From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 XXXIII 𖥸

Lyra regained consciousness only a few minutes after falling from the sky. Taking the brunt of Bahamut's attack wasn't the brightest idea, but she wanted to protect Joshua. When her eyes opened, she was surprised to find herself in Joshua's arms. Next to her, she also saw Jill and Torgal.

Joshua sighed in relief. "Thank the Founder..."

Jill was holding one of the woman's hands. "How do you feel?"

"Fine," she answered.

Joshua wasn't convinced, knowing she had taken a hit from Bahamut for him. "Are you certain?"

"Yes." Lyra was able to sit up with his help. "I may not look it, but I am quite sturdy."

Joshua kept a hand against her back to support her. "Thank you for protecting me."

"I would do anything to protect those that I love."

Receiving help from Joshua and Jill, Lyra got to her feet. That was when she noticed the spiral crystal that had sprouted around the Mothercrystal's heart was in full bloom, taking the shape of a flower. In the center of the crystalline flower, she saw Ifrit and Bahamut fighting. From what she could tell, the Eikon of Fire currently had the upper hand.

Lyra slowly pulled away from Joshua and Jill. She took a few steps forward, only to stop when she caught sight of two figures from the corner of her eye. Turning her head, she saw none other than Anabella and her tainted child, Olivier. The moment her eyes landed on the woman's son, she knew he wasn't human. She sensed Ultima's presence from the child. Although she abhorred the false god, she was more focused on Anabella. "You..."

Anabella shrieked in fear as her eyes locked with the goddess'. She hugged Olivier, holding him tightly against her. "Stay away, you corrupt monster! I should have killed you when I had the chance!"

Lyra couldn't stop herself from laughing. "A sick and twisted demon calling me a monster. I haven't laughed that hard in a while." She took a few steps toward the cowardly woman. However, she stopped when she heard Bahamut's roar. "I will deal with you later, my lady," she coldly told the woman.

The goddess turned her attention back to the Eikons fighting in the blooming Mothercrystal. She walked over to where she and Joshua had crashed through the building, her eyes watching the battle. When Joshua walked up to stand beside her, she said, "I know your body is weakened by Ultima, but I sense you will not idly stand by while Clive fights. I will still ask, though. Will you remain here?"

Joshua smiled faintly in amusement. "I'm afraid not."

She sighed. "You both really are stubborn at times..." She turned to him. "Let's go, Joshua."

He nodded. "Yes, let's."

Joshua was the first. He primed with the Phoenix and flew toward the crystalline flower. Lyra followed him, fusing her holy body with Theia again. Just as they both arrived at the Mothercrystal, Bahamut had flown into the sky to get away from Ifrit. He was gathering aether and preparing to use gigaflare.

"Don't do this!" The Phoenix shouted, flying toward Bahamut. However, it was too late. The Eikon of Light released his attack. A powerful beam of light discharged and headed straight for Ifrit.

Gaia had flown over to Ifrit just in time to place herself in front of him and erect a barrier made of light. The barrier absorbed most of the beam, but it was too powerful and shattered the crystal beneath the Eikon of Fire and the goddess. They both fell as large pieces of the crystal fell with them.

Gaia and Ifrit became buried underneath the large crystal shards, leaving the Phoenix to deal with Bahamut alone. The goddess' barrier had shattered when they were buried by the crystal debris. The fall had been great, but they were uninjured.