Back at the Century Corps camp, in the planning room, sits Lilac, Olivia, Centus, Mygin, Uruo, Hadane and Oiyrr as they prepare for the final confrontation against The Buzzard to destroy its current incarnation and save Soulight Valley.

  Lilac: The number 1 objective is clear, we need to destroy The Buzzard

  Olivia: Obviously, but we need to also ensure the Soul Tree is protected

  Hadane: I think I’ll need to “embrace a new beginning” and do what I always meant to.

  Mygin: They last defeated The Buzzard with a Phoenix, we can defeat The Buzzard with a new Phoenix

  Hadane: That’s what I’m thinking, although instead of simply sealing away The Buzzard, we destroy it completely

  Oiyrr: You might need to enter the Soul Tree to do, being surrounded by the many energies of the tree will allow you to complete the transformation

  Hadane: Understood

  Uruo: The main problem with this plan is that the Soul Tree is located directly below Rahihi’s stronghold

  Mygin: Right, we’d likely have to deal with whatever forces are inside the canyon that belong to him

  Uruo: Taking down The Buzzard will likely also involve taking down Rahihi, taking down both of them is the only way we can save the Valley

  Mygin: That means we’ll likely also have to fight the Sinners Sextant

  Lilac: Well, if we take everyone, and maybe leave a small force to defend the camp, then we’d likely be able to breach the fortress of Rahihi easier

  Olivia: We also need Larkin to use the “Symbiosis Breaker” on the Buzzard as soon as he gets in an ideal position

  Centus: That “Witch” fellow has me a little worried, I hope we can neutralize her in an effective manner.

  Olivia: So we deal with her when we get to that

  Mygin: May I ask why Rahihi’s lowly attendant makes you feel uneasy, Centus?

  Centus: There’s an eerie familiarity there, something I can’t explain. Like it’s someone I had known for all my immortal life.

  Olivia: I’m sure you’ll get the truth you seek once we confront them

  Oiyrr: I think the warrior near the Soul Tree might be under Rahihi’s control in some way

  Uruo: What is the plan there?

  Oiyrr: We are going to break his hold on the soul warrior if it’s there

  Uruo: By fighting it?

  Oiyrr: Likely

  Lilac: So our plan is ready, we’re going into the canyon to the Soul Tree and then assaulting Rahihi’s fortress that overlooks it, taking the fight directly to his forces.

  Olivia: We have a large force with us, we can make a significant dent in his army.

  Lilac: Alright, so we agree on the plan?

  Hadane: I’m all for it, part of this gig was the fact your life was on the line and you would need to make sacrifices, I’m ready to give my life to help defend the valley

  Centus: I don’t think there’s a better course of action, I’m in

  Oiyrr: I agree on this plan

  Uruo: Let’s take down that bastard warlord

  Mygin: You don’t need my approval, let’s do what we were meant to do

  Everyone else but Lilac and Olivia leave the planning room. Acantha manifests from Lilac in front of Olivia in the room

  Acantha: I’m feeling a lot better about you than I had previously

  Olivia: What changed? I’m curious

  Acantha: Well, you didn’t have to do that for our echoes

  Lilac: Providing them another existence as a sovereign being beyond us was something you didn’t need to do, let alone risk Relic absorbing you for it?

  Acantha: Optica would never do an act as selfless as that

  Olivia: Thanks Acantha, it means a lot that you’re finally trusting me

  Acantha: You’re welcome kid, but don’t betray my newfound faith in you

  Olivia: I wouldn’t dream of it

  Everyone leaves the planning room and goes to bed for the night. The next day, everyone is preparing to go off to face the final confrontation against The Buzzard and Rahihi.

  As the Century Corps are preparing for their final battle, Nest and Boone are congregating together, putting together their arsenal for the final battle against The Buzzard and Rahihi.

  Boone: This is it

  Boone takes out a picture of their family from when they were alive, they look at it with intent, before putting it away

  Boone: We’ve faced these near impossible odds before, we will do so again

  Nest: We beat The Buzzard to a pulp with our bear hands, but the job isn’t finished, his evil must be completely expunged from the valley

  Boone: I’m finally ready to leave this in the past

  Nest: Whatever happens, we do it together, and not just the two of us, all of us, we’re a team.

