On the left!
Don't get flanked!
Got it.
What is this "Black Blizzard"?
To think even the Maze Pass would be this infected by the Black Element...
They can regenerate?!
It's because of this Black Blizzard.
Striking them down isn't enough.
Marina, are you ready?
Healing power within me,
power of life, imbue my staff and grant life to those before me.
Wow.
That was healing magic, wasn't it?
You can destroy those skeleton bastards with it?
They are undead, after all.
So even you can be useful in combat sometimes, huh?
"Sometimes"?
Is that how you see me?
All you ever do is trip over.
What's that?
Take this!
All you gotta do is burn them bones!
Aram!
Snowy Mountain Screams
They don't seem to have been buried alive.
I can't believe the snow couldn't handle one of my weakest spells.
Talk about pathetic.
No, you overdid it, Velnar.
Shut up.
Better too much than too little.
That's enough, you two.
What should we do?
Should we go look for the two of them?
Why don't we meet up with the earth sprites first?
We'd be better off with the help of those familiar with these mountains.
You're right.
I'm sure the Captain would do the same.
I agree, too.
Yeah, yeah.
The Black Element is strong in these mountains.
Yuri...
Damn.
Are you cold?
Just stay in there.
Hey, Yuri, do you know what this is?
No. I've never seen anything like it before.
It's not dangerous, is it?
I don't know.
But I don't sense any evil from it, so I think it's safe to keep around.
We're in this mess because we tried to protect you, you know.
You'd better be grateful, Furball.
Furball?
That's what I've named it, since it is a ball of fur.
Named it? Are you going to keep it?
No, I wasn't planning to.
Maybe you're not, but it looks like that thing has already made up its mind.
Hey.
Stop it.
It's your responsibility now.
What's up?
The blizzard's getting worse.
Let's stop here and set up camp.
Wait, Yuri.
Let's keep going. We're probably close to...
No, the cold saps your energy more than you'd think.
Let's dig a snow cave here and wait for the weather to improve.
Got it?
O-Okay.
Yuri's missing?!
Along with a boy named Aram, who recently joined us.
All right.
We'll send out a search team right away.
Do any of you want to come along?
Yeah.
Kiki, can you let the fire sprites know, too?
It's a hassle, but fine.
Since it's for Yuri's sake.
Thank you.
Got it.
Sorry to make you come this far into the Pass during an emergency.
We just happened to find something huge.
Be careful with it.
This is an incredible treasure.
Hey!
Can anyone hear me?
Hey!
Damn it.
I can't get through.
The Black Blizzard might be hindering communications.
Hey, Yuri, I really think we should keep walking.
No, the golden rule for when you're lost is to stay right where you are.
But...
I'm sure Phoena and the rest have enlisted the help of the earth sprites
and are looking for us right now.
The earth sprites?
Are you sure they'll help?
Besides, in this weather, our friends might not...
Don't worry.
They've fought by my side all this time.
So I trust them.
Bah.
Nothing.
That wasn't nothing.
Shut up.
I was just feeling a bit envious...
of your confidence in your friends.
I don't trust them that much yet.
Aram.
I've never had friends.
I've always had to do everything for myself.
At some point, everyone comes across a situation they can't deal with alone.
Whether they have someone to help when that happens,
and whether they can trust them fully,
probably determines a person's true strength.
Is that what you call a bond?
I'm not sure.
It's not?
Who knows?
That's probably something you have to find out for yourself, Aram.
Bah. You spoilsport.
Don't worry.
You'll find it yourself someday,
a light that's right for you.
Maybe we should have gone with them.
I'd like to, but first we need to do what we came here to do.
To ask the earth and fire sprites to help the Black King Suppression Army.
Yes.
And one other thing.
Why did Fatima instruct us to come here?
Could it be...
Marina, don't you sense something?
I do.
It's an artifact with immense magical power.
We need to figure out what this is.
That must be why we were sent here.
"Deep, deep within the depths of the Maze Pass,
there lies a sword of hope.
A blade, cutting through the darkness."
Cutting through the darkness?
There's no doubt.
This will surely be of use to us.
Don't fall asleep, Aram.
I wasn't sleeping.
If you're sleepy, why don't we play word chain or something?
Word chain?
Me and you?
Is that weird?
No, it's not weird, but...
I mean...
I can't think of anything else to do in this situation.
Okay.
Fine. Let's play word chain.
But first...
Aram?
It's so cold.
I gotta go take a leak.
Did you hear that? "Word chain."
Yuri's a lot more normal in person than I thought.
Don't you think so, Furball?
Furball?
Hey!
Furball!
Where'd you go?
Damn it, that idiot.
Yuri!
