- Raven: ... I hope this managed to cool your head.
- Haivan: ... Ugh, I think you broke a couple of my ribs.
- Ciel: You're lucky that's all that's broken after that battle.
- Elesis: Now tell us, what's the plan? Is it true that the portal is not linked to Elrios?
- Haivan: Is Elrios all you ever think about? If your home is so precious to you, why couldn't you just leave me alone?
- Elesis: ...
- Haivan: ... I guess I can tell you, as a thanks for no breaking all my bones. The portal will activate, but it's very unlikely to be linked to Elrios. It's a waste of time worrying about it.
- Aisha: How do you know? The old coordinates they used before might still be in the system!
- Haivan: If it were, it isn't anymore. I entered random numbers as coordinates when I repaired the portal.
- Chung: Huh...?! Then where is the portal linked to?
- Haivan: How should I know? It could open up thousands of miles above land, causing those that used the portal to plunge to the ground. Or, it could open underground. Then when they teleport they will end up smooshed like so!
- Aisha: Gah...! Do you have to use your hands to describe in such graphic details?
- Haivan: If they're really, really, REALLY lucky, then it COULD open if Elrios on land. But the likelihood is so low, that is might as well be 0.
- Lu: What were you going to do with Aegirp's soul?
- Haivan: ...
- Nichel: We were able to read more memories as we approached closer to the soul fragments. Does that have anything to do with it?
- Haivan: Oh, so you heard it too? Yeah, that memory? It's the White-Ghost King that's showing us her memory.
- Rena: The White-Ghost King is attempting to communicate with us?
- Haivan: ... Despite the White-Ghost King's soul being split into several fragments, her conscience still remains in each of her soul fragments, unlike other souls. To be precise, they are part of her conscience. In any case... when all the soul fragments merge together into one soul, that soul becomes the White-Ghost King. Do you understand?
- Elsword: Yeah, but what happens when Berthe absorbs the soul?
- Eun: ... There will be two souls in one body.
- Ara: Wait! Does that mean... that when Berthe swallows the entire soul, the White-Ghost King will be able to take over Berthe's control of the body?
- Haivan: So you understand! That's right. Thought Berthe seems to think he could just absorb them to make himself more powerful.
- Ara: But in actuality, he is giving the White-Ghost King partial control over his body.
- Aisha: Yikes... That's really dangerous! I'm not exactly an expert on that field... But there are many records of people losing their humanity after attempting to control souls.
- Chung: Losing their humanity...
- Aisha: It's the natural outcome of those who lose the battle to control the body.
- Haivan: When two souls disagree, it leads to a fight to take control of the body. Of course, most will be swallowed up instantly by the White-Ghost King... But Berthe will not go away that easily. It'll be a fierce battle. They will have to fight to the end, until they both cease to exist.
- Raven: You sound confident that there won't be a clear winner, but what happens when one becomes the victor and is able to take complete control of the body?
- Haivan: The result will be the same. When the soul takes damage, the body will take damage as well. Whoever takes over the body will still crumble, due to the sustained damage. The White-Ghost King won't even have time to leave a message.
- Ciel: In other words, your method will kill Berthe, while removing any chance of the White-Ghost King's revival.
- Haivan: Precisely. How else am I supposed to get rid of both of them, if not for petty tricks like these?
- Lu: I cannot find holes in your plan. You're likely right. An unstable soul loses power and disappears if it doesn't find another host.
- Haivan: ... Suppose the White-Ghost King is a great ruler. But for how long? Power is power. It does not discriminate between good and evil. In that aspect, the White-Ghost King's soul is trouble just waiting to happen. That's why it should be split into tiny pieces so even the weakest can utilize its power, or get rid of it completely.
- Eve: Isn't that what the White-Ghost King has done?
- Haivan: Huh? What do you mean?
- Eve: Don't you see? The White-Ghost King has already done exactly as you said. She split her soul and scattered them across her land. If she wished to revive, even after her death, to rule over her land in all eternity, splitting her soul is not the most efficient method. I suspect she did not leave her soul to live an eternal life.
- Haivan: ... But if that's the case... Why did she announce the possibility to return?
- Eve: Only the White-Ghost King would know the actual reason, but... perhaps she meant it as a gift for the future generation. Plus... This is only my speculation... But I think she wished to see the future that unfolds, created by her people...
- Haivan: ...
- Nichel: Haivan, I think the world you dream of, could be better ultimately, than the world the White-Ghost King wished to build.
- Haivan: ... I heard a big 'but' in your words. Are you about to scold me?
- Nichel: Haha. Yeah. I have some choice words to say to the prodigal son. On our way here, we encountered White-Ghost soldiers. The captain wished to surrender to guarantee their safety. They didn't want, nor expect anything more. I felt that we were very different from the short conversation I had with him. We were different because fundamentally, we were raised differently. It's something you and I, and those from Elrios understood, but the Garens from this land didn't.
- Laby: Something we understand, too?
- Nichel: We know how to get along with others. It comes to us natrually because that's how we were raised. But the world the White-Ghost Army lived in, must have been vastly different from ours.
- Chung: Berthe was never a ruler, not even an incompetent one.
- Nichel: You always said that everything accomplished in the past were actually done by our own hands. I agree. We grew up in a world, built by those who aspired for such a world. But I don't think those who lived under Berthe's rule will be able to accept that immediately. Once Berthe and the White-Ghost King are gone, will the people realize their own potential and live in conjunction? Or will a second, a thrid Berthe appear and rip apart the White-Ghost Land?
- Haivan: ... Do you want the White-Ghost King to return as well?
- Nichel: Not because she's the ruler, but because she had a vision... long before she came to rule. I believe she is needed as a well-respected pioneer who gathered the people and ended a long-standing conflict. Who knows? With her insight and knowledge, we might be able to create the world we wanted without having to fight like today.
- Haivan: ...
- Lu: The world Aegirp wished to build was not the kind that could be built alone. That's why she needed help from her allies such as Winster. The reason why she revealed her weakness and told you about her soul was likely in the same vein, because she trusted you all. That's why I ask you, please open the path so we may save Aegirp.
- Haivan: ... Hmph! So you say. Fine, go save her for all I care.
- Lu: Hm?
- Haivan: I shoved all the sol fragments into his greedy maw, so the fight for control should begin soon... But if you manage to defeat Berthe before the fight intensifies, perhaps she'll have just enough power left to leave a message.
- Winster: Haivan...
- Haivan: Ugh...! What are you staring at? You better leave now, lest you blame me later for not making it in time!
- Lu: Huhu, alright. We will leave you two to have a heart-to-heart between father and son.
- Haivan: Tsk, you're really not the sort I wish to befriend.
- Lu: Is that so? I, for one, am just about to get used to your bratty behavior.
- Elsword: At last, it's time for the final showdown with Berthe!
- Rena: With Elrios' safety confirmed, I feel much lighter! We can face Berthe without worries!
- Add: Hmph, you'd think we've won already from the way you act.
- Ain: It's understandable. We faced against him for a long time.
- Elsword: Let's go! Berthe and the White-Ghost King.
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