Ultima Weapon stood above Minfilia. The metallic taur-esque beast seemed to breathe and shudder, souls within making the creature glow with an unearthly colour. Silvers gleamed with an unnatural sheen, far too polished, like dead flesh. It did not move. It dare not move, as Minfilia stepped forward.

Gaius had already climbed the best, standing in its’ head. The head closed around him, absorbing him. The controls were there… it was a little curious that they wouldn’t be in the chest, honestly.

“The Ultima Weapon has partaken of the power of eikons! None can stand against it!”

With that battlecry, Ultima unleashed a pillar of flame and wind.

Time seemed to slow. A voice Minfilia had not heard for eons echoed though her skull. “Hearken unto me, crystal bearer. Thy foe is Darkness clad in steel…”

Hydaelyn?! Minfilia stared up at the skies. “If thou wouldst triumph, thou must look to the Light.”

While Alisaie had told her not to trust, Minfilia still held a place in her heart for her Mother. Her calming protection cradled Minfilia, the attack parting around her. Giving her time to summon Belias, the beast roaring to life.

With the aether around them, Belias did not fear hurting Minfilia this time - even as he stood, having shielded her from the last of the blast.

Belias had disarmed the Weapons before. In fact, he had disarmed this one before. Glancing to Minfilia, Belias spoke quietly. “A corpse. Do you sense their souls?”

Withstanding blows, Belias sheltered Minfilia from lazers and the wrath of Primal both. In that moment, Minfilia felt a tingly sensation.

Minfilia Wardes’ chakras opened. She could see the three within Ultima Weapon. She glanced right at the chest of the machine. Following her gaze, Belias charged at the piece - slamming into it with firey fists. Now, Belias did have a spear. He could pierce the machine. But he needed to not destroy it too much.

There was something within Ultima Weapon. Something horrifying beat within, interrupting the flow - both Minfilia and Belias could see it. Belias dare not awaken it himself. His first blow, however, knocked out one of the souls.

Garuda came flying out of Ultima Weapon, falling to the ground, letting out a screech. He still looked like Haurchefant. And he suddenly struck at Ultima Weapon, trying to get to Gaius - before he collapsed, coughing, weakened. Minfilia looked to Belias. Belias looked back. 

Suddenly, another force was there. Shivan had broken though and rushed ahead. His body was weak, bleeding. But he grabbed the collapsed Garuda, dragging him away from the battle. A silent nod between him and Minfilia. He’d save them, keep them away.

Gaius was attacking, mind you, and even tried to hit the injured with attacks. Ultima Weapon stomped at the Eikon. As he did, Belias ripped another essense out - even as Gaius protested. “Garuda’s essence…torn from the Ultima Weapon!? And Titans— impossible!”

Two gone. The stilled carbuncle-horse, and Haurchefant, both saved. But Minfilia only wanted one of them. Her body shuddered, flames alight on her back. She could see one final glimmer. One which burned as brightly as she did - and with her movements, Belias ripped aetherially though Ultima Weapons’ neck.

Fordola fell out the other side.

Gaius did not strike at her, as Shivan moved her to safety - leaning into the weakened group, his blue blood dripping into them. He gave a smile to the air.

With the souls free, Gaius glared at the group from within the machine. “How…how are you doing this!?”

A disturbance in the air. Belias glared in the direction before any other could. “It is the blessing of Light that confounds you.”

Lahabrea landed on the shoulder of Ultima Weapon. His feet curled around the metal. “Your foe acts under the protection of the Crystal she bears. If you are to prevail, the hammer of Darkness must needs be brought to bear upon the shield of Light.”

A twisted grin covered Thancreds’ lips, as Lahabrea continued to use his body. And yet, he did not notice Shivan, Fatebreaker, watching. “And so it shall, for the Ultima Weapon is host to a power of which you are as yet ignorant.”

“Speak plainly, Ascian,” Gaius demanded - not noticing how the body of Ultima Weapon almost seemed… smaller around him.

Lahabrea scoffed. “The Heart of Sabik. It is the Weapon’s core─an enigma whose surface even the vaunted scholars of ancient Allag failed to scratch.” Then again, back then… Lahabrea shook his head. “The magic within has lain dormant for eons.”

Dear Sabik would awaken and bring them back to unity. “I sought the life force of the primals for no other reason but to quicken the core. For the true power of the Ultima Weapon lies within its now-beating Heart!” Even now, that power lingered, as Ultima Weapon began to shudder and glow.

“Lahabrea… What have you done?”

Gaius felt the magic flicker though his very soul. Was it draining power from him as well…?