You're kidding me.
Yuri!
Furball!
Hey!
Shuza, sir, I come with a message from Holy Princess Juliana.
A Black King Suppression Army?
Yes.
She requests your help in ridding the continent of the Black Army for good.
I see.
Very well.
I shall give you my reply now.
Aram!
Did he get himself lost?
I have to go find him.
Wait, do I really have to go?
I told him not to move when lost.
If he got lost after that, it's his own responsibility.
Even if he froze to death, it wouldn't be my fault.
What was I thinking just now?
Damn it.
I'm not giving up.
Just relax, already.
Why do you resist?
You've already lost.
I haven't lost yet.
Liar.
"Trust your friends"?
"Trust your allies"?
You can't be serious.
You couldn't even trust your friends or allies yourself.
That's right. You doubted this world.
You doubted the people living in it.
You doubted whether it's worth
going through the pain and suffering to save it.
No!
You're a husk of a hero.
In fact, you're a puppet, held hostage by the word "hero"
and played like a fiddle by fate.
And you, yourself, are more sick of yourself than anyone.
This world tasked you with saving it because you are a hero.
"Save the world," they all asked.
If they ask for help, a hero must do so.
For that is the reason for a hero's very existence.
But, at the same time, you came to the realization:
that there is no one to save a hero.
Shut up!
That is why you lost to the Black King.
And that is why, now,
you are turning black yourself.
It's useless to resist.
I know everything.
After all, I am you.
Give it up.
You, who despaired at being a hero, are destined for the black world.
You belong there.
No, you don't!
Are you all right, Yuri?
I see.
They were the ones filling my mind with fear.
Don't touch them, Aram.
I have to defeat them myself.
Why?
Come on, Yuri, you said one's strength lies in letting others help them.
I don't really know what it means to have bonds yet.
But I do know one thing: I want to be of help to you.
So, right now, my sword is your sword.
Me defeating them is the same as you defeating them.
Am I wrong?
I see.
Aram, you never needed to look for it.
Seize the light!
Aram.
Hey, Yuri, was that a chain attack?
I did it!
Awesome!
I combined moves with you!
Good job, Aram.
Oh, right, is your arm okay?
It's not a problem.
More importantly…
Aren't you Baltazari?
Who is it that calls me Baltazari?
Begone, blasted snow!
Oh, Yuri, is that you?
It's been a while.
You know this weird old man, Yuri?
Baltazari.
He's the master of Fatima, whom we met at the Sage Tower,
and the previous Fate Sage.
That naked chick's master?
Actually, that makes sense.
Furball!
Where did you get to, stupid?
Did the Black Blizzard blow you off course?
You seem to be drowning in dark waters right now.
The more you fight it, the deeper you'll fall.
It may be easier to let yourself be taken away.
No, so long as there's hope, I'll continue to fight.
But hope, at times, may take a person's life with its powerful light.
Despite this, you would still continue?
If I'm to be killed by hope, I shall die happy.
Well said!
If that is how determined you are, then I have nothing to say.
Go forth, hero.
I'll give you some good advice in return for the entertainment.
You've defeated a guardian dragon in the past, have you not?
Yes, at the desert oasis.
A new dragon will appear there someday.
Make your way there.
Captain!
Aram!
Hey!
Guys, we found the Captain and Aram!
Baltazari...
You were right.
You said your friends would find you.
Yeah.
But don't forget, Aram.
They're not my friends.
They're our friends.
We earth sprites will join up with the Suppression Army as soon as we're ready.
Thanks, Olga.
We fire sprites will, too.
Thank you, Rolo.
And you can leave the artifact up to us.
We'll take good care of it.
Thank you very much.
Sure thing.
What, really?
You forged that sword?
You're a bit rough, but you have talent.
Train well.
Come on, Captain, drink up.
You had us all worried.
I'm glad you're both safe.
Yeah, who knows what would have happened if I'd been all by myself?
But Yuri was there for me.
And Furball, too.
Furball?
You have terrible taste in names.
Hey, Marina's on the ground again.
Hey!
Did that thing just...
You're so weird.
I'm telling you, that furball...
Want more?
Thanks.
I feel like getting separated and lost
actually made me grow closer to everyone.
So, y'know, uh...
Thanks and stuff, Yuri.
No, thank you.
I'm glad I got to know you, Aram.
So we're finally going to Soul Island.
Yeah, we're going get Pirika back.
I've never been across the sea.
What's that?
Shuza.
I'm glad you're here.
Are you going to join the Black King Suppression Army?
Hand over the Chain Chronicle.
I'm going to defeat the Black King and rule Yggdra myself.
The Nadir of Anguish
Fate is set in motion.