When we reach the Sanctum of the Empyreal Fortress, it looks like I came up 5 treasure chests short unless there's one more area beyond this, but I doubt it. Oh well, I'd rather miss that many than only be 1 short like with the sidequests, augh. Anyway, before we proceed, Sara gives a speech about how proud she is of Class VII and how it's the best there is, not that there was any doubt. Then Machias pointed out that Rean said the exact same thing before the final trial at the Old Schoolhouse. Sara is distraught because she thought she was being original.
Crow's all like "even I was there for that one," but then it gets him wondering how Sara became a secondary contractor if she wasn't actually there when Rean formed his bond with Valimar. Altina believes it depends on how the Awakener thinks of you, and Rean says Sara's always been one of them, so it makes sense. Before I open the door, the game warns me that there's no going back from here. Also, every party member will take part in the battle and will be split up into three teams, which has me curious as to how this is going to work. We get to make up the three teams, and they'll attack in A, B, C order. Rean is locked into the final party, but everyone else can move around. There's no random option this time, which is disappointing, so I pull up random.org and let it make the final groupings.
Team A: Crow, Sara, Fie, Kurt, Musse Team B: Laura, Ash, Altina, Alisa, Emma Team C: Rean, Gaius, Elliot, Juna, Jusis, Machias
Somehow it's fitting that Jusis and Machias came up last and got paired together one final time. With that decided, Crow puts on a serious tone and thanks Rean for everything. There's so much yaoi bait going on here that Laura's alarm goes off and she turns back to look at them, clearly worried about her future with Rean.
When we enter the room, the chancellor is introduced as Osborne the Ironblooded, the Ebon Awakener. We get to hear the ridiculous phrase THE ALMIGHTY CONFLAGRATION one last time. He says all the conditions for the end have been met, and then he calls for Valimar to bring the Sword of the End to him. I guess he was technically Valimar's previous Awakener if he's Dreichels reborn. Valimar is clearly confused by this development, but Rean tells him to come. Osborne thanks him for looking after Rean.
Then he calls out every member of Class VII by name, although only Sara warrants the formality of being called "Ms. Valestine." He singles out Altina, Juna, and Ash as people he needs to apologize to, but Crow most of all. Crow doesn't really appreciate the sentiment since all he wanted to do was avenge his grandfather. Everyone is kind of surprised at how calm and casual Osborne is being. Rean says even though he became one with the Ebon Knight, his iron will allowed him to retain his personality, so he won't overlook the choices he made that led him to become the enemy of the Empire and the world itself.
Osborne pulls out that big sword we saw at the Black Workshop, and he says it's another Sword of the End that belongs to the Ebon Knight. It wasn't able to slay the Holy Beast though due to "reasons" he doesn't explain. Now it's time to fight him, and Team A is up first. Due to the sheer speed of everyone, Osborne gets one turn before Team B steps up. I learn he's actually vulnerable to Sleep because Ash's first attack inflicts it, what the heck. Then Laura's first attack freezes him, lawl. I thought I was about to run through this phase without him getting a turn, too, but then he hulked up. Oh well, Emma's S-Craft negates his own, and then it's Team C's turn. They have to go the long haul with this one, but it's still not too bad, although I did nearly screw up one time by pulling Rean from the party for Elliot's S-Craft and then everyone got hit by status effects.
After Osborne goes down, it's time for the final Rivalry. Or so it seems, but then Alberich warps in. He says the plan was for the last battle to take place once the war had peaked, so he urges Osborne to wait another day at least. Otherwise, there won't be enough energy for a complete reformation of the Great One. Osborne insists there's enough strife in the world to meet their needs because some wars are waged long before they are fought, which sounds deep.
Osborne switches back and forth between calling himself Giliath Osborne and Emperor Dreichels, lawl. Huh, we have literally the entire party of Panzer Soldats available this time. It's actually kind of a bummer because Musse's EX Art is super useful, oh well! Before the battle, we're given an explanation of the Primordial Flame. It cures all status abnormalities, restores all HP and EP, and it grants 200 CP and 7 BP. Sounds like a last minute desperation move!
The first half of the fight isn't too bad, although I do break him and then he hulks up and undoes it right away. The Ebon Knight's S-Craft is basically the equivalent of Safer Sephiroth's Supernova. I wind up not needing the Primordial Flame, but it was a tough fight. I did have to revive a few times. A wormhole opens up above them, and Rean and Osborne disappear into it. Rean says he's aware that his role as the Sacrifice was just a backup plan, but he doesn't intend to hold anything back. Osborne says he regrets he never got to train Rean himself, and Rean says maybe they'll be reincarnated together sometime somewhere maybe. Then there's a slow motion charge as they prepare for one final clash and then it cuts away to everyone appearing outside the Empyreal Fortress as Valimar emerges carrying Ishmelga.
However, Crow senses something is amiss. Black Alberich also appears and trolls Alisa that she'll never see her father again because he'll disappear along with the Ebon Knight. So, uh, is Osborne dead? There's no sign of him even after Ishmelga vanishes. Valimar says he should be able to break through the atmosphere now that all the powers have converged in him. Ohhhh, he's going to go beyond the bounds of Zemuria, isn't he? Crow and Millium both realize that the malice of the Ebon Knight is out of control. Even with Osborne gone, the curse remains, now inside Rean and Valimar.
Rean says that now that the curse has been torn from its physical form and brought to their plane, this is the only chance to destroy it for good. Everyone gets mad at Rean for having to make literally the only possible choice and beg him not to do it. Essentially they'd rather doom the world, but I mean, emotions run hot in the moment and logic goes out the window, I guess! Crow and Millium choose to come with him. After all, their time is up, too.
It cuts to everyone else outside the fortress as translucent feathers fall from the sky. New Class VII chooses to trust Rean that he'll keep his promise and come back with Crow and Millium. Cut to credits as a bangin' song plays in the background. It's not as good as CS2's (the one ending theme that plays 10 hours before the game actually ends, what an achievement), but I like it.