Ultima Weapon was glowing. “No more than was necessary…for my god to be reborn.”

As Gaius cursed, as Belias sheltered both Minfilia and the weakened Primal, Ultima was unleashed. Everything went white. Minfilia could feel both the warmth of her sheep-like guardian and her Mother, dear Hydaelyn, shielding the group.

Fire filled the air. Smoke filled all lungs around. Minfilia could no longer sense Hydaelyn. No… all she could see was Ultima Weapon.

“Such devastation… This was not my intention…“

Gaius said, as even he tasted the smoke.

Lahabrea ignored him, appearing between the two of them. His voice was vile. “Oh, Hydaelyn…it seems the task of keeping Your champion alive has exhausted what strength You had left.” A step backwards. “Van Baelsar… Your enemy’s shield is broken. The rest… I leave to you.”

With that, Lahabrea vanished.

With that, Gaius and Minfilia went to battle. Belias, too, of course. As Minfilia kicked at the creatures legs, Belias tried to suplex it - only to melt slightly into the ground, metal melting around his hooves. Thankfully, it melted the ground under the Weapon enough to stop it from moving.

Every punch, a heart beat. Ba-dump, ba-thunk.

“This is most…unexpected. You are possessed of great might, this I will allow.” Gaius commented under his breath - looking between Belias and Minfilia. A beast that was not Eikon, and a woman who burns with the might of Gods but was not one. “Yet yours is not the might of a ruler. Such is the difference between us - a difference that will assure my victory!”

He demanded the best he could. Yet, the machine had a different idea. It stumbled. Minfilia struck down Magitek Bits, as Belias struck at the machine.

The machine began to glow again. Ultima again…? Minfilia was suddenly held, shielded, by Shivan. Belias burned brighter, using the last of his strength without risking Minfilia. A spear of flame pierced though Ultima Weapon.

A spear of flame pierced though the Heart of Sabik, and the machine stopped. A moment passed as if it were eternity. Shivan did not move, even as his icy blue blood now smeared on Minfilias’ clothes. Belias stared.

Before Belias realised time had stopped - well, near-stilled. He could smell it in the air. He was a master of time! Just as his spear struck the Heart, as it stopped Ultima, time had crawled to a near-stop. He sighed, letting go of his spear. Turning—

—Nabriales was here. Nabriales was here, just outside the flames. Both their eyes met. Belias stomped forward, before Nabriales raised his hands. “Please. I’m not here for you, Basch.”

Belias did not react. He snorted, continuing to approach. That is, until Nabriales threw a twig at him. A twig which had a familiar scent. “If I give you this, will you let me do my job? It’s not a Calamity. I promise.”

Snorting again, Belias held the twig close - before putting it in his mane. “If you dare move any closer to dear Minfilia, I will burn you to a crisp.”

Even if he knew it was a bad idea, Nabriales shrugged. “So you’d burn us both to perfection?”

Silenced, Belias huffed. Hands going back to hold his spear, in case time resumed. “Sit back, watch the show - it’s not often that sundered get to see this kind of thing!”

A cough began to come from Nabriales - from his stomach mouth. Out flooded the liquid form Mitron had taken, pooling by the holes in the ground made by Ultima Weapon. Mitron reformed - but not in the form of Emperor Solus. No, they would rather take their own dark-skinned form, long pale hair draped over their near-naked body. Their torso parted to tentacles, like some form of octopus - Mitron letting out a loud cackle as they formed. Tendrils moving towards the stilled Minfilia - until Belias shifted to block them.

Mitron shrugged. “Oh. Okay,” they said, not arguing with the Lucavi. The beast that mirrored their dear - why would they hurt them? Mitron instead suddenly swam though the air, pushing up to the head of Ultima Weapon. A swift push, and Lahabrea was suddenly there. Between all of them. It was simple, after all, to rip though such a weak aetherial pocket.

Before Lahabrea could protest, Mitron spoke up. “Do you know why I’m here?”

Staring upwards, horror filled Lahabreas’ eyes - Thancreds body was tense, already ready to run.

There was nowhere to run. “I can forgive some of your deeds. The fact you’ve stopped listening to us - that’s fine. It helps our Lord for you to be a little rebellious, now doesn’t it?” Mitrons’ voice vibrated, lowering and lowering. Receding like—

—like a tsunami. Nabriales had moved behind Belias without him realising, taking shelter from the anger that now spewed out, without Lahabrea having a chance to argue against it. In that moment, Belias could see what Vayne had spent era trying to convince him laid bare.

This was the one who had possessed Vayne Solidor. Who had begun wars. Had he driven Nabriales to deal the final blow…?

