Глава 15

(Excited cry)

I will protect the Doctor and restrict Manfred's movements as much as possible.

Settle this quickly. Be wary of the Teekazwurtzen that he's carrying.

Just as the Teekazwurtzen in Manfred's hand begins to glow red, the King of Sarkaz's Arts and Ascalon's blade descend upon him.

This must end.

—Move!

Ascalon instantly dissolves into purple mist, scattering amidst the flash of the blade, before reforming again.

The barrier woven by Amiya protects you and Kal'tsit, but it begins to falter against the blade flash.

(Furious howl)

(Shields with all its might)

The blade's master slowly emerges from the darkness. He looks even more terrifying under the faint light.

You've put yourself in this predicament.

...Your Highness... you...

It looks like Nezzsalem is fulfilling his end of the bargain.

You've come here to see me. Very good.

You see a man standing calmly before the throne—Theresis.

He looks nothing like the man you once knew. He's tightly gripping a vivid, gleaming crystal.

Amnannam...;You've succeeded.

You seem surprised.

You too have set foot in the void. You too have witnessed her departure.

You know full well the heavy price the Sarkaz paid for this.

And yet, you never believed the Sarkaz had any rightful claim to it.

Isn't that right, Dame Kal'tsit?

At least for now, we rejoice in your success.

I thought you would rejoice in my death, Dame.

His Originium infection level...;Just what has he been through?

I don't know what he's encountered, but needless to say, the Assimilated Universe's chaotic information continues to rapidly corrupt his will.

It will carry on this way until his entire body is fully recoded in another format.

Originium...

How much longer can he hold out?

Frankly, I'm stunned that he's managed to survive this long.

Your Highness, I shall escort you out. Maybe we can still find a way to—

Londinium does not need me anymore.

Please handle the remaining tasks.

I must do one last thing for the Sarkaz, while my mind is still clear.

Rhodes Island, the equality you seek may be a noble goal for all of Terra—but we Sarkaz will not be there to greet its arrival.

Such bitter irony—you and I brought about that outcome with our own hands, {@nickname}, and now you're walking the very path she once laid out for me.

Amnannam is responding to Theresis's call.

The entire underground throne room begins to shift. The path by which you entered is now gone.

The hole sealed in the lower layer of Londinium is being filled—at a pace visible to the naked eye.

Stop him!

The surging Originium assimilates Amiya's Arts, something she has never experienced before.

It's not working! Why?

But Theresis still shows the same, rarely seen, pained look on his face.

Cautus, you... are much like her.

Something's not right.;The Originium assimilated Amiya's attack!

He is currently adapting to, and studying, Amnannam. But the more he is exposed to it, the more the chaotic data streams will impact him.

The first Originium, having had its authority seized by force, can't possibly compare to the state it was in when first created—we still have a chance.

We don't have to attack head-on!;Stall! He can't hold out for long.

I need to get closer to him, and Amnannam!

Just trust me!;I won't forget!

You'll never forget how you felt in that moment. You nearly lost Amiya.

However... you feel a torrent of jumbled information rushing through your mind—

Time is slowing down, but you can feel the Originium, the Originium you control.

Maybe, just maybe, you still have a chance, so long as you can remember everything that happened.

If you can do that, you'll be able to stop the Originium.

I will do my best to carve a path for you, Dr. {@nickname}!

Mon3tr, do not worry about me. Protect the Doctor.

The Doctor is the only person, out of everyone here, who can stop Amnannam.

(Hesitant roar)

Trust me.

(Opens claws to protect you)

The surging Originium activates the pool of dead water that has lain still on the surface for ages. Mist clinging to your mask makes it hard to see the road ahead.

However, you feel a silken thread wrap around your waist, gently guiding you forward.

...Amiya?

Keep going!

I told you before; this conflict ended long ago.

However, Ascalon, Manfred... your future does not lie here either.

Originium creeps up Manfred and Ascalon's bodies, pushing them toward the edge, to the end of the battlefield.

Leave. Go to a safe place and wait there.

Remember to take Amnannam back to Kazdel.

—Wait, Your Highness—

Manfred's voice vanishes within the underground throne room. Theresis has already scuttled him off to a safe place.

You don't get to make decisions for me anymore.

Ascalon dissolves into a purple mist, slipping through the cracks in the Originium and remaining in the throne room.

She is everywhere all at once, just waiting for an opportunity.

Folly...

Amnannam is still flashing, but his movements are becoming increasingly difficult.

The Originium is restricting his arms, his eyes, and even his thoughts.

But still, he forces himself to remember one goal——to bury everything here.

He needs to hold on to his last shred of sanity so he can leave Amnannam with Manfred, who is finally safe.

He struggles to lift up his sword, as he once did when he served at the side of the King of Sarkaz.

He raises his sword for the Sarkaz one final time.

Have you ever... looked up at the sky?

Beyond that sky, far beyond the twin moons, there is a place that we would once return to, where we would sleep peacefully.

But I am the only one left, here speaking with you. In the course of the Sarkaz's eternal search for the remains of dead gods to fend off your enemies, have you ever wondered...?

Why did those gods die?

'In the sea filled with both truth and the unknown, I saw...

'A fleeting vision of the gods before they died, and root of the pain you bear.'

'I now understand you, though you have already passed away. Now I'm the only one left, and I'm speaking to you.'

'Before I retire to my eternal slumber, I will destroy you. I shall build a ladder for the Sarkaz.'

'No longer will anyone toy with the fate of the Sarkaz. We shall reclaim our own destiny, {@nickname}.'

Theresis swings his sword.

A beam of light stings your eyes, and you wrack your brain, trying to recall how to stop Amnannam.

Amiya's barrier breaks, layer by layer, amidst the gleam of the sword. You think you see Mon3tr's huge frame blocking your view.

STOP!

You suddenly remember everything about the moment you almost lost Amiya. You remember how you stopped it all.

<color=#000000>You did it, Dr. {@nickname}.</color>

You remembered—

(...Priestess...);(Priestess!)