sky into the ground. Neinheart explained that not long after the Adversary had departed for the Arcane River, immense chains had begun to appear across Maple World, pulling their world closer into the Arcane River. Before he could continue explaining, several Wandering Soot Glare monsters appeared and began to attack. Together, the Adversary and Neinheart fought through the monsters, with Neinheart using a heavy book to whack the monsters away. After defeating them, the pair encountered Kiriko, Kizan, and Kidan patrolling the area. They reported that the Soot monsters that had begun appearing around Maple World had finally reached Ereve. As they continued onward, Neinheart resumed his explanation. He told them that the Arcane River had been created from the collision of the three worlds, and that the chains and monsters had all resulted from their worlds being pulled into the Arcane River. Because of this, he emphasized how imperative it was that they stop the Black Mage once and for all.

He then led them to the Conference Pavilion, where he explained that after he had resolved to look deeper into the Black Mage's past following the Black Heaven incident, the Alliance had recovered the Scroll of Prophecy from the Black Mage's laboratory in Magatia. The Scroll of Prophecy had led Neinheart to believe that the Black Mage had the power to predict events before they became reality, as he had foreseen not only the creation of the Adversary, but also the Arcane River and the fusion of the Black Moon with the White Sun. Recalling how their actions had led to the Black Mage's ritual succeeding, the Adversary fell silent in shame, but Neinheart told them not to blame themselves, as he respected the lengths that they would go to in order to save a life. Reminding them not to get caught up in the past, he showed them the final prophecy written on the scroll:

They who cross the breath of twilight and turn towards the sun,

on broken wings will be crushed and undone by despair.

A light whose brilliant glory is lost

will face the soul of the world whilst steeped in mire and rot.

A crimson tear will spawn a giant that swallows hearts,

and when determination is swallowed by the deepest dark,

a new destiny will be written, a destiny apart.

Neinheart explained that he had been able to interpret most of the other prophecies in the scroll based on what the Alliance knew of the Black Mage, but he added that the final prophecy was still unclear. He also added that he was uneasy about the prophesied new destiny, as a destiny written by the Black Mage could only end in disaster. He explained that after finding the scroll, he had sent letters to summon the leaders of the Alliance, who had all agreed to make a final stand against the Black Mage, though he added that the Empress had been uneasy about the decision. As they headed to the Empress' Resting Spot, Neinheart explained that Cygnus had been having dreams of the Alliance's destruction ever since finding the scroll, though no one knew whether it was because of stress or her ability to see the future. He admitted that he had been surprised to see her strong will collapse, after which she had decided that she needed to meet with Shinsoo before resuming her duties. The Cygnus Knights had then set out towards Leafre, which was Shinsoo's last known location.

After finding Shinsoo, Cygnus had told her about the prophecy and her nightmares, as well as her fear of leading the Alliance to its destruction. Shinsoo had helped Cygnus realize that their efforts hadn't been for nothing, and that the Black Mage's prophecy wasn't certain. She had then bestowed the jeweled diadem upon her forehead to Cygnus, which had shrunk to fit on her wrist like a bracelet. Shinsoo had explained that though she had the power to protect the weak, she no longer had the strength to use it. Because of this, she had believed that Cygnus was the only one who could use that power to protect the Alliance. She had also reminded Cygnus that she was the light of hope who could pull others from the depths of despair. Immediately after returning from Leafre, Cygnus had sent letters to all members of the Alliance, announcing the great expedition into the Arcane River. Just as Neinheart finished explaining, they arrived at the Sky Ferry, where the Adversary cleared up the remaining monsters before they flew to the Outpost.

At the Outpost, a large floating island in its own right, Neinheart showed them the White Spear, a massive airship that would serve as the Alliance's flagship, modeled into a spear to symbolize their will to carve out their own destiny. He also told them that a mysterious divine light had appeared at the center of the Outpost, and that Shinsoo had told them that they would be ready to face the Black Mage once the divine light transformed. He explained that with the final battle approaching, the light had recently reacted to the determination of the Alliance and formed the three Goddess Statues, depicting the Goddesses of Maple World, Grandis, and Tynerum. Just then, Shubert, Melange, and Ollie found them and apologized for the mishap in teleporting them to Ereve. After they headed back to their delegations, Neinheart took the Adversary to meet Cygnus, who was dressed in full battle armor and carrying her own sword. She thanked the Adversary for their instrumental role in pushing forward through the Arcane River and asked them to lend their strength once again for the Alliance.

