In the dark world, firelight flared.
A steel star fell from the Sky Dome, pierced the atmosphere, broke through the darkness, and, burning, became a blade aimed at the world. It shattered the silence and scattered burning fire through the dark.
Illuminating once more those eyes shrouded in darkness.
Chanting the melody of ages past, carrying on its former mission, obeying the will to see this struggle through to the end, the Nautilus sang mightily, spreading waves. Wherever it passed, it gathered all rebellious rhythms within and played a symphony to slay Gaia.
Toward the Steel Tree between heaven and earth, toward Gaia, who wished to escape her cage.
The Nautilus howled forth!
Beyond the rift, a piercing shriek rose.
Two bloodstained palms forcibly pried the rift apart. From within, another slender arm reached out, its five fingers spreading toward the Nautilus!
Reject, reject, reject, reject!
Like a soundless scream.
—Go away!
Gaia, mother of all things and bearer of countless living beings, was, for the first time in history, rejecting the return of her child, shutting out this reunion and the destruction it would bring to herself!
Countless barriers appeared before those spread fingers. In an instant, structures a thousand times more complex than the Return to Ruin were created.
Endless water spread into a shield. Flames rose, the domain of High Temperature rapidly expanded, rocks became iron walls, and hurricanes forged towering ramparts.
The four classical Greek elements were established in an instant, forming a pure framework that rivaled any Creator's Framework. No—even the Creator's Framework was merely a clumsy imitation of the authority of this Earth Mother.
Now, as the four elements merged at the center, dazzling golden light rose from within.
Hypothetical matter—Aether!
Or Xirang, or Mana, or the Source of All Things... this was the