  Boone: I find it impossible to disagree

  Boone loads their rifle fully, looking at Nest as she gets ready to roll out on this expedition. As the two finish preparing, Hadane walks over to where Nest is and Nest turns to look at her

  Hadane: Are you ready

  Nest: I can’t believe it’s the end

  Hadane: It’s only the end if you believe we fail

  Nest: What do you mean by that?

  Hadane: Like a Phoenix, I too will rise again from the ashes, I promise this won’t be the end of me

  Nest: I’ll never see you again

  Hadane: Only if you believe that

  At that moment, everyone begins motioning to leave, so Nest, Hadane and Boone follow suit, joining Lilac and Olivia and the rest of the forces. Lilac is getting ready to deliver a speech

  Lilac: We’re going out on our grandest expedition yet, we’re going to free the valley from the grasp of Rahihi and The Buzzard. It’s going to take everything we have to win this fight and wrest control of the valley back to the people who call it home. When we shatter the hold they collectively have over the valley, we’ll free the future of it for everyone we protect. And for those who aren’t part of what I’ve built here for years, we’ll unite under the banner of the Century Corps, two separate entities joining in collective efforts for a common goal, defense of the innocent, upholders of righteousness, arbiters of justice. Rahihi’s reign of terror over the valley is an affront to what we stand for and The Buzzard is an egregious affront to everything good and righteous in this world. We’re going to win this day.

  A lot of people in the crowd cheer back, as Olivia gets a turn to talk

  Olivia: We’re never going to falter. We have a mission, so let’s go out and do it. Those who came here in pursuit of the truth in the Dark Mirror, it has revealed its purpose. We’re now going to do what we always do, we’re going to stop evil.

  The large group of Century Corps look at them and cheer.

  Kutok: Let me lead the way!

  Oiyrr: I will assist with anything related to the defender of the Soul Tree

  Jumay: Me and Acandra are going to stay behind and defend the camp, in case things go wrong, we’ll need it

  Acandra: Good luck on your heroics, we eagerly await your triumphant return.

  Lilac: Off to battle we go

  Begin Mission: Battle Canyon

  Select your party and unit reserve

  Progress down the Canyonside Trail

  When the Century Corps is 10% down the Canyonside Trail, a group of Hollows pop up to block their path

  Nest: He’s going to run out of these things eventually

  Olivia: Proceed otherwise, get these blighted distractions out of our way

  Fight against the Hollows

  When you defeat them

  Boone: We should probably get ready to engage any hollows or any of Rahihi’s minions sent to slow us down on the way to the canyon

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  Centus: We’re just going to have to break every single one on our way down

  Boone: Well said

  Resume down the Canyonside Trail

  When the Century Corps is 20% down the Canyonside Trail

  Lilac: Centus, why didn’t you have anything to say during the speech?

  Centus: I felt like you and Olivia had a real good grasp on everything, you are both incredible leaders of men

  Lilac: Thank you, that means a lot coming from someone with a history as storied as yourself

  Centus: Your kind words mean a lot to an old geezer like me, but you really are one of the most capable leaders I’ve ever known

  Resume down the Canyonside Trail

  When the Party is 30% down the Canyonside Trail

  Larkin: I wonder where Lark2n went?

  Yoni: Are you really wondering that now?

  Larkin: It’s just, I know he’ll probably pop up near the Arctic, near that potential secret Department X facility he mentioned but after he saved me, Nest and Boone from The Buzzard and helped us secure the shard, I guess I never got to say thank you

  Yoni: You can tell him that when you see him again

  Resume down the Canyonside Trail

  When the party is 40% down the Canyonside Trail, Oiyrr stops to observe a plant that is covered in malice

  Oiyrr: Looks like The Buzzard tried twisting and shaping this plant

  Oiyrr pokes the darkness ground around the plant, feeling it’s pervasive malice

  Oiyrr: This is the rot that will set in if The Buzzard gets his twisted way. We need to give some agency back to whatever warrior was defending The Soul Tree.