After reaffirming their dedication to Alliance, the Adversary was escorted by Neinheart back to the center of the Outpost in order to wait for Athena Pierce to arrive. While waiting, they went over the Adversary's experience in the Arcane River, and how they had bested Commanders Lucid, Arkarium, and Will in their journey. He also told them that there was one more thing that the Alliance had found in the Black Mage's laboratory: a writing that said, “Only the Adversary can counter immortality's fate with the strength of a Seal Stone.” Though Neinheart didn't want to immediately trust it, given who had written it, he felt that they needed something to believe in while waging war against a god. Just then, Athena Pierce arrived from helping with the disasters affecting Maple World, as the three worlds were suffering from dimensional collapse. Because of this, Neinheart had assigned her to remain on Maple World in order to protect the people, rather than having her accompany them to Tenebris. He then told the Adversary that the divine light, which had transformed into the Goddess Statues, responded to the collective determination of the Alliance, and that it also activated the gems in the Goddess' hands.

Athena Pierce told the Adversary that she planned to distribute emblems of the Alliance to each ship before departing in order to boost morale. She gave the Adversary their own emblem and asked them to give one to Kyrin aboard the Nautilus before returning to the White Spear. Aboard the Nautilus, they gave Kyrin the emblem, as well as a letter from Athena Pierce reminding her that they were all in the fight together. Meanwhile, Athena found Edea arriving and gave her an emblem, thanking her for the Nova's help. Edea replied that she should be the one thanking Athena, as the Alliance had played a major role in retaking Heliseum. She then confessed her worries about the Black Mage's influence in Grandis and added that she needed Athena to remain in Maple World and lead the soldiers in her place while she was away at Tenebris. Elsewhere, Neinheart gave Claudine an emblem. Claudine told him that though they had their differences, they were all committed to fighting together.

Back at the White Spear, Cygnus told the Adversary that the emblem of the Alliance represented their mutual trust and the courage to stand against evil. She showed them the jewel on her wrist that Shinsoo had given her and explained that as commander, it was her duty to nurture that trust and courage, adding that she was determined to do just that. Cygnus then announced that it was time to launch all Alliance ships to Tenebris. Hundreds of smaller ships launched alongside the White Spear, including the Lumiere and the Nautilus, and headed straight into a large portal that would take them into the Arcane River.

Terror in the Fog

Soon after, Neinheart reported that they were passing over the Esfera base camp, which had vanished without a trace. He told the Adversary that they would soon be arriving at Moonbridge, which was the Alliance's name for the path that bridged Esfera with the Black Moon before it had become the Black Sun. As they entered Moonbridge, Kyrin reported that the Nautilus had encountered heavy fog. Neinheart suddenly realized that the “breath of twilight” from the prophecy referred to the dense fog, from which enemies were emerging. Edea sensed a powerful soul in the fog and recommended that they wait and prepare. Cygnus then ordered all the ships to hold while they investigated the new threat. In order to assess the nature of the threat that they were facing, Neinheart asked the Adversary to obtain samples from the Soot Beasts and Soot Talon monsters. The Adversary returned with Wicked Soul Remains, which Edea analyzed, allowing her to learn that a dark entity within the fog was crafting the monsters from pure Erda.

Edea also told them that the fog was surrounded by a powerful barrier, as though the entity had formed a shell around itself. Claudine suggested focusing their firepower at one point, but Edea told her that they would need to clear the enemies between them and the barrier, or else the blast wouldn't be strong enough. Claudine decided to launch a surprise attack, which she explained was the Resistance's specialty, so that the Nautilus could spearhead the attack while the Nova defended the rear. Neinheart asked the Adversary to help the Resistance forces, which were planning to draw the enemy's attention to one spot by setting off massive explosions. While Checky and the Adversary snuck past the enemies, the rest of the Resistance herded the monsters towards a central area. Checky then set off an explosion to destroy the monsters. With the Resistance ships safely out of the way, Cygnus ordered the White Spear to send out a massive blast that pierced a hole through the fog. As the airfleet pressed forward, more monsters began appearing and Claudine feared that they would be overtaken before reaching the fog. The Adversary helped the Resistance clear up their ship deck and returned to the White Spear to report their status before heading back to the Resistance airship again.

As the airfleet reached the fog, a Nova soldier saw a giant chain flying straight toward them. He attempted to defend himself, but found that the chains had disappeared. He then saw dozens of eyes staring at him before they too disappeared, leaving him to wonder whether it had all been an illusion. Unbeknownst to him, a strange substance had fallen onto the deck of his ship. On the Resistance deck, a soldier reported similar incidents to Claudine, who sent Belle, Checky, and Brighton to investigate before receiving a report that the White Spear had ordered reinforcements to defend the Nautilus. Claudine told the Adversary that the Nautilus had requested for them, and that they had claimed that the Adversary's presence alone would be sufficient. Aboard the Nautilus, Kyrin told them that Edea was analyzing the situation, adding that their presence would help speed things up. Kyrin then decided to recommend to Cygnus that they take a more defensive formation with the fog thickening. Kyrin asked the Adversary to help escort the ships nearby and sent them to the main deck. One of the soldiers on deck told them to take charge of a convoy to help defend an escort ship in trouble.

