Hans! Are you okay?!

Thank goodness!

You wouldn't open your eyes, so I thought there was something wrong!

Lord Lucius...is gone now...

I wonder if this was really the right thing to do.

......

Tilith! Hans!!

Seria!

Karl, you guys!

Hans... You did it again, didn't you?

I mean, wow! You beat Lucius! You're unbelievable!

Right, Seria?

Well, even though you had Tilith's help, you still did pretty well out there.

Nice work!

Seriously, you did your very best. Good job, Hans.

Whoa, I think I just witnessed something scarier than an angry god.

Shut up!

You have really defeated Lord Lucius...

I guess I'm not dreaming after all.

If we could have convinced you to join us, then Lord Eriole would have...

My apologies. I've said too much.

I will keep the rest to myself.

Hans.

I shall never forget fighting by your side.

Tsch, all I hear is...

...Hans this, Hans that. Gimme a break.

I'm the one who covered for everyone.

Hans was only able to take care of Lucius thanks to my help.

Hey, Hans.

Listen up. When we get back to Elgaia, come see me.

I'll let you join my squad as a special favor.

Again with that?

You're just pitiful.

You want a piece of me?!

Here it comes...

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but we've run out of time.

What's happening...?

This evil presence is unlike anything I've ever felt before...

So these are the calamities that Lucius had sealed away...

Tilith. Are you ready?

Yes. I'm ready.

Are you really sure about this?

Can you really seal away this crazy amount of power all by yourself?

That would be impossible for Tilith at this point in time.

What do you mean?!

Didn't you say earlier that she could do it?!

What are we supposed to do now?!

I did, so do not fret.

I only said that at this point in time, it's impossible for Tilith to play her part.

But I have a plan.

......

The moment the seal breaks, I will enter the gate.

There I will defeat all the demons awaiting inside.

And when I do that, Tilith will remain here to close the gate from the outside.

Huh? What are you talking about?

Are you saying that Tilith can't leave this place?!

Correct.

Are you stupid or something?!

We can't ask Tilith do such a thing!!

But that is the only choice we have left.

Quit messing around!

Seria, thank you...

But it's fine.

I've made up my mind.

I don't have the power to manipulate the gates freely, like Lord Lucius did.

But as long as I'm physically present in their location, I can control them somewhat.

That's why when we decided to defeat Lord Lucius...

...I was already expecting this to happen.

But...

It's all right!

It's not like I'm gonna stay here forever!

If my powers grow stronger...

...then I too will be able to manipulate the gates in the same way Lord Lucius once did.

So I just have to hold on until then!

But how many years is that gonna take...?

You mean, how many centuries...

This isn't funny!

There has to be another way!

Karl! Lugina! Paris! Say something!!

......

Tsch...

Umm...

Hans!

You're Tilith's partner, aren't you?

Do something!!

In that case, you must become stronger!

Elder Grahdens!

Karl, Seria, Lugina, Paris...

...Hans and Tilith...

...you did well in your battle against Lord Lucius.

You should all be proud...

...of the great feat you have accomplished.

But because of that now Tilith's freedom is--!

And that's why I told you.

You must all become stronger.

But what does that mean...?

Another world lies sealed within the Grand Gaia Crater.

Its name is Ishgria.

It is a land that we humans cannot yet hope to visit...

...for it houses all demons.

Demons?

Yes.

The demons that appear in Elgaia and Grand Gaia...

...are puny little things that have managed to escape through the cracks of the seal.

However, the really powerful demons all dwell within Ishgria.

Those demons...were puny...?

But what does that have to do with Tilith...?

Now now, Seria.

Tilith's power is still young.

With her current powers she would only be able to seal a small portion of all the demons that would come flooding in from Ishgria.

......

So then there's no point in sacrificing Tilith like this, is there?!

Take it easy. I'm getting to the point.

Karl.

You understand what I'm trying to say here, don't you?

In short, we can enter Ishgria freely from the outside.

So we jump in, and then defeat all of the demons waiting inside.

And if we're successful, then the Goddess will regain her freedom.

Something like that?

Ho ho ho. You've still got it, I see.

Seria, now do you understand?

You must all become stronger than ever.

