From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 XLIV 𖥸

Following the path all the way to the top, Clive, Joshua, and Torgal arrived in a large open area. Just as they reached the top of the stairs, the spectral image of Lyra turned to them. The warm, bright light that radiated from her form could be felt by all of them.

Clive reached out to touch her, only for his hand to pass through her body. He watched her closely back away from him until her form lit up the large form that was suspended in the air across the way. His eyes widen in shock. "Is that...?"

"Ifrit. Or what's left of him," Joshua said.

"Long have our ashes lain cold, for want of a spark. Cast your eyes upon them and see what you must become." Ultima appeared in front of Ifrit's corpse and slowly descended to the ground. "Valisthea cannot endure a second claim upon her being." He landed on the ground and stood before the brothers. "The avarice of man drives her ever closer to destruction. But she may yet be saved—by you. It is what you were born to do—why we nursed you and fed you...as your own mother should have. And now that you are fully grown, our Mythos, it is time, at last, for you to serve your purpose."

"To right your wrongs?" Clive hissed, glaring at the entity. "If our sin is wanting to survive, then you are as marked by it as we are. The fault is yours. Our wills were born because you abandoned us. And now you would have us forfeit them? All for a place in your new paradise?"

"Do you imagine yourselves worthy of one? Mankind has no place in our world. Is this truly so difficult to comprehend? We only ever required you, Mythos.
When the time comes to bid this wretched realm farewell... None shall follow. None shall remain."

This flabbergasted Joshua. "What do you mean, none?!"

Ultima's voice remained monotonous. "This is our world. Once the land's rebirth is complete, humanity will have served its purpose. Why would we continue to suffer that which has caused us so much vexation?"

Clive stepped forward out of anger. "Because the land doesn't belong to you—it belongs to us all!" Semi-priming with Ifrit, he was prepared to fight against the otherworldly being.

"We have chosen one to join us in paradise—Gaia." Ultima raised his hand and was able to siphon the power from Clive and forcefully shattered the link between him and the Eikon.

Clive couldn't believe what happened. "What—?!"

As the flames burned brightly in Ultima's hand, a rift opened behind him. From the darkness appeared a large shard of the Mothercrystal. The purple shard radiated with an eerie glow, one that was caused by the aether flowing within it.

Joshua's eyes widened in horror when he saw a familiar figure trapped inside the crystal—Lyra. "Clive, look!"

Clive didn't think twice about the large shard until his brother said something. He too was horrified at seeing the goddess imprisoned inside. His horror turned into rage and he quickly drew his sword with a death glare focused on Ultima. "Release her," he growled.

Ultima extinguished the flames and met the angered man's gaze. "The goddess may choose salvation by absorbing the aether of the crystal. She will then join us as we strive for paradise."

Clive gripped his sword tighter, his glare becoming sharper. "You mean to corrupt her."

"She would never allow that," Joshua added.

"Then she will drown," Ultima replied emotionlessly.

"As if we'd allow it," Clive hissed. "She nor the world belong to you!"

Joshua knew what they had to do and placed his hand on Clive's shoulder. "Brother."

"I can't do this alone."