As the fog grew even thicker, a Resistance soldier reported a large collision between ships. The Adversary saw that a massive chain had wrapped around one of the ships and rushed to save them. There, they saw several injured soldiers and decided to sever the chain holding the ship. After finding a weak spot in the chain, they began attacking it and managed to free the ship. However, the Adversary was surprised, as the soldiers had mentioned thousands of chains and eyes, none of which the Adversary had encountered. Aboard the White Spear, Neinheart recommended that they maintain their current speed in order to make it out of the fog. Several hours later, the White Spear emerged out of the fog and found Tenebris floating ominously above the clouds. A soldier reported that the chain attacks had stopped, and that they had heard positive reports from the other airships. Neinheart then told Kyrin to pull the Nautilus into the clouds and set sail straight ahead toward Tenebris, after which the White Spear would follow.

The Adversary then returned to the Nautilus, where Kyrin thanked them for their help and asked them to return to the White Spear. There, Neinheart told Cygnus that he estimated that they would reach Tenebris in an hour. However, Cygnus's thoughts turned to the prophecy as she wondered whether they had truly defied fate. Just as the Adversary returned, the storm began to grow and caused the White Spear to tilt. Kyrin reported that there was something up ahead and Cygnus ordered the White Spear to take point in order to provide cover for the fleet. Edea reported that she sensed a great evil just beyond the fog, where the Giant Monster Gloom appeared. From its eye, a large laser beam shot out and destroyed the majority of the fleet. Cygnus immediately used Shinsoo's gemstone to create a giant shield, which repelled Gloom's attack enough for the White Spear and a few nearby ships to survive.

Looming Despair

After Gloom laid waste to the fleet, it closed its eye and retreated back into the fog. Most of the Alliance fleet had been destroyed and had been swept into the void, with only the White Spear and a handful of other ships surviving. As the soldiers' morale began dwindling from fear, the Temple Keepers rushed to heal the wounded, though they soon assessed that many would need to return home. The Adversary surveyed the damage and listened as the soldiers were consumed by fear. At the deck, they met Cygnus, who told them to prepare for a new mission to save their allies before the fleet could press on. Realizing that the pressure of command was taking its toll on Cygnus, they provided encouragement, hoping to boost her spirits. Neinheart then arrived with Edea's report, which stated that Gloom's next attack would happen in twelve hours, giving the remnants of the fleet enough time to reach Tenebris. However, Cygnus pointed out that they would be ill-prepared to fight the Black Mage with their meager forces and resolved to regroup with the others in order to face Gloom together.

Neinheart asked the Adversary to search the nearby wreckage for survivors, and to help as many heroes as they could. Aboard Edea's ship, the Adversary watched her take care of the chain monsters. Using fragments from the monsters, Edea triggered a reaction with the chain remnants attached to the ship, allowing her to learn that the chain remnants were acting as homing beacons for the enemy to pursue them. They then destroyed the remnants, thus preventing the enemy from learning their location, after which they returned back to the White Spear. With Gloom's next attack nearing, the Alliance formulated a plan to amplify the White Spear's laser with magic in order to break the barrier protecting the core. The Adversary then volunteered to destroy the core once it had been exposed. Just then, Gloom sent a wave of monsters to attack the White Spear, preventing it from focusing its laser on Gloom's eye. Aboard the deck, the Adversary and the other soldiers fought off the monsters with powerful determination. As the Alliance continued defending the White Spear, Cygnus resolved to be the one to protect others, rather than being protected, and her powerful determination allowed her to summon a large shield to defend her allies. However, Gloom's attack easily shattered the shield, and she found that she was unable to summon a new one. Though she prayed to be granted the strength to protect everyone, the shield had lost its light as Cygnus fell into despair. Around her, she saw the morale of the soldiers dwindling as Gloom came closer to the White Spear.

Just as she lost hope, she recalled the Adversary's encouragement and remembered the sacrifices which had led the Alliance to where they currently were. By inscribing those sacrifices upon her heart, Cygnus regained the determination to use her power. She then created a powerful light that served as a beacon for the ships lost in the fog. Meanwhile, the Adversary reached Gloom and weakened its eye as the White Spear fired its laser, opening the path to the core. Upon destroying the core, the Adversary was consumed with the malevolent thoughts of Gloom, preventing them from moving, just as the core began to collapse. Cygnus then personally headed to the core, where she found the Adversary and rescued them before the core exploded. Back on the White Spear, the Temple Keepers healed the Adversary as Ollie came to congratulate them. She showed them a box, inside which a fragment of the core rested, and explained that she had been tasked with bringing it back to the Outpost for analysis. As it had been formed from the Black Mage's soul, Ollie hoped that they could learn something from it. Several hours later, however, the Alliance was preparing to advance upon Tenebris when a soldier reported that the core fragment had exploded during transport, and that Ollie was missing.