Shortly after the defeat of Promathia and the withdrawl of Bahamut, Esha'ntarl approaches you about something she has recently found. It turns out that the Duchy scientists send to Pso'xja to research the rate of decline in the emptiness there stumbled upon Aldo, Verena, and a few tenshodo. Meeting with Aldo and his "sister", he claims that Verena was drawn somehow to the site. Verena cannot explain it, but she was drawn to a strange artifact, which appears to have belonged to Raogrimm. Aldo believes Verena's connection to the Shadow Lord during the opening of the gateway must have had some residual effect. You all agree that whatever is going on, it should be investigated, and you are the one for the job.

After exploring the other crystals/promyvions, you return to the three with some strange ores you found. Esha'ntarl quickly senses the auras of Eald'narche, Kam'lanaut, and Nag'molada. How could she feel their pressence again, unless they were trying to come back as they once were. But, there is no way they could do so alone, something must be helping them. The Empitness perhaps? She decides she must meet with Bahamut and figure out the solution.

Soon she returns and informs you that the Wyrm King believes the Keeper of the Apocalypse is trying to reenter our world again. Though it seems far too soon for such an event to occur, the corrupt souls of the recently deceased Shadow Lord, Eald'narche, Kam'lanuat, and Nag'molada may be fueling it. The only thing to do is to pull the Keeper into our world and battle it on our terms, Prishe's original plan. With the lyrics to the Lay of Immortals and Ulmia's singing voice, it just might work. Next stop, the 5th mother crystal.

Meeting Prishe and Ulmia in Al'taieu, the 3 of you proceed once more into the palace. However, you are soon greeting by some familiar faces. Tenzen, Shikaree, Louverance, Jabbos, and the Chebukkis. They have united once more to help Prishe finish the job and stop these villains for good. But, just then from behind them comes 3 more. Esha'ntarl, Aldo, and Zeid. They too have come to put an end to the destruction caused by the greed of the Zilart.

As Ulmia begins to play her song, the light of the crystal begins to shine a strange color and suddenly the forms of the four villains can be seen. They had been trying to unite as one, to become the next Keeper and destroy all mankind.

However, it seems they had been stopped by someone else...

A fifth form appears.

Lion.

Clutching the shard of the Black Magicite, formerly stuck in Prishe's body and thrown at Promathia, Lion comes in to focus. But something is wrong, the shard suddenly explodes and Lion drops to the ground only to be quickly saved by Selh'teus who saves her at the last minute. 

The shadowy villians laugh as they reveal it was only that single stone that kept them from becoming the Keeper, but now Ulmia's song had given it back to them. Their divine transformation is at hand!

Quick to act, Tenzen, Louverance, and Zeid pull out their weapons.

An epic battle ensues between the forces of good and evil on the astral plain as our heroes (and you) struggle to keep the 4 villians from uniting. But the song is now complete, though they have become near invincible with power due to the shards destruction, they have allowed them self to fall prey to Prishe's plan. Esha'ntarl raises the "Eye of Altana" into the air and a bright light shines across the battlfield. Suddenly a dark crystal encompasses the villains and seconds later, they shatter into a billion pieces. The threat is over, the Keeper has once again been defeated.

The attention quickly turns to Lion, who's body lays still in the hands of Aldo. Selh'teus says she is alive, but unconcious. Though, she appears to be just fine. Apparently she has been battling Eald'narche ever since she entered the crystal in Tulia. The magicite shard Prishe threw at Promathia before he exploded helped Lion survive the onslaught of the other 3 as well. 

The group agrees to take her home to Norg and her father, but Prishe steps in very quickly looking her over. She knows her from somewhere.

The red hair... the nightmare Prishe had (see A Transient Dream - chapter 24)... it was Lion who helped her when Prishe found herself in Diabolos clutches. It was she, who carried on the her dream after helping Prishe escape. But...does Lions unconciousness mean she's still there?

Back in Norg, Gilgamesh is greatly relieved to see her alive. He claims although she is still out of it at the moment, she is getting better everyday. When she wakes up, he hopes you'll be there to see her.

It appears once again the world is safe, and perhaps more adventures await you, though hopefully less life threatening ones.