The winds of Tartarus swept violently across Gaisen's shattered domain, carrying ash, snow, and burning embers through the crimson sky as though the realm itself could not decide what kind of hell it wished to become. Broken mountains stretched endlessly around them, entire cliffs reduced to rubble from the clash between the Domain Rulers. Deep scars carved through the rocky landscape where Altopereh's antimatter attacks had torn through reality itself still glowed faintly with dark energy.
At the center of the destruction stood Altopereh.
The towering black Orbiton loomed motionless against the blood-red heavens, its massive frame covered in battle damage. Large portions of its armor were fractured or entirely missing, exposing the dark pulsating energy crawling beneath its metallic shell. One of its shoulder plates had been nearly ripped apart during the battle against Tikadello, while several deep gashes stretched across its torso from the combined assault of the Domain Rulers.
Yet despite the damage, it still radiated overwhelming pressure.
Lea stood at the edge of the cliff overlooking the machine, her dark cloak fluttering wildly behind her as she observed the giant silently.
Then finally, she spoke.
"Before we even think about reaching Atlantis…"
Youri turned toward her.
"…we need to patch that thing up."
She pointed toward Altopereh.
"If we want even the slightest chance of standing against Almosis, we'll need the full blunt of its power."
The moment she said that, deep laughter echoed inside Youri's mind.
Altopereh.
The monstrous being sounded almost amused.
"She's got a point."
Youri folded his arms as he looked toward the damaged Orbiton.
"And how exactly do you suppose we do that?" he asked.
His voice carried both skepticism and exhaustion.
"Altopereh barely survived the last battle. Half of its frame is destroyed, its systems are unstable, and the main armor plating is practically hanging together by scraps."
Dark energy crawled slowly across one of the machine's damaged limbs as if responding to his words.
Lea remained calm.
"Here in Tartarus," she said slowly, "you can find any known material in existence."
Youri raised an eyebrow.
"You just have to find the right ruler who wields it."
For a moment, Youri simply stared at her.
Then he chuckled faintly.
"You mean to tell me there's a Domain Ruler who controls metal?"
Lea nodded.
"Not just metal."
She turned toward the horizon.
"Sacrosian-grade metal."
Youri's eyes narrowed slightly.
The term alone carried weight.
Sacrosian metals were unlike anything created in Terria or any other world he had seen. The GOD Orbitons themselves were forged from materials so advanced and durable that even antimatter weapons struggled to destroy them completely. The armor of the Sacros Knights, their ships, their weapons—everything they built seemed almost indestructible.
Youri looked back at Altopereh.
Even after everything the machine had endured, its frame still remained intact.
That alone said enough.
But then another thought crossed his mind.
He looked back toward Lea.
"Wait…"
His expression shifted slightly.
"They were forged here, weren't they?"
Lea slowly tilted her head beneath the wooden mask.
"And who told you that was Sacrosian-grade metal?"
Youri frowned.
"What?"
"The Sacros didn't create those materials," Lea replied calmly. "They found them here."
The wind intensified around them.
Youri stood silent for a moment.
Then realization slowly appeared in his eyes.
"All this time…"
Lea nodded slowly.
"The Sacros built their empire by stealing from Tartarus."
Even Altopereh laughed at that.
A low sinister laugh echoed inside Youri's head.
"Now you're starting to understand."
Youri looked toward the towering Orbiton again.
Every GOD Unit.
Every weapon.
Every terrifying machine the Sacros used to dominate worlds…
All of it originated from Tartarus.
That realization alone completely changed the way he viewed everything.
Youri exhaled slowly before looking back at Lea.
"Alright," he said. "So do you know any ruler who can control metals?"
Lea remained silent for a second.
Then slowly turned toward the distant horizon where the endless desert stretched beneath the crimson sky.
"Of course."
The way she said it made Youri uneasy immediately.
"There is only one Domain Ruler in all of Tartarus who governs metal."
The winds suddenly shifted direction.
Even Gaisen, still resting nearby in his weakened state, let out a low growl the moment Lea spoke again.
"And that ruler…"
Her voice lowered slightly.
"…is Kalian."
The name echoed heavily through the air.
"Kalian the Spear."
Even Altopereh stopped laughing.
Youri noticed instantly.
The silence inside his head became strangely tense.
Youri frowned.
"You know him?"
Altopereh answered after several seconds.
"I know of him."
That answer alone was enough to concern Youri.
Lea looked toward the crimson sky again.
"Kalian's domain is unlike the others," she explained. "It isn't ruled by chaos or instinct like Tikadello's frozen world or Albatros' volcanic wasteland."
"Then what is it ruled by?"
Lea's voice remained calm.
"Discipline."
The word itself sounded strange in Tartarus.
"Kalian believes strength should be sharpened," she continued. "Not unleashed blindly."
Youri crossed his arms.
"That sounds surprisingly reasonable for a monster ruling this place."
Lea shook her head slowly.
"That's exactly what makes him dangerous."
Far off in the distance, metallic sounds suddenly echoed faintly across the desert winds.
Almost like thousands of blades striking together somewhere beyond the horizon.
Lea continued speaking.
"Kalian's domain is known as the Iron Grave."
Youri narrowed his eyes.
"It's an endless world of black mountains, metallic storms, and rivers of molten steel. Entire forests made from blades stretch across the land, while colossal spears pierce the skies like towers."
As she described it, even Youri could almost picture the place forming inside his mind.
A world forged entirely from weapons.
Lea's tone darkened slightly.
"Everything there cuts."
The wind howled louder.
"The ground. The rain. Even the air itself."
Youri looked toward Altopereh again.
"And somewhere in there we're supposed to find enough material to repair this thing?"
Lea nodded.
"If Kalian allows it."
That immediately made Youri frown.
"And if he doesn't?"
This time, Altopereh answered instead.
"Then we take it."
The sheer confidence in its voice was absurd.
Youri sighed heavily.
"Of course that's your solution."
Altopereh laughed again.
"You've seen what waits ahead. Almosis isn't some weakened ruler like those fools we crushed earlier. If you want to survive Atlantis, you'll need me at full power."
Dark energy pulsed across the Orbiton's damaged chest as it spoke.
"And trust me when I say this…"
Its voice deepened.
"…the current state of this vessel won't survive what's waiting there."
Youri remained silent.
Deep down, he knew Altopereh was right.
Atlantis was not simply another destination anymore.
It was the center of everything.
The Sacros.
The GOD Orbitons.
The truth behind Tartarus itself.
And somewhere within that ancient city rested the only possible path back home.
Lea suddenly stepped forward.
"And there's something else."
Youri looked at her.
"Kalian's domain lies directly on the path toward Atlantis."
Youri blinked slightly.
"That convenient?"
Lea smirked faintly beneath the mask.
"In Tartarus, nothing is convenient."
The wind surged violently around them again.
Far above, the crimson sky crackled faintly with distant storms rolling across the endless desert.
Lea slowly pulled her hood tighter before turning toward the horizon.
"But whether we like it or not…"
She looked back at Youri.
"…our journey starts there."
Youri stared toward the endless wasteland stretching before them.
Somewhere beyond that crimson desert waited Kalian the Spear.
Another Domain Ruler.