“We have a few rules, so that we never become as disgusting as those who dare not remember. We do not—” Mitron snarled, one tendril snapping the necklace Lahabrea had tried to hide in the few moments he had, “—try to raise our numbers without permission!”

The necklace fell to the ground, caught by another tendril - the first now placed right against Lahabreas’ chest. Again, Lahabrea tried to speak, but nothing came out. He felt like he was drowning.

“That should have been dealt with by Igeyorhm and Nabriales. I should have gotten to experience a mortal death.” It was one of Mitrons’ little joys in eternity. “But you have committed the greatest sin of all.”

Mitron suddenly moved. All their body moved, like serpents dancing across the sea. Right to the heart of the Ultima Weapon. Desperate, they used the hole that Belias had pierced to get to it.

Gently, kindly, Mitron took the Heart of Sabik into their arms, cradling it like a child. A small scar lingered, a burn from the Lucavi. “You did not know better, Father of Lies,” Mitron said, addressing the still-mobile Belias. “You are a failed guardian - but I do not blame you.”

Belias knew better then to argue with an Unsundered. “The Heart of Sabik… the Heart of our protected leader… how dare you, Lahabrea.”

It was more frightening when Mitron did not yell. It was more frightening as they loomed over Lahabrea, finally giving him a chance to talk.

While Lahabrea was many things, he was not one to back down from what he saw as right. Even when he was close to getting murdered. They wouldn’t murder him. “We’ve been faltering - you’ve all seen it! It almost seems like you don’t want to follow Lord Zodiark any more!”

Nabriales flinched, visibly, biting his lip.

Belias tensed.

Mitron was silent. Looking to the necklace and the gem connected to it, before looking back to Lahabrea. The Heart of Sabik trembled, still beating as time was frozen. “…So you are as mad as mortals, Lahabrea. I had thought it fitting to reassign you… but I have a new punishment for you.”

There was almost… pity in their voice, as they looked to Nabriales. “It’s time for… that. But a two-thirds majority of the Unsundered are needed to pass this motion.”

Nabriales nodded. “…I think it’s for the best. And if he manages to prove he’s able to play nice? We’ll not replace him.”

“What— what are you doing?!” Lahabrea demanded to know, voice violent. Mitron leaned over him. “I— I’m not like the mortals! I’m trying to help!”

Mitron dismissed his comment. “From the emergency power granted to me in the motions put into law during the Fall of Amaurot, you are hereby no longer the carrier of the title of Lahabrea.”

A punishment that had never been used before. Mitron loomed more over the now-titleless Lahabrea. “Futhormore, you shall be placed in a body of my choosing for a mortal lifetime.”

“What?! No! You can’t!”

Lahabrea screamed. Nabriales averted his gaze. Belias dare not interfere - until he recalled… the body. Thancreds’ body. His dear Minfilia— “Will you allow this flesh to live?”

Mitron had almost forgotten about the mockery. They glared under their mask, before that bravado left them. “I will. As long as you do not speak a word on this, Lucavi. If you dare tell of this - or the Heart of Sabik - I will learn of it. And I shall drown you in your hubris.”

Gulping, Belias put a claw back - realising he was holding Nabriales’ hand. No, he was meant to be sheltering Minfilia. Mitron grabbed at Lahabrea, ripping him straight from Thancreds’ flesh. Now hit by the spell, Thancred was stopped with the rest of the combatants. For a moment, Belias swore he saw the Raen Au Ras’ gaze flicker to Thancred.

Mitron looked to the group. “I leave the rest to you, Nabriales. I’ll take care of him.” And with that, Mitron seemed to dive into the flames, vanishing in a moment.

A few moments passed, and Nabriales sighed. Finally relaxing. Looking up at Belias. “…Well. It seems the battle is over. Looks like our princess won, hm?”

“She’s not the Princess,” Belias replied curtly. “She holds none of Raithwalls’ blood - it is but her soul that matches.”

Oh? Nabriales looked over at Minfilia. “You find the blood more important?”

“Aye,” Belias replied. But that was a lie. Both were important, in different ways. Still, he wondered - were there any with that blood still alive? Could he seek them out? “…Will you leave her be?”

“It’s not my place to interfere with your story,” Nabriales replied. “I’m no longer the leading man - you know this.” That was not the answer Belias wanted, and Nabriales continued, knowing him well. “Besides. I need to make sure Mitron doesn’t get too out of control.”

Nabriales hopped away, bowing. “You’d best go too, though.”

“…why.”

“Well… you’ve been using a lot of aether combatting my time magic.”