  Olivia: We will, if we keep on pushing

  Resume down the Canyonside Trail

  When the Party is 50% down the Canyonside Trail, a beacon of light erupts from the Soul Tree

  Hadane: I feel it calling to me, like we need to hurry

  Mygin: It appears to be aware of the upcoming battle, calling us down there

  Oiyrr: Let’s press on

  Resume down the Canyonside Trail

  When you are 60% down the Canyonside Trail, instead of Hollows, Rahihi’s minions and Sinners Sextant begin showing up

  Lilac: We have more standing in our way, let’s remove them from our path

  Uruo: None of Rahihi’s simple minions will stop me from giving him the fate he deserves

  Fight against Rahihi’s forces and Sinners Sextant

  When they are defeated

  Yoni: There’s someone I think we’re due to run into

  Oseci: Oh, what do you plan to do with them

  Yoni: I hope that in this situation, they’ll chose sensibility and aid us

  Resume down the Canyonside Trail

  When the party is 70% down the Canyonside Trail

  Mygin: I wonder if these brave bands of warriors in the past had to fight off legions aligned with enemies of the valley?

  Uruo: Well, do you think that’s a possibility?

  Mygin: It could have been

  Ba-Bayost: I have been a part of many bands of warriors throughout my time, and none of them are as cohesive as a united force as The Century Corps are. None of the forces that could have defended the valley are as strong together as we are together

  Mygin: None of them?

  Centus: Ba-Bayost might very much be right

  Yerod: Everyone here is united in our conviction

  Iehn: Amen

  Resume down the Canyonside Trail

  When the part is 80% down the Canyonside Trail

  Uruo: I wonder how so many can spinelessly follow Rahihi?

  Oseci: The punishment Rahihi gives to those unaligned to his cause is powerful. They are terrified for their lives

  Uruo: I know those people are conscripted against their will, but his loyalists, that confuses me now that I’m seeing him again

  Centus: Loyalty is often bought by strong, uncompromising leaders, regardless of their moral intent

  Acantha: Can attest to that

  Uruo: I believe Lilac’s leadership and the purpose of the guild has enough credibility and character to destroy whatever hold he might have in death

  Lilac: That’s the goal

  Resume down the Canyonside Trail

  When the party is 90% down the Canyonside Trail

  Hoard: I think we need a Dragon here

  Nest: Can’t you get some to come and assist us

  Hoard: I can, some will definitely help us when we take on the full brunt of the forces of Rahihi and The Buzzard

  Nest: You and I aren’t so different Hoard

  Hoard: The difference between a bird and dragon is how large they are

  Hadane: Creatures of the sky

  Hoard: You must let us know what’s it like

  Resume down the Canyonside Trail

  When the party completes the Canyonside Trail, they see an easy entrance to go down into the canyon. However, it is blocked by three familiar faces

  Shane: This is as far as you go

  Farat: We won’t let you enter the canyon

  Sinners Sextant Captain: Yeah, no pleasantries will be exchanged

  Yoni: Come on guys, that Buzzard is going to destroy the valley for generations

  Shane: Well we got put on guard duty and that trumps whatever greater moral conflict is happening

  Centus: Be reasonable, there’s like a bunch of us and like 30 of you

  Shane: They have a point…

  Sinners Sextant Captain: Don’t even think about it

  Yoni: I can tell you want to be part of something greater again

  Farat: And what’s that supposed to mean?

  Lilac: Let’s just say that I’ll let you and any other potential defectors into the Century Corps if you help us during our greatest hour of need

  Sinners Sextant Captain: No, stop entertaining that idea

  Farat: Hmmm, you really would

  Yoni: Do you want to fight for the future, than follow my lead

  Shane: What a great possibility

  Sinners Sextant Captain: You fucking imbecibles better not

  Farat: Actually we don’t have to listen to you anymore

  The small contingent freaks out as Farat and Shane begin a mutiny against their Captain.

