Rhapsody of Unbroken Blades
A familiar sight I'd seen so many times.
The place in the West where the earth runs reddest, and the driest winds blow.
There, we faced our enemies once again.
Among the countless Voidborns, a colossal figure clad in gray armor emerged before us once more.
[Olberos]...
In front of her, the Western Liberators formed an unbroken battle line.
Ceres stepped out in front of the formation.
Today may be the last day you stand beside the comrade at your side.
Western Liberators! Will we let our story end here once again?
We will not!!!
Will we spend the rest of our lives surrendering the West to the Voidborns?
We will not!!!
The sword Ceres had raised high slowly came down, pointing the way forward.
We will claim our own destiny with our own hands!
All units!
Advance!
Liberation!!
The battlefield was instantly filled with the shrieks of Voidborns and the clash of steel.
Krrrraaa!
The three units moved in perfect coordination, withstanding the Voidborn onslaught.
Every movement fit together flawlessly.
Liberators began to fall here and there, but their formation remained [unbroken]. Holding their ground against enemies pouring in from every side, they cut them down one by one.
Slowly but surely, the number of Voidborns on the battlefield dwindled.
And the moment a path opened toward Olberos through the thinning ranks of Voidborns...
With a thunderous blast, Ceres vanished from sight.
A flash of light shot from Ceres's sword, flying straight toward Olberos's midsection.
She dodged Ceres's attack with impossible agility for her massive frame, only for Asherah to follow up from another angle.
Haah!
Kraaah!
Several swords fanned outward, deflecting Asherah's strike from Olberos's blind spot.
Her sword, its trajectory thrown off, plunged into the dirt.
Tch...!
Your other side!
I swung the Star Piercer at the back of her head with all my might, but I couldn't break through her whirling blades.
But I had expected that.
Our attacks were never meant to land a blow.
Ceres leapt high, seizing the split second after Olberos blocked our coordinated attack.
Annihilation!
[Daystar] split Olberos's head cleanly in two.
No, I thought it had.
Ceres's strike should have cleaved her head in a single stroke, but it simply [passed through], as if slicing through smoke.
Ngh...! This can't be...
Are you saying my resolve still isn't enough?!
Ceres swiftly tried the same attack with [White Night] in her other hand, but the split-second opening was already gone.
Instead, Olberos countered, and Ceres barely managed to block her.
Kgh...!
Ceres's breathing faltered.
Her footing gave way.
*Huff...* *Huff...*
Olberos followed up immediately. The shockwave slammed into Ceres, sending her flying. She hit the ground, spat blood, and forced herself back to her feet.
Ceres...!
Don't worry about me, Captain!
The next strike will land... without fail!
It will...!
...
I was watching Olberos closely, gauging our next chance to strike, when...
Olberos's body began to tremble.
It was no simple vibration. It was a strange sight, as if two versions of Olberos overlapped in the same space, their outlines slipping out of alignment and then snapping back again.
Reality and afterimage blurred together into a distortion I could scarcely believe, even as I watched.
After a moment, the trembling subsided, and Olberos slowly rose.
...What's happening?
...res.
...Ce...res.
!!
Venera...?!
You... You're...
Still not ready... are you?
...!
Olberos attacked before I could shout a warning.
That single blow swept across the battlefield and sent us all flying.
Kgh... My sword...!
Ceres lay on the ground, one hand empty.
Olberos approached [Daystar], which had fallen and lodged in the ground, and slowly pulled it free.
Venera...!
You fought... so hard.
No...!
You... did... everything you could.
Don't do this!
I'll... take care... of the rest...
Olberos slowly raised [Daystar].
As though happy to be back in its rightful master's hand, Daystar hummed softly.
Now Venera would use Daystar's power to return Olberos to its Void Core form.
Once the time loop ended, the split timeline would become one again.
And so, once again, everything would go back to how it was, as if nothing had ever happened—
I refuse to simply accept a future dictated by fate.
Everyone here has fought for so long to win the chance at a different future.
Then... shouldn't we see that through to the very end?
Asherah!
...I can't let this end like this!
Let's get [Daystar] back to Ceres!
Yeah! Leave it to us!
Asherah and I charged at Olberos, aiming for the arm holding [Daystar].
Commander, what are you doing? You're always yelling, "You're too soft!" at me...
But if you're the one doing this, it doesn't exactly make you look good, does it?
Lydia...
I'll get your sword back. You take care of the rest, okay?
Or this time, I really will walk off!
I'll take Olberos head-on.
I'll make sure to pin it down, so I'm counting on you to handle the rest.
Besta...
Let's give our former Commander a real headache...!
Liberators! Charge!