Part 120: Without End

Entry 111: Without End

At the beginning of the game, Tiz's first journey out in the world was hiking from Caldisla to the former mountain village of Norende.



Now we're taking that route again, one last time.



This scene at the edge of the Great Chasm is largely a repeat of the Finale.

Is Airy inside!? But, how do we...

Which makes sense: unbeknownst to the party, they're repeating what happened back then.



Only this time, Airy's big reveal resulted in her getting beaten up rather than the party's death and subsequent resurrection by the angel.

Alright, if everyone's ready, let's go after Airy!

The party gathers around the portal and pauses, steeling themselves.



I think I'll carry on with my father's wishes.

As a vestal of the crystals, I intend to keep guiding the faithful.

...Hee hee.

What's so funny, Agnès?

Well, I am the wind vestal and a follower of Crystalism. And you...you are the daughter of the great Braev the Templar, and naturally an adherent of Anticrystalism.

It seems strange that we would journey so far together, but in the end, return to lives naturally opposed.

Well, I for one intend to put concepts like Crystalism and Anticrystalism in the past!

Really!?

Yes, I've made up my mind. I will seek to make the world a better place--a world where we don't need to oppose each other. I believe that is the sort of world my father really sought.

...Edea... I think so, too.

Ringabel, what will you do?

What else? Continue my never-ending quest to find my ideal woman.

Besides, I don't have anywhere to go back to.

Come live in Eternia!

Don't worry, I'll put in a good word for you.

Hmm... It might be nice to have somewhere I could call home.

What about you, Tiz?

Me? Oh, umm...

Once our adventure is over... I think I'll return to Norende Village to live out the rest of my life in peace.

......

Rather humdrum, huh?

No, it's neither humdrum nor extraordinary.

That's right, Tiz.

I will be sure to come visit you in Norende, Tiz.

...Once this is all done.

Far from humdrum, any sheep-eating goblins would have no chance against Tiz the Shepherd/Former God-Destroyer.

The party passes through the portal together. Meanwhile, far above:



For the eleven hundred million years since I was spawned of You, I have existed solely for Your glory and--

Far off in the distance, we hear the sound of a portal activate.



In the Finale, Airy came here after killing the party. This time, she came here hoping to escape the party.

Lord Ouroboros! They come! The warriors of light are upon me! Your faithful servant is in grave peril! Hear my plea! I beg You!

We switch away from Airy to the party's trek through the Dark Aurora dungeon.



The treasures are still looted from last time, so they beeline to the top. As they travel, Airy continues her prayer:



A glow surrounds the tiny fairy.

What!? Then I am to be granted my ultimate form?

Oh, Lord Ouroboros be praised!



Just how many forms does Airy have? She's been a bug larva monster...



Then some sort of pupa monster... Wait a sec.

As the party climbs ever higher...



...Airy receives her newest gift from her master.

Ohhhhhh...!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Magnificent! Miraculous! Astounding! This is the power of my Lord Ouroboros!



The party comes upon Airy in her final form, the inevitable conclusion of a bug masquerading as a fairy.



Airy...is that you!?

That's right. Feast your eyes upon perfection as bestowed by Lord Ouroboros! Now you will know the might of my true and perfect form!

In the end, Airy doesn't even pretend to have cared about the party. All she's ever done was in pursuit of beauty and power, no matter the cost to others.



This version of Airy has a new moveset, doing stat effects and debuffs to compliment her large fire attack.



It's the epitome of where Airy's delusions have gotten her: using fire against the party, denying the fact she's still a bug and therefore weak to fire.



Unfortunately, once you bring her down to 0 HP, she recovers to full.

Wh-what's this!? My Lord, I am forever in your debt!

Lord Ouroboros himself is watching over her this battle. He won't let his newly evolved servant die quite so easily.



But it's fine. We'll just bring her down again.

Lord Ouroboros, I beseech You!



Ugggh

Ha ha ha ha! I am invincible!

Airy and Ouroboros may be able to go on forever, but so can the party. Still, I'd really rather not.



Once again, a one and a two and a

Lord Ouroboros, I must call on You--



Phew! Looks like we're not the only ones bored with this fight.

No, You Malevolence. Please! Lord Ourob--

Airy's dragged backwards, out of the fight.



Why, Your...Malevolence? You are most...unkind-- Aaaaaah...!



Airy's pulled away into the light, out of sight.

Seconds later, the party hears terrible, crunching, grinding noises. And so ends Airy.

What's happening?

I know not...

Huh?




Ah!!






Even in her final perfect form, she was merely a bug for Ouroboros to dispose of at will.



