This place...

There are clear signs that something lived here...

...so are these more ruins left by the beastmen?

No, as far as my investigation of the land has shown, this town shifted here...

...from a world other than Ishgria, that wasn't Grand Gaia or Elgaia.

It shifted in from another world?

Exactly.

When Karna Masta arrived here and went berserk...

...the aftershocks opened the gates to other worlds, and supposedly the whole town just appeared.

In the subsequent battle, the town's residents fled to other locations in Ishgria...

...but it's unclear what happened to them afterwards.

Gates that connect to other worlds...

There are all kinds of legends about them, but for one to open on such a massive scale...

...shows just how powerful Karna Masta was.

Paris, I know this is fascinating to you, but leave it be for now.

I-I'm fine! I am well aware of our situation!

Oh, what could that monument be?

A monument?! Which one? Where is it?!

Tee hee, just kidding!

L-Lady Tilith!

He he, you're so cute, Paris!

Lady Tilith, please stop doing that...

*Sigh,* Anyway...

I'm more concerned by Karna Masta's power than all this.

Power to open gates to other worlds on this scale, like Paris was just saying...

...Ark, I want to hear what you think about it, given that you've actually fought Karna Masta.

Yeah...

We were young at the time.

We had faith in our own powers, and in our bonds with each other...

We felt that we could achieve anything.

We...even believed that we could bring down a god.

......

However, our eyes were opened to our own vanity.

The moment we faced him, all of us couldn't help but feel it.

His overwhelming presence and power...

Just being in Karna Masta's presence, we were all on the verge of despair.

But thanks to belief in our comrades' powers, we stood and faced him.

We helped each other, and little by little, we were definitely able to hurt him.

Or, that's what it felt like...

But Karna Masta hadn't used his true power at all.

When he launched just one genuine attack...

...only two others beside myself survived.

And though I say two, one of those two was a necromancer who used his magic on himself to fight on after death.

It must have been a fierce battle...

All of you are obviously strong. You have the immense power of Summoning.

However, even with it, there is a vast difference between your powers and those of Karna Masta.

As things are now, you will certainly meet the same end that we did.

That's why we need you to awaken the Oracle Maiden's power, so that we don't.

Yes, I know...

For the hope that Ilia left us, I will, no matter what...

This is an obvious question, but will summoning work on Karna Masta?

Karna Masta created summoning, right?

If it's a power he made, wouldn't he try to make it useless against himself?

There's no need to worry over that.

Lord Grahdens! Lord Owen!

Hans. I see you safely met Sir Ark.

Sir Ark, I do not know what led to this...

...but, seeing you alongside them, may I assume you will be assisting us?

Yes, of course.

I will awaken Ilia's powers that lie dormant in this land, no matter what.

And I will defeat Karna Masta, together with Hans and everyone else!

Ho ho ho, such encouraging words. As expected of the Oracle Knight.

That's all fine, but what did you mean about summoning just now, Gramps?

Did you forget?

Owen and I already faced Karna Masta.

You did?! It's impressive that you're both still alive...

Ho ho ho, it's because we fled before he got serious.

With you dragging me along with you.

Owen, enough about that already...

More importantly, the truth is that summoning definitely worked against Karna Masta.

Tsch, that's certainly great to hear.

But if that's true, this Karna Masta must be a pretty big idiot.

He's going to get killed by the technique he created.

No, in all likelihood, Karna Masta is not even concerned about humans...

...whether or not they have summoning.

Hmph, this Holy Emperor is awfully high and mighty, especially for someone who got sealed away in a place like this.

......

Gramps, Owen, you should know we met Bertz in Menon.

According to him, if we defeat Karna Masta...

...his invention, summoning, may cease to exist.

Did you two Summoners of Old know about that?

The Akras Summoners' Hall will lose much of its reason for existing if summoning vanishes.

Are you sure that's something you're okay with?

Ho ho ho, we're not so senile that we need you to worry about us.

Summoning may vanish if Karna Masta is defeated.

We are fully aware of that.

But that is not the reason the Akras Summoners' Hall exists.

Ultimately, its reason for being is to carry on Akras's mission, and free humanity from the rule of the gods.

But that's the goal of you old geezers...

...and the many Summoners and employees of the Summoners' Hall will still fall into chaos, won't they?

Don't underestimate us.

The power of the Akras Summoners' Hall does not depend on summoning alone at present.

Even if summoning were to cease functioning, our economic influence would naturally continue...

...and our military power is also impressive.

Warlon is already at work on those issues.

Warlon, huh...

*Sigh* I get it. There wasn't anything for me to worry about.

Hmph, it's because you rely exclusively on Summoning that you worry about such matters.

You should continue to heighten your own powers!

Those who do not can never be warriors, whether they can summon or not!

Owen, you're absolutely right. And my ears hurt...

All of you guys should train in things besides Summoning, like I have.

Especially you, Hans!

Must you always be so mean-spirited?

Well, I guess it's true, though...

If you take summoning away from Hans, there's nothing else left.

That's not true!

Hans is amazing, even without summoning!

In what way?

Well... Like in kindness, and in not giving up no matter what...

Those are all psychological.

Awww! Karl, help me out!

Umm, let me think...

......

Hans's great at making antidotes!

No one here knows or cares about something that happened so long ago!

Ha ha, I'm just kidding, Hans.

Don't let it get you down.

The truth is, everyone knows how amazing you are.

He he, he's right.

I know how amazing you are, Hans.

Traveling with you in the land of Ishgria...

...I think I know now better than I ever did before.

Thank you, Paris...

Wait, why am I thanking you?!

Hans, you say something, too!

Enough silly chattering.

I feel it would be a good thing for humanity if summoning were to vanish.

It is an unnatural power that humans did not originally possess.

All it does is cause pointless conflicts.

Given that, we are better off without it.

Humans have grown strong, even without summoning.

From the time of the war with the gods, through the time of our flight to Elgaia...

...and even up to the time when Lucius's Gate opened.

I believe in humanity's strength. I always have, and I always will.

Lord Owen...

Tsch...

Ha ha, he's right.

We've got to live up to Owen's expectations.

Yeah, Little Owen's a good kid, after all!

L-Lady Tilith...

My dear goddess, Tilith...

...we Summoners of Old, of the Akras Summoners' Hall, aim to liberate humanity from the gods.

However, that certainly does not mean we do not respect the gods.

We are deeply grateful to you for your role in saving humanity.

If there is anything you wish of us, we will do whatever we can to provide it.

Lord Owen...

So he wasn't mad...

You misunderstand many things.

It is only natural to be respectful when dealing with a goddess who has saved humanity.

Your behavior is the problem here. Be prepared to address that when the battle is over.

H-Hey, wait, please!

We're only doing what Tilith asked us to!

See? I told you all! Little Owen's a good, honest kid!

What about him says "good kid" to you?!

Lugina! Where are you trying to run off to?!

Shut up! Don't get me involved in this!

Hold it right there!

H-Hey, wait! Don't leave me here!

Hey, both of you stay put!

Honestly...no matter how far we come they never change.

Ho ho ho, you're all as lively as ever.

Now, Tilith, Ark, Owen...I think it's time for us to be going, too.

Okay!

Hans, let's get going!

Hans...

...the time when you will settle matters with Karna Masta approaches at last.

His body can be found in the land called "Empty Seal Menon."

It lies past the massive mountain that pierces the sky.

......

Having faced Karna Masta, I understand. Your power is one of the keys to this battle.

Take extra care not to let your guard down in the battle to come.

You are the hope of all living things now, not just the Oracle Maiden.