Language: FR EN

Finale - Forward, Relentlessly | Having successfully taken back the academy, the students took some time to celebrate together. The war itself was reaching its climax, however. As a result, the group received a request from the Imperial Army. They asked them to rescue the Imperial family and Elise. The Noble Alliance had been holding them captive at the Karel Imperial Villa.
The fact that the students weren’t affiliated with either faction made them perfect for this task. Under Towa’s command, they flew towards the villa the day after.
They weren’t alone, however. They were aided in reaching the villa by the Imperial Army’s assault on Heimdallr. They also had the help of not only the upper-class students, but all the other students they had recruited during their travels around the country. With the strength of a united Thors behind them, they were able to fight their way to the top floor of the villa. There, they found the people they had come to rescue. Before they could breathe a sigh of relief, however, the group was confronted by Altina once more.
Millium took this chance to question her about the possibility of them being sisters. Altina confirmed her suspicions, claiming that the two of them were technically related. Though they were curious about what exactly the pair meant by this, the group’s priority was rescuing the hostages. Altina and her puppet proved to be formidable foes, but Class VII prevailed against them as they had all others before.
In doing so, they were able to rescue the Imperial family and Governor Regnitz. And Rean was able to reunite with Elise at long last. Their job wasn’t over yet, though, as the group learned Duke Cayenne had taken Prince Cedric.
Just as they tried to question Altina, however, a pillar of light erupted from the capital. It was centered where Valflame Palace should have been, but in the palace’s place rose something dark and twisted...
The Infernal Castle. According to Emma, it was summoned forth by the Hexen Clan’s most forbidden incantation. Claire took the Imperial family under her care, while Towa tried to get a better grasp on the situation. Rean, however, could feel Crow’s presence within the castle. He knew he was waiting for them there. With that, Rean and the rest of Class VII resolved to make their way into the imposing structure.
Using Valimar to cut their way through its massive front door, they climbed upwards, fighting ever more powerful foes. Members of both Ouroboros and Zephyr stood in their way as well. Though the students put up valiant fights, their foes were just too strong.
Well-timed aid from their more experienced allies allowed them to continue advancing through the castle, however. After a long climb, they finally reached the Vermillion Throne--their final destination.
Crow and Vita were there waiting for them, as well as Duke Cayenne and the captive Cedric. Rean told Crow about the promise he made to Towa, Angelica, and George: that he’d bring Crow back and make him graduate with them. Though Rean knew full well how unlikely it was, that only made him want to accomplish it all the more. Class VII’s determination took Crow by surprise, but Duke Cayenne used the moment to make his presence known.
He told the group of his ancestor, Emperor Orthros, the one known as the False Emperor during the War of the Lions. Cayenne’s goal was to realize his ancestor’s dream and make the country one ruled exclusively by the nobility. The group was astonished by his selfishness, prompting Rean to respond to the duke’s declaration.
He told him they didn’t care one way or the other about his dream, but the fact remained he had kidnapped the crown prince. Thus, in order to rescue him and settle things with Crow, Class VII would do whatever it took to put a stop to Duke Cayenne’s plans. Though Cayenne was visibly upset by this, Crow and Vita interrupted him by drawing their weapons and standing in Class VII’s way. The time for talking was over. Their final showdown had come.
It would be no easy battle, however, as Crow and Vita showed surprising levels of teamwork. Class VII couldn’t afford to lose this fight, though. Far too much was riding on it. Mustering everything they had, they were eventually able to eke out a victory. This wasn’t the end, however. Once the battle was over, both Rean and Crow jumped into their Divine Knights. It was up to them alone to finally settle the score. Pouring his feelings into his new blade, Rean stood face-to-face against Crow once more.
Their battle pushed each of them well beyond their limits, but in the end, it was Crow who was brought to his knees. It was an outcome so incredible, the rest of Class VII could scarcely believe it. All except for Sara. She broke their stunned silence and made the result official. ‘Yep, I think the victor is clear.’ ‘The battle goes to Rean!’ After being one step behind him for so long, Rean had finally scored a decisive victory over Crow. The rest of his comrades wasted no time surrounding and congratulating him once he had disembarked Valimar. Crow and Vita accepted their defeat, signaling the Noble Alliance’s defeat and marking the end of the war.
Or rather, that’s how things should have gone, if not for a certain individual who refused to accept this outcome. Forcing the captive Cedric into its core, Duke Cayenne revived the entity responsible for the calamity 250 years prior.
The Vermillion Apocalypse. It drew its power from the Vermillion Knight and the member of the Arnor family housed within it. Once the creature was freed, it wasted no time draining mana from all across the empire.
Thinking quickly, Vita activated a barrier that prevented Class VII from suffering the ill effects of this power. But it was only a matter of time before the Apocalypse’s overwhelming power broke through it. It was enough time for Crow to devise a strategy, however. Having Vita enchant his weapon, he dealt a significant blow to their foe, giving Class VII an opening to rush in. Each gave every ounce of power in them to stand up to such a fearsome monstrosity.