Belias hadn’t even noticed it. He nodded, quietly. One after the other, they vanished. Time resumed - and Minfilia felt a warmth around her for a moment before stumbling forward. She did not notice Thancred at first - but she did notice the explosion from Ultima Weapon, as Gaius fell to the ground.

Minfilia rushed over to where Gaius landed. But not to heal him. Her breath was harsh, but her expression moreso focused on his silver armour.

Blood pooled under Gaius, his body stuck on shrapnel from the fight. But he could see Minfilia. Not only could he see her, but he could see the anger of a thousand Ala Mhigans burning under her gaze. Those who had the strength to stand against him, but had been driven to fight against their Mad King. His voice was firm, for he could see a kindred soul in her burning passion. “Heed me… The subjects of a weak ruler must needs look to a higher power for providence…and their dependence comes at a cost to the realm. The misguided elevate the frail… And the frail lead the people astray. Unless a man of power wrests control…the cycle will never be broken.

You… You of all people must see the truth in this. You who have the strength to rule…”

Minfilia listened. She listened, but she did not take his words in. The same propaganda he had used to destroy her people. One of her clawed feet pressed down on the ground next to his head. She could rip his armour apart right now. She could murder him, leave him forgotten.

But that was not what would be best. “Tell me, Gaius.” A pause. A vibration, anger she had buried so many years ago. “Do you think it was the frail who led the resistance? Do you think it was the frail who gave you power?

No.” She could do this. “It was those you had convinced with honeyed words. People like Fordola, who had been broken by those above you.” Who now lay alive but injured. “I saw how she looked at you. It is how I would look at figures of the Twelve.” (Or how Ishgardians looked at Halone, at the behemoth with Her voice.) “If you died here, I know what would happen.”

Gaius stared upwards as Minfilia shot a weak Cure at him. She was mending him…? “You would be deified. Men who saw you as reasonable would continue to follow you, and they would craft their own beliefs based on what you were. Your Lupi, for example - they would remain loyal hounds.”

Minfilias’ voice grew darker. “And with such, they may eventually grow desperate, if Garlemald ever falters. And they may call to your soul, and beckon you to lead them again.

One of my duties is to prevent Primal creation, Gaius van Baelsar. I do not spare you for any other reason.”

With that, she almost turned - before her eyes closed. “Run, Gaius. Or stay. It makes no matter. You cannot escape the past.”

He would not bleed out. If the Alliance caught Gaius, he would be put though a farce of a trial, before being killed. If he fled, he would likely get killed in the wild. Minfilia knew she could not sustain his life, nor would she want to. Her attention now turned to Thancred and—

Shivan was gone, even if she did not know his name. There was no trace of him. Minfilia stumbled and nearly tripped as she rushed back. Looking over Thancred.

She stopped worrying when she saw Thancreds’ soft smile. When she saw he was back. “…Minfilia…?” he asked, quietly, voice shivering.

His body was cold. Minfilia could feel it though Belias’ warmth. It was not a frightening chill, however - it felt like the gentle frost of the fresh snow, the gentle feeling of Starlight having come. Minfilia gently smiled. Her ears twitched, and Thancred reached up to pet them. “You’re… okay?”

“I should be asking you that. Can you stand? We need to get out of here,” Minfilia said, as she looked over to the others who’d been pulled from Ultima Weapon. Everything had been a blur.

They weren’t small anymore. Minfilias’ eyes widened as she realised, standing and rushing over. Fordola was— she was the size of a Highlander woman, even if she still had scales and a tail and still felt like Ifrit. She was beginning to stir, as the others began to move as well. Haurchefant - he looked quite Elezen, if not for how feathered he was. And the creature who ate Titan - well, it still looked like a monster. But it looked calm as Alisaie gripped it tight, white feathers merging together into a pile of fluff.

Minfilia was distracted. Until she was pulled down into a big kiss, violent and bitey and loving. Fordola was awake and gripping to Minfilia. “—I’m alive, Minfilia! I’m fuckin’ alive!” And Fordola was. She still burned with the soul of Ifrit within, but she was no longer tiny, and she was strong and capable and could grip to Minfilia.

Minfilia was crying - she didn’t realise she was. Relief washed over her. Until Alisaie spoke up, quietly. “This place is likely going to blow up. We— we should get out of here.”

“I know an emergency way out,” a voice Minfilia had almost forgotten was in the dungeon with them. Yda bounced, but she carried an expression even Minfilia couldn’t explain. Joy? Happiness? But also a deep fear.

The XIVth had been defeated. But what did that mean…?