【Story】Finale (Underground Route) Gradually Wither

Finale　Gradually Wither

Part 1

“Freeze the Passage of Time”

In the face of the overpowering enemy, everyone had exerted all their strength beyond boundaries and done their best to break the power nucleus, successfully weakening Monesis so that Enoch could confront its main body.
Standing on the higher ground, Enoch summoned heroic spirits for a tough battle against Monesis.
Enoch: “This will be the death blow…I have to finish this once and for all…I can’t let everyone down.”
Pulling himself together, the exhausted Enoch raised his staff with both hands, poured all the power into it, and cast the attack over the weakened Monesis. Lights shone brilliantly like fading sparks, composing a magnificent battle hymn of victory and defeat.
Roarrr——Monesis let out a roar of agony after taking the hit. Its colossal body fell down, bleeding some kind of slimy purple liquid that was exuded with the smell of blood and organs.
Enoch: Wheeze…great…I’ve accomplished…my mission…
Hong Ai: Enoch!
Dagda: It’s not down yet!
Enoch: What! Ahh!
Enoch turned around and saw that a few dark-purple tentacles were reaching out from the main body; he conjured an elemental shield to withstand the attack and fought back with heroic spirits again.
Bahamut: Back to where you belong, alien!
Behemoth: Don’t ever destroy our world again!
During Enoch’s attack, Pompeii led Behemoth, Zana, and Bahamut to subdue the power of Monesis, successfully putting it into a slumber.
Hong Ai: It’s defeated!
Pompeii: No…it’s just sleeping for now. Can’t believe that even Enoch is unable to annihilate this destructive source.
Zana: Maybe it’s because the source has already merged with Monesis…But fortunately, the liberation of power returned the elements to their positions, and everything is back to normal for the time being.
Bahamut: I’m afraid it won’t last long. In the near future, that ominous power will rise again.
???: “No…there’s still a way…”
A voice came from Enoch’s chest while the black mark on it was flashing an iridescent light.
Enoch: The voice…It’s Schrakh!
Schrakh: “Make use of the colors of Arcus. It should be able to stop the time of that ominous thing.”
Xilocient: Just like what you did before?
Schrakh: “Right, but the power of that thing is too strong. Only you, Enoch, can boost our strength by activating the two sources of power within you at the expense of your life, so that we’ll stand a chance to succeed.”
Hong Ai: His life…Then what will happen to Enoch after that!
Zana: His life will be draining…
Hong Ai: No way——Enoch…
Enoch held Hong Ai’s shoulders and shook his head with a smile that carried a sense of relief.
Enoch: If this can save the realm, I’m more than happy to do it.
Enoch: “If you were me, you would do the same, right? Ingrid…”
Hong Ai: But—
Madam Heidi: Hong Ai.
Hong Ai: …Boohoo…I understand…
Enoch: Thank you, everyone. Let’s begin then.
That day, the vast sky was filled with ever-changing iridescence. The radiant light dyed the beautiful clouds, giving them brilliant colors. These everlasting memories were engraved in everyone’s heart in the Continent Tarones…

Part 2

“Life No Longer Flourishes”

In a remote suburban area stood an elegant little bungalow. The morning sunshine woke the sleeping youth up in bed. 
The face of that young man was unusually pale, with an unhealthy dark-green skin color. He struggled to prop up his body, stumbled to the glasshouse outside the house, and pushed in.
Various kinds of flowers were planted in the glasshouse, filling the air with a pleasant aroma. In the center lay an ingeniously carved coffin surrounded by blooming flowers.
A pretty lady lay in the coffin peacefully, as if having a wonderful dream. The young man reached out to touch her cheek with a gentle call.
Enoch: Good morning, Ingrid. What a rare good day, isn’t it?
In the past, after freezing Monesis with his life, Enoch also used his remaining power to freeze Ingrid’s time and preserve her body.
Afterwards, Enoch bid farewell to his companions and took Ingrid’s body to a sparsely populated place to spend the rest of his life.
Today, Enoch was with Ingrid as usual, recounting their past adventures until the sky darkened and the stars hung in the sky. Suddenly, Enoch’s face twisted, and he started coughing violently, even though he covered his mouth with both hands, he still could not stop the blood from spilling.
Enoch: Cough…Today is the day, I guess…Yesterday I woke up and found I couldn’t see anything. I know death is coming soon…but I’m not afraid, because it means I’ll see you soon…
Enoch’s voice gradually became feeble; his vitality was fading away. He reached out to hold Ingrid’s hand and murmured regretfully.
Enoch: However…If I got to choose, I would rather stay alive with you to witness how peace is restored to this land together…
Enoch lived out his life with regrets, but little did he know that his decision to freeze Monesis with his life had had a side effect—the power of creation from Monesis was reduced, which resulted in the withering of numerous planets. Life no longer flourished.
Continent Tarones was no exception. It was gradually coming to its end…The verdant grassland in the past turned into a barren desert. On the rock, a sphere of golden light hovered at the top and eventually turned into a female figure.
She looked out into the withering world. Her ethereal face was stained with sorrow. The green shadow moving beside her watched along.
Tawil: Even if you learn how to understand and endure, you still can’t succeed…What else is needed to overcome misfortune?
Ithaqua: The wheel of fate has started spinning. We can’t stop it, but we can guide them again…
Tawil: Right…until the miracle comes…