And after fighting it off for long enough, both Valimar and Ordine had recovered enough to join the fray. Their target now was the Vermillion Apocalypse’s core--where Cedric was being held. Crow took it upon himself to draw the Vermillion Apocalypse’s attention in order to give Rean an opening.
In doing so, however, he allowed it to deal a blow that pierced Ordine’s chest. Rean was shaken by the sight of this, yet Crow’s words of encouragement were all he needed to close the distance to their target.
After a mighty blow, he had succeeded in ripping the monstrosity’s core from its chest. The creature bellowed out in agony before fading away for good. With that, Heimdallr had been saved from impending disaster.
Cedric himself was safe and sound, too, which came as a huge relief to the group. But it wasn’t long before they noticed Crow wasn’t with them. They turned their attention to Ordine in search of him, only to see the Divine Knight had fallen to its knees. A pallid Crow emerged from within, clutching at his chest.
Rushing to his aid, the group realized he had suffered a wound identical to Ordine’s. Emma and Celine tried their best to heal him, but it only delayed the inevitable. As his life slipped through his grasp, he apologized to Rean for being unable to keep his promise to Towa and the others. He also gave parting words to each member of Class VII.
And with his final breath, he asked that they live their lives with hope for the future. His last moments spent with his dear friends, he was able to pass in peace. He fell silent, leaving only the tearful sobs of his friends to echo through the halls.
Yet, before they could even recover, Duke Cayenne let out an enraged bellow. In a desperate, final bid for victory, he had Cedric at knifepoint. Vita, less than pleased with his selfishness, attempted to quiet him by force. But before she could, an unexpected turn of events took place.
Someone else dashed onto the scene, cutting down Vita’s familiar, Grianos, without mercy and attacking the Azure Abyss herself. To everyone’s surprise, it was none other than Rufus Albarea. He announced his intent to arrest both Duke Cayenne and Vita for their actions. Those present questioned why Rufus had chosen to appear then, of all times, especially considering the Noble Alliance had already lost. Further, why was he trying to arrest people who were part of his own faction? Their questions were answered by the appearance of Lechter and Claire...
...and the answers would stun all present to silence, especially Jusis. Rufus Albarea had, in fact, been the primary member of the Ironbloods all along. Duke Cayenne, equally stunned, asked what he stood to gain by revealing this after Osborne’s death. He received his answer, though not from the person he expected.
‘He would gain nothing. Which is why it's rather fortunate I'm very much alive.’ The one who uttered those words made his appearance before anyone could truly process what he had said.
The man who now stood before them was a man who should not have been alive. The man Crow had shot through the heart: Chancellor Giliath Osborne. All Rean and the others could manage to do was stare in awe at the events unfolding before them. Osborne's survival had been kept an utmost secret. To the point where no one, save Rufus, had the slightest clue. The mission Osborne had given him was to join the Noble Alliance and weaken it from within.
Vita had her own questions on this matter, particularly regarding Altina, who had appeared with Osborne. Why did Osborne have full control over one of Ouroboros’ Thirteen Factories? What was his plan? Osborne’s reply was simple and straightforward. He was going to take over Ouroboros’ Phantasmal Blaze Plan. Hearing this, Vita asked Rean and the others to take care of Crow, before teleporting away. Osborne ordered Rufus to move forward with the occupation of Crossbell, then began to take his leave.
Rean, however, refused to let him. Running up to him, he let out every emotion he had bottled up inside. Not in regard to any of these developments, but simply to the fact that Osborne was still alive. ‘Why?! Why are YOU still alive?!’ ‘Crow shot you! You're supposed to be dead!’ ‘But in the end, he couldn't avenge his grandfather, he didn't get revenge on you...!’ ‘Was everything he did...’ ‘Was his whole life for NOTHING?!’
In response to Rean’s furious outburst, Rufus informed him that Osborne’s actions were tied to him as well. Upon hearing this, a memory buried deep within Rean’s mind resurfaced. A memory from twelve years ago, just before he was adopted by the Schwarzer family.
‘Rean... I pray you grow up strong and healthy.’
‘...Oh, Aidios... If you're listening, hear me now. Please, allow this child...’
As Rean stood there dazed, pondering what this memory could possibly have meant, a ruthless grin spread across Osborne’s face. ‘I'm glad to finally see you again, my son. You've grown into a fine young man.’ ‘Indeed, the empire will soon know of the Ashen Chevalier, the hero whose brave deeds allowed us to reclaim the capital.’ ‘And who better to assist me than a national hero?’
Next
Previous
Next
PROLOGUEThe Depths of Despair ACT 1Ashen Chronicles INTERMISSIONAboard the Pantagruel ACT 2The Awakening Lions FINALE Forward, Relentlessly DIVERTISSEMENTThe Occupation EPILOGUEWinter's End