The battle between both Aloa and Sophia had, for all intents and purposes, been very one sided.

Sophia leapt back, narrowly dodging Aloa's claw, though she raised her orb, a bright light temporarily blinding her. She went in for a strike, only for Aloa to open her eyes, revealing a violet colored flow from one of them, and the viera would duck, coming up with a combination of kicks that sent Sophia flying. As Sophia fell, Aloa charged an attack, sending it towards her. In that moment, however, all was right in Ivalice, distracting the two of them. Sophia smiled, effortlessly blocking Aloa's attack and landing on her feet rather cleanly.

"[color=plum]What an obedient little distraction.[/color]" Aloa stated bitterly, in disbelief that she completely fell for it.

"[color=ivory]I admit, you're...quite talented,[/color]" Sophia replied, slightly out of breath. "[color=ivory]But I have done mine.[/color]"

"[color=plum]Then this battle is pointless. Your master is a fickle one, it would seem,[/color]" Letting out a breath, Aloa simply turned around.

"[color=ivory]You would turn your back to an enemy?[/color]" Sophia asked, admittedly a little confused.

"[color=plum]You are not worth my time,[/color]" The viera told her bluntly. "[color=plum]My attention is needed elsewhere.[/color]"

[hr]

"[color=darkorange]Wait, what about us?![/color]" Lorenzo whimpered, watching everyone else make their own way up.

Grant looked at Alorenzo in disbelief, momentarily taken out of the danger by his lack of awareness. When Lorenzo caught his look, he shook his head at him as Zeromus chuckled, going up and floating ahead of the pair. Grant continued to stare at Lorenzo, his hand simply pointing up, the gravity shifting below them as they would appear to rise as well. At first, Lorenzo flailed helplessly, though he then realized it was due to Grant's magicks. "[color=magenta]I mean, did you forget I specialize in Arcane Magicks, or...?[/color]" He couldn't help but ask him. "[color=magenta]Gravity is literally my element of choice.[/color]"

"[color=darkorange]Yeah, I completely forgot.[/color]" 

The prince simply let out a rather long sigh. Between Lorenzo's recurring stupidity and Levi's downright absurd levels of coddling him (Silent Prince?! Really?! What kind of bullshit was that?!) he decided that he had enough of today. He did notice the glaring exception of Keiran--who had no doubt disappeared with Lola--though he focused instead on getting Lorenzo (who wouldn't shut up about not understanding their lack of gravity) and himself to safety. They would be the last to get to the surface with Grant abruptly dismissing his spell. He landed on his feet, ignoring Lorenzo who landed on his face. 

He watched Emette dismount Belias, though was alarmed when she fell to her knees. Emiri seemed completely out of it--despite being conscious, she looked dazed, her thoughts entirely elsewhere. For the moment, Grant would attend to Emiri, and upon closer inspection, realized she looked completely broken. Her eyes were definitely alive, she was alive, but she looked like the light was on with no one home. Emette looked away from her, regret written all over her face. Grant reached out for Emiri, though was surprised when she didn't even acknowledge any of them.

"[color=mistyrose]To think this was the Leviathan's goal all along--I was blind,[/color]" Emette would distract him for a moment, though she would at least stand. "[color=mistyrose]Though a snake asking another snake for power isn't entirely farfetched.[/color]"

Grant had a lot of choice words he wanted to say, but for the sake of keeping the group together, he said nothing. However, he did slightly slip up, giving Jaakuna a look. If they hadn't gone there, then... "[color=magenta]What I want to know is how the [i]hell[/i] Levi showed up without anyone noticing until the very last second,[/color]" He said to the group as a whole.

"[color=darkorange]That chick is nuts, didn't you see how she manifested? She could've been waiting there the entire time, just...waiting...[/color]" Lorenzo offered what little her could, though it wasn't entirely out there to assume his guess could be correct. "[color=darkorange]Snakes are pretty patient, and sneaky, too.[/color]"

"[color=mistyrose]The entire thing was a setup. I'm useless,[/color]" Emette sighed, shaking her head. "[color=mistyrose]She went right through my seals, though I assumed the worst I never thