But wait, there's more! Because I completed the Holy Beast of Earth sidequest, the Path to the Unknown has opened up. Thankfully, I can just restart after the final battle instead of having to do it all again. Since this is a post-final save option, I'm assuming this isn't going to take 10 hours, but let's see! Everything plays out as normal until...Franz Reinford shows up? Ishmelga's hold on him has weakened enough for him to regain his true form. He tells Rean that Osborne never gave up until the very end and said the only way to be rid of the Great One was to isolate its essence in their plane. Because of the blessing of the Holy Beast, he can finish what Osborne started. This is the purpose of the Earthen Prison, apparently.
Valimar says the Great One is nearly complete, so if they're going to seal away Ishmelga, it has to be now. First, they have to remove the stuff that's been entangled in his soul. Everyone has to connect their hearts to Rean, and suddenly, we're in a Persona ending. Rutger and Arianrhod's spirits show up, too. Valimar absorbed their souls when he absorbed their Divine Knights, it seems. Oh hey, Osborne's also here, so yeah, I guess he's dead.
Of course, Ishmelga ain't happy about our attempts to purge him from Rean. who uses the Void to achieve Enlightened Spirit Unification. He manages to cast him out, and I guess we aren't going to get to see what lies beyond Zemuria just yet! Instead we have to fight Ishmelga's astral form, which means we can actually destroy it now. He is Ishmelga Loge, the Great One. Franz says this is only a fraction of the true power the Great One would have if it were fully reformed. Unfortunately, Valimar and Ordine are of no use since the reforming of the Great One drained them of their energy.
Thankfully, all our other allies are able to force their way in just in time to help. Now we have to split everyone into three groups again. Oh hey, randomizing is an option again, but holy crap, there are like 39 different characters to choose from for 24 slots! I'll just do this myself because I don't want to get stuck with the Stahlritter or Xeno and Leo...! Even so, it's hard to fit everyone I'd like to have into here, but them's the breaks. I appreciate how the game just KNOWS you want Aurelia in the main team.
We can swap between the teams at will, which is nice. With the two heads casting reflect on the main part, it feels like I should take them out first. Of course, my only fear is that they can be revived, but we'll give it a try! Oh yeah, they do regenerate, but it seems like you have to do it this way. I'm just glad this dude doesn't hulk up at the halfway point because I actually get to enjoy the benefit of breaking him! Thankfully, I only have to rekill the weird head things once, and eventually Ishmelga goes down. He's kinda pitiful in defeat, too, almost like a child throwing a temper tantrum. He tries to run away, but Rean chases him down with Millium's help.
Ishmelga's all like "isn't strife what drives you guys to innovations and determination and stuff" and Rean's like "yeah maybe, it's kinda our fault you exist, but we don't need you anymore" and uses his Sword of the End to break the other one. Then Osborne's like "mah boi" and Rean's like "yo dad I'm starting to see the family resemblance." And then they laugh together over the fact that they're always willing to sacrifice themselves for what they believe is the greater good (although Osborne goes well beyond just self-sacrifice, but I guess we're ignoring that to enjoy this heartwarming moment...!).
With that, Rean returns to the real world (I guess I'm not sure I can even call it that anymore! Darn you, Trails) as Ouroboros is beating a hasty retreat, and the Great Twilight is gone. However, this doesn't mean the war is over, but in brighter news, Rean's hair returns to its original color, a sign he's free from the curse. Back to bad news, Crow is beginning to fade away, but he doesn't want them to be sad because they knew this was coming. This also means Millium's time is up since the Sword of the End was created for fulfilling the Rivalries. Rean gives the sword to Jusis as a keepsake.
But then Valimar says this isn't a fate they need to accept, and he calls for all the other Divine Knights to gather together one final time. Now that the Great One has been defeated, they've all been separated again, and they're no longer under the influence of the Ebon Knight's curse. Oh, and in other news, Franz Reinford is beginning to fade away as well. He became an immortal when Black Alberich took over his body. He has one final gift for Alisa, and he tells the Divine Knights to run the Sacrament Program of the Sept-Terrion of Earth. Then Roselia appears and tells the Divine Knights to run the Sacrament Program of the Sept-Terrion of Fire. I guess the Sept-Terrions are now usable again since the Great One is gone.
Lloyd recognizes this power, as does KeA. She says it's a super magnified version of the power she used to heal Shizuku. The Divine Knights are able to "undo" Crow being an immortal and put him back into a normal body. Apparently, this was the final miracle of the Sept-Terrions, so Millium goes to sleep, and the Divine Knights begin fading away. So I guess this means two more Sept-Terrions have disappeared? The Divine Knights have fulfilled their purpose, which was to contain the power of the Great One, so they have no place in this world. Franz tells us to visit the biological wing of the Black Workshop and bring the Sword of the End with us, and with that, they're all gone.
Claire, Lechter, and Rufus discuss the logistical problems of halting Operation Jormungandr so suddenly. I feel like this game is treating Osborne like he's Lelouch, becoming the world's enemy in order to save it or some crap. Elsewhere, Cedric has decided to join Ouroboros, believing it would be best for him to simply disappear from Erebonia, not to mention he's looking forward to the freedom afforded to Enforcers. What are the odds he shows up in the Calvard arc?
Six months later, Rean recaps the events following the end of the Great Twilight for us. An armistice was declared between Operation Jormungandr and Operation Mille Mirage on the second day of the war. It was announced that Emperor Eugent would retake the throne, as well as declaring that Calvard had nothing to do with the assassination attempt. Naturally, the other countries around them didn't really like all this news. As such, Governor Regnitz filled in the authority gap and ordered all Erebonian troops to immediately return to the Empire. There were fears Calvard would retaliate, but they seemed happy enough knowing they didn't have to fight this war anymore.
However, outgoing President Rocksmith caved to public pressure to demand reparations, so Erebonia was forced to negotiate. One of its terms was that Calvard not invade Crossbell, and Liberl, Remiferia, and Arteria backed them up on this. With that, negotiations between Crossbell and Erebonia began. In an odd twist, Rufus's personal defense force refused to surrender, even as he condemned the actions from prison. I guess it was to provide an opportunity for the SSS (in conjunction with the Guardian Force) to save the day. Then Alfin and Olivert managed to quell another civil war at home in the wake of Osborne's death.
Crossbell's independence stirred up talks of North Ambria and Jurai gaining their own independence as well, but I guess that's TBD. The Bracer Guild was also allowed to reopen in Erebonia. Oh, and they reincarnate Millium, and Rean is wearing his white coat again. During the credits, we see Class VII at a royal wedding between Olivert and Schera.