  Shane: Come on, get through here

  Yoni: You heard them

  The Entire Century Corps force just sort of walks through the contingent and down into the Canyon. The Soul Tree and it’s mighty warrior aren’t too far from where they are

  Oiyrr: I feel it’s presence near us

  Hadane: I am about to become something new

  Hadane and Oiyrr look up at the Soul Tree, looking much more imposing in person

  Hadane: Just a few more steps towards it

  Advance towards the Soul Tree

  When the Century Corps are 25% to the Soul Tree, a wave of energy is emitted by it that empowers Nest

  Nest: Woah….

  Nest staggers back for a minute, being caught by Hoard

  Nest: This power feels different

  Hadane: I wonder what it’s doing to you?

  Oiyrr: The Soul Tree’s power is one that might call out to natural beacons of earthly power

  Nest: Do you think that I am a natural power beacon that the Soul Tree would willingly empower?

  Oiyrr: It’s a possibility

  Continue the advance towards to the Soul Tree

  When the Century Corps are 50% to the Soul Tree, a pulsing green light is seen

  Oiyrr: It’s even more beautiful the closer I get to it

  Uruo: Rahihi sure has a lot of people stationed here

  Yoni: Wait guys, look

  Yoni points to a crew of Rahihi’s goons doing something to the Tree like taking parts of it to as part of their Soul Energy harvesting operations

  Oiyrr: That is sick and twisted

  Uruo: Once we crush Rahihi’s forces, we should be able to quell any possible energy harvesting operations

  Continue the advance towards the Soul Tree

  When the Century Corps are 75% to the Soul Tree, some leaves of it fall into Oiyrr’s hands

  Oiyrr: This energy pulses with the will of all things, like it’s connected to the energies at the core of everything

  Mygin: You believe that this Soul Tree is connected to the Earth’s living consciousness

  Oiyrr: It’s a distinct possibility, I feel it in the palm of my hand

  Hadane: I will meet her soon if that’s the case

  Continue the Advance to the Soul Tree

  When the Advance is complete, the party comes face to face with the large Soul Warrior, with a strange device linked to it

  Evner, Soul Guardian: Hostile presence, I think you should leave immediately.

  Oiyrr: Wow, so this is what the true Evner looks like….

  Centus: Alright, let’s free it’s mind

  Another figure steps out

  Witch: Good luck trying to get rid of the device I implanted into it

  Centus: You, I know who you are behind that mask

  Witch: Well Centus, good luck trying to prove it

  Nest: Enough games, what did you do to this warrior?

  Witch: I made it want to follow the orders of Rahihi

  Evner, Soul Guardian: My true purpose is to follow the orders of the warlord

  Witch: Good luck trying to get past him

  Witch runs away before anyone can start attacking “her”

  Oiyrr: It’s time to free this warrior

  Hadane: One more step before I do what I believe I was meant to do.

  Evner, Soul Guardian: I will stop you from hurting the warlord

  The device Witch implanted into the Guardian continues to spark

  Fight against Evner, Soul Guardian

  When he is at 80%, the device sparks again, releasing some stray electricity

  Olivia: Looks like we just need to keep attacking it

  Oiyrr: I think we could do something with this electric stream

  Olivia: What is this idea of yours?

  Oiyrr: Larkin?

  Larkin: Yes?

  Oiyrr: Absorb the current and then fire it back at the Soul Warrior

  Larkin: Oh, alright

  As Evner continues swinging their axe, Larkin absorbs the electrical current and unleashes it back at Evner, damaging the device

  Evner, Soul Guardian: My devotion to Rahihi will not be shaken so easily

  Hadane: We need to do this some more

  Resume against Evner, Soul Guardian

  When he is at 60%, the device continues to spark, not releasing another current but continue to sputter

  Uruo: I think I can get some of the device off

  Uruo sends one of his Ice Emblems at one of the antennas of the device, causing it to freeze and break off

