So this is the Sacred Mt. Bari...

Guess we can't advance unless we climb this thing, huh?

Sacred Mt. Bari has stood here even before the Empire of Bariura was born.

People would gather on this holy mountain to revere the gods.

Even the name "Bariura" seems to pay respects to this mountain, as it means "the protector of Bari."

Ark.

I could care less about that stuff.

Why are you making this longer than it needs to be?

Can't you just skip over the bits and pieces we don't need to hear?

Continue with the story from earlier.

We got interrupted by that glowing ball of light, but how do you still plan to rescue your lover?

You're not gonna tell me you're giving up on her, right?

For her sake I have lived with my own shame for countless centuries.

I will not give up on her now.

Before I tell you more about her...

...you should know about the special powers Lucius holds.

So you're not gonna give us the short version after all...

Can't you just shut up for a second and let him finish?

You shut up.

I didn't come here to listen to a novel! Just get to the point!

Can you both be quiet, please?

Ark, I'm sorry about that. Please continue.

Lucius has the power to manipulate space.

Not only can he open gates to the underworld, but his reach extends to other worlds as well.

That is the power he used to seal Karna Masta...

...and to move humans to Elgaia.

And in order to deal with the menace the Four Fallen Gods presented towards him...

...he decided to lead humans back to Grand Gaia.

So, he used the same power to seal away your lady friend, right?

Correct.

But the biggest problem is...

...that Lucius is the only one that possesses this unique power.

What?!

If you defeat Lucius, all of the gates will close.

My love will never be able to come back to me.

That's what I kept thinking to myself.

Which means that the gate connecting Elgaia to Grand Gaia would close.

Umm, excuse me...

That's not all.

Karna Masta had named Lucius as his right hand...

...because he holds the power to unleash many calamities upon the world that are currently sealed.

So if we defeat him, the seal will break and the disasters will overrun the world...

Can-Can I say something really quick?

But if that's really the case...

...then we can't defeat Lord Lucius now, can we?!

Hey, will you guys listen to me for a second?!

Ugh, what is it Tilith?! What do you want?!

I can manipulate the gates too, just a little bit...

Stop with the nonsense!

Why would you be able to use an ability completely unique to Lord Lucius?

I'm telling the truth!

Seria, when you were injured I took you all the way to Elgaia, didn't I?!

Didn't you use Lord Lucius's gate to do that?

No!

That takes time that we didn't have back then.

I see. So that's why.

Psh, how convenient.

What?! What do you mean by that?

The reason why Ark has decided to rebel against Lord Lucius...

...is because the Goddess also has powers to manipulate space.

Huh?

Correct.

Tilith, your existence is my...no, our only hope for humanity.

Whaaaat?! You can't just throw something like that at me!

I have no idea of how gods come to into being.

However, disciples are beings that are born spontaneously.

Each of them is born with different abilities.

And among them, only one was born with powers similar to those of Lucius.

Tilith, I'm referring to you.

Oh...

Knowing that, Lucius reached out to Tilith...

...and had her swear fealty to him.

With that he could secure the stability of the world.

Secure the stability of the world?

You may have misunderstood from what I've told you so far, but Lucius is actually not an evil god.

The only purpose behind everything he does is to make sure that the world is in balance.

And that includes sealing away Karna Masta, and the subjugation of the Four Fallen Gods.

However, the methods he chooses to go about this are pretty harsh on the human race.

In reality, the one doing the right thing may be Lucius after all.

Hmph. Well, I guess that when looking at it from the world's perspective, humans may be a nuisance in the long run.

Lucius made Tilith into his disciple thinking that he could use her powers to regulate the gates...

...which would in turn help to maintain the world's stability.

......

So basically, what you would like to do is defeat Lord Lucius...

...and then have the Goddess be in charge of the gates?

Yes, exactly.

And then you'll cross the gate to go rescue your maiden fair?

......Yes.

Psh. There were a lot of unnecessary parts in between, but I'm glad we finally got to the point.

I believe your story.

Me too.

I think now we have a better idea of what we have to do from here on out.

Though it looks like things have only gotten even more complicated. What a pain.

Ark, you have a pretty good idea of what's gonna happen, right?

I mean...

...you're sure that Lord Lucius will close the gate between Elgaia and Grand Gaia?

Yes.

If you make any predictions based on his actions so far, then it all points to him closing the gate.

In his mind, if any more humans were to make it to this region, it would only provoke more chaos.

If any more Summoners were to make it here, he would be in big trouble, huh?

And after closing the gate, leaving the power to destroy the gods in human hands would be too dangerous.

He would definitely do something to correct the situation.

......

Then it really looks like we have no choice but to fight.

Goddess!

I'm really sorry, but it looks like we won't be able to avoid a fight with Lord Lucius.

We will ask him to reconsider his position, just in case...

...but it looks like he doesn't plan on doing that any time soon.

I...

I definitely want to protect you guys!

There may be many rotten humans in this world...

...but there are plenty more amazing people living here too!

Isn't that right, Hans?

So I'm with you guys all the way.

I'll try to convince Lord Lucius to change his mind until the very end!

Ha ha ha. As perky as always, I see.

Well, Hans.

Once we climb over this mountain, we'll finally reach the Crater.

Don't let a demon get the best of you before we reach Lord Lucius!

I knew it. We have to climb this stupid mountain after all.

I'd take fighting a demon over this any day... *Sigh*