You must perfect the power to defeat the gods and become better Summoners.

......

Elder Grahdens, I understand the situation, but...

...won't things get dangerous if she is only able to seal such a small portion of the demons?

Why yes.

Once everything starts to unfold...

...evil demons will begin flooding into Elgaia and Grand Gaia like no one has ever witnessed before.

But that's--!

Do not worry.

We have that covered.

One of the Summoners of Old...

...Owen, the "First Summoner"...

...is currently rounding up forces to counter the demons' attack.

Which means he knew things would turn out like this...

I don't like that one bit.

Whatever the case, it seems we are really out of time.

I will enter Ishgria now.

Hans.

Your existence alone has the power to change the fate of the entire world.

That power is one you shouldn't use on behalf of others, but to protect those who are precious to you.

Don't repeat the same mistakes I did.

Ha ha. I wonder what my old comrades would say if they saw me giving a sermon like this one.

Ilia... I'm coming for you now.

Summoners! The future of the human race is in your hands!

Bring peace to this world rid of manipulative gods!

He's gone.

Pfft...

......

......

All right, now it's my turn.

Guys, thanks for everything.

It's because all of you were with me that I was able to come this far.

Lugi, I thought you were a bit scary at first, but the truth is that you're a funny and pretty caring guy...

To have become friends with someone as reliable as you...

...makes me really happy.

Hmph...

Paris.

Paris, you are a really kind person.

You put your own wishes aside to work hard for those you love.

And I, I really admire that about you.

Lady Tilith...

Elder Grah, though you're a tad bit perverted, you're always protecting us from afar.

Because you're here, Karl, Seria, and Hans...

...always try their very best.

Elder Grah, please continue looking after everyone for me.

Since I won't be able to stay by Hans's side much longer...

Tilith, I'm so sorry.

We are asking you to make such an enormous sacrifice...

No worries!

My job as a goddess is to protect everyone, you know!

Karl!

Please continue being a good friend to Hans.

I can rest easily knowing that you too are there to keep Hans company for me.

Of course, no problem...

Oh, and don't forget Karl, you're my friend too!

Thank you... I'm really happy to hear that, Goddess.

He he. You're gonna keep calling me "Goddess" till the very end, huh?

It'd be nice if someday you called me by my real name.

......

Seria... Please don't be like that.

......

I am so happy that you and I could become friends.

I never had anyone to argue with me before, you know...

But Seria...

We'll be friends forever, right?

The answer's obvious, isn't it?

Because it should be!

No matter what you say, I'll be your friend till the end!

I won't let you complain ever again, you hear me?!

Seria... Thank you...

Well, I guess I should get going now.

Wait, Tilith!

Hans! Don't just stand there...

It's all right.

I don't have anything to say to Hans.

I mean, Hans is my Hans after all!

Isn't that right, Hans?

Tilith...

Okay, now with my powers I'll transport everyone to the entrance to Grand Gaia.

Since it's about to get pretty dangerous around here.

I won't say goodbye!

Because as soon as we beat all of those demons we're gonna release you from this place!

That's right.

Don't forget, we have the Summoner who defeated Lord Lucius on our side.

Once I return home...

...I too will train my hardest to be able to subjugate those demons!

Hah. Everyone's so reliable all of the sudden.

Anyway, without me, there's no way the Demon Slayers can mobilize.

Ho ho ho. You are all so dependable!

Everyone, thank you!

Now leave the rest to me.

See you later, guys!

I will always be waiting here until you come visit me again!

I, I...

...want to see you all one more time...

She's gone.

Tilith, you idiot...

The next time I see her I'm gonna yell at her so bad...

Summoners.

Now it's not the time to sulk around!

You must all rise once more in the face of adversity!

From this day forth your new mission has begun!

For the sake of the Goddess that sacrificed herself for us...

...we must protect the freedom we have been given!

And when the time comes, we will not run from our demons!

Summoners, grow stronger!

Strong enough to save the world once again.

We got it, gramps.

We got it.

And of course, Hans got it too.

Hans.

We can't rest just yet.

We have to keep moving forward until we're able to release Tilith.

I wonder how much further our frontiers will expand!