When the party comes to, they're back at the other side of the empty arena.

Wait -- is it empty? Who's that in front of the altar?

This is the last chance the player has to save the game. This is it, folks.



In the Finale, Airy was the final boss. This time, she was just the warm up.



It looks like...Tiz!

Whatever it is, it's heading this way!

The Tiz approaches and looks down at itself.



Are you Ouroboros!?

Call me what you will. I did not anticipate Airy's defeat. You creatures intrigue me.

So it is that I take this cumbrous form. Now, ask me what you will.

Just who are--

The thing glances at Edea, its form switching instantly.



Every time Ouroboros answers, it switches to the form of the person it's looking at.

How did Airy fit into your plan!?

She gathered the strength I need to breach the Celestial Realm. This, too, was explained. Next.

What is the Celestial Realm?

As the name implies, it is the realm of the gods.

Why do you seek to invade it?



So the Celestial Realm is Luxendarc's heaven, which isn't too surprising. What is surprising is that it was never mentioned until The End in spite of its importance.

It knows no war or strife. There exists no greater bore. No duller prison.

... Ah, now I see.

You whose form I now take... A celestial lurks within you.

But this revelation isn't new. The first hint we got was way, way back in Entry 37, facing off against the insane Mephilia:


There have been a few hints since, but never explained, and so few and far between it was all too easy to forget.



Has this little charade served to ease your weariness?

I shall bring your realm chaos. Hatred, fear, jealousy, corruption, brutality... Excitement.

Airy has interlinked myriad worlds, sowing a bounty of indignation and despair to fuel my conquest.

So, after your faithful servant worked tirelessly for you, her reward was to be devoured!?

Hmm... I see that I must put this in terms that one of your kind might fathom.

Wait, is he claiming Luxendarc had no bad things until Airy came along? Either Airy did an earlier pass of the worlds way, way back, or Ouroboros here is really out of the loop about how chaotic life is.



Surprise! His Malevolence is not a great boss

What further use has one for cattle claimed by age or injury, save to be eaten?

Cattle!?

Yes. The suffering of such a beast bears no change upon its fate, nor does its loyalty.

No matter how great her reverence for me, she was but a morsel for my nourishment.

...Monstrous...

It is the same for what you call your world...



You, with the power to draw strength from the crystals!

You, who saw through Airy's machinations!

You, driven by an inconsequential sense of righteousness...

You are naught but the meal before my heavenly assault commences.



Flavorless are these mortal forms. It is time for you to become a part of my flesh.

So begins the final battle.



...Round one. I mean, this is a JRPG.



This is not really a fight. Ouroboros continues mimicking the party by using job abilities.



He isn't very powerful and doesn't do anything on the level of the other bosses we've fought. We do find out he's a dragon, though!



Once he reaches critical health he pulls out from the fight.



If he's this surprised and amused by four residents of Luxendarc, maybe he's being a bit too hasty in destroying all the worlds.



He's less an omnipresent god, more an overgrown kid wrecking things he doesn't understand, using boredom as an excuse.



No wonder the Celestial Realm doesn't want anything to do with this arrogant edgelord.



And now, victory in sight, he's pulled us in to see his true self and show off before he starts his big villain plan.

We'll see how well that goes for him.



He attacks by doing lots of hand jiving. Double the hands, double the jiving.



Checking Ouroboros's vitals reveals he's not just a dragon, he's also vulnerable to water. His relation to the elemental dragons guarding DeRosso's castle is unknown.



His spell Zero Dimension will wreck your day if it hits, and this time, Stillness won't block it.



Fairy Ward, however, will, because it's classed as a status effect rather than a physical or magical attack.



Then Ouroboros, Destroyer of the Multiverse, Dragon of Doom, He of Many Hands, gets frustrated and tries to bonk you on the head.

Which doesn't work either because the party still has Stillness up.



He takes two actions every turn: one attack and then this.



Total Regeneration gives him a full heal every turn. Which means if you aren't prepared, you might find the battle dragging on and--



This is but child's play. I grow bored.

Fine.

Smack Ouroboros down to half health within one turn to end this phase of the battle.



The impact of the party's damage breaks the dragon's face parts.



It appears Ouroboros isn't as invincible as he thought.



But it's only a temporary solution. We need more power!



Suddenly, DeRosso.


Next: Ouroboros and the Plot Make a Mistake

--

Event Viewer
Main Scenario:
To the Final Battle
Airy's Plea
The Ultimate Form?
Metamorphosis
Airy, Perfected
Airy's Demise
I Am Ouroboros
The Infernal Realm

Party Chat:
Once This is All Done...