King and Fiend

Raid Event: Loyalty's Requiem

Episode 3

King and Fiend

Previous Quest

Assault on Archeole/Beginner

Next Quest

Phraeganoth Clash/Beginner

Summary

The one plotting Phraeganoth's revival is revealed to be Pele's own master, the former king Archeole. The party defeats him, but their victory is short-lived, for Phraeganoth begins to tear his way into their realm, forcing the prince to mount a final, desperate defense.

Dialogue

Graaaugh! Whew! Nothing about that was easy. Hmm? What's that on the ground? Is that an otherworld fragment? You've seen one of those things before? Only in books. They are powerful fragments dropped by equally powerful fiends.

The mana inside is said to be strong enough to bend the fabric of space itself.

Well, there goes my sound sleep. ...... Something on your mind, Pele? Apologies. My thoughts drifted to the past.

Back to when the one-eyed fiend was still my king.

Oh, so that one-eyed fiend is actually...

WAIT, WHAAAAAT?! That fiend was King Archeole?!

Yes. He, too, was sealed in the space between worlds on the day we banished Phraeganoth.

The black mana permeating that place transformed him into what you saw.

He must have gone mad if he wanted to unleash his former enemy on the world. Not so.

Even as a fiend, the king remained himself.

Then why's he tryin' to free that super-evil guy he already locked away!? I do not know.

But ever since his transformation, the king has been uttering an unending stream of incantations. These are aimed not at Phraeganoth, but at some other unseen party.

You think that could be the wails from Celliera's story? Regardless, I was his vassal. The failure to stop him in this mad pursuit is mine alone.

...Or perhaps I ought have aided him, if I were to be truly loyal. Even if the world should fall.

Pele, you can't seriously— I'm sorry. Please forget I said anything. Groooooaaaaaaarrrrrh! It's him! The tear in the space between worlds has been rent completely asunder! Were we too late?! Here it comes... *cough* Ugggh, that SMELL! A sign of Phraeganoth's approach.

The volcano's mana writhes.

All this just because it draws near?! We don't have a choice. We'll enter the rift from this side and stop him before he crosses over. No, you mustn't!

Crossing between worlds is impossible without proper protection. The trip would flay the flesh from your very bones!

Then you would have us sit here and watch our end come?! I fear safe passage through that tear would require power beyond that which can be found in this world. Power from beyond this world...

Would the otherworld fragment suffice?

I could not say with certainty.

But...it may be so. Yet even if it were, Phraeganoth's power is overwhelming. Would you risk an unknown danger only to face a more certain one?

We ain't about to turn and run when the fate of the world's on the line. No matter how strong the opponent,

we will stand and fight.

If it costs our lives, at least they'll have been spent with purpose. And who's to say we fight alone?

There may be other tears elsewhere in the world—and other people brave enough to enter them.

Grooooaaaaaarrrggghhh! Come on, everyone. Let's do this.