  Evner, Soul Guardian: The cold doesn’t faze me

  Hadane: Hmm, you’re giving me an idea

  Resume against Evner, Soul Guardian

  When he is at 40%, the device goes back to having an electric current flow out of it

  Larkin: I’m on it

  Larkin once again absorbs the current and uses its energy to attack the device

  Evner, Soul Guardian: That was still a most unpleasant situation

  Oiyrr: We almost have you freed, we’re so close

  Resume against Evner, Soul Guardian

  When he is at 20%, the device continues to spark

  Hadane: Since Uruo had the last one, I’ll take this one

  Hadane unleashes a blast of flames at the device, scorching the circuitry of the device and making some minor components burn up

  Evner, Soul Guardian: Stop trying to shake my faith

  Aiden: I have an idea when it gets in range of a final attack that will destroy it

  Uruo: I think I know what you’re getting at

  Resume against Evner, Soul Guardian

  When he is defeated, he begins to stagger but not truly fall, the electric current again begins flowing out the device with Larkin absorbing the current again

  Aiden: Alright, have at him

  Aiden places three reticles on the device, each different one making a part of the device weaker to Hadane’s fire, Uruo’s ice and Larkin’s electricity

  Hadane: I will fulfill my new purpose

  Uruo: My father is done making pawns

  Larkin: Get obliterated stupid device

  The three of them blast the device on Evner to smithereens, freeing him from the mind-control Witch implanted into him.

  Evner, Soul Guardian: I feel normal again…thank you adventurers

  Oiyrr: It’s an honor to meet the real you Evner

  Evner, Soul Guardian: I see you have a plant distantly connected to my energy

  Oiyrr: It was hard for me to not too

  Lilac: Oiyrr, do you want to stay behind and help Evner defend the Soul Tree.

  Evner, Soul Guardian: I would not be opposed to it

  Olivia: Me neither

  Oiyrr: It would be my honor

  Hadane looks at the group, signaling to them what she is about to do

  Hadane: I’m going into the tree, I assume you already know what it’s about to take place

  Evner, Soul Guardian: Ah, you wish to transcend above your human form

  Hadane: I’m ready to begin something new

  Olivia: You were a great partner

  Hadane: I’m well aware

  Nest walks over to Hadane and gives her a big ole hug

  Hadane: This isn’t the end of me Nest, it’s the beginning of something new

  Nest: I know that it’s just…I didn’t want this to be the last time I saw your face, the last time I heard your voice, I didn’t want to ever have a last time

  Hadane: Remember Nest, after this I am going to be with you every step of the way.

  The Soul Falcon briefly pops out of Nest’s armor

  Nest: Heh, my bird buddy wants to say goodbye to you as well

  Hadane: He has every right too

  Nest: I’m going to miss having this version of you in my life so much, the person named Hadane in my life

  Hadane: It wasn’t an easy choice to make, but it’s my choice and even if it was my purpose, I could have chosen to forsake this, chosen to continue living as a human, but I know this is what I meant to do Nest, you need to let me do this

  Nest: I know….but still, I’m going to miss you, and you specifically, so much

  They break off the hug, and Hadane begins walking towards the Soul Tree

  Mygin: Rise again Phoenix, may you be at our side during the eve of battle

  Larkin: It was a blast having you around

  Hadane: Thank you, everyone

  Centus: It’s admirable that you made this choice, I don’t know if I would have done the same

  Uruo: As the opposite to my natural element, I appreciated your fiery perspective for the time I knew you

  Hadane: Again thank you

  Hadane takes a deep breath in

  Hadane: Iseri saved me, so I could live again, so I could have something to fight for, something to look forward too, this guild gave me a purpose with my new life, gave me something to do with it. It’s the version of me I love the most, like a real family of brave and strong warriors. I love all of you like I’d love my own family. I promise that I’ll rise again to meet you in battle, but for now this is goodbye

  The Century Corps looked at Hadane

  Lilac: Goodbye Hadane

  Olivia: Again, this isn’t the end, we’ll see you soon

  Hadane smiles and then walks into the trunk of the Soul Tree, disappearing from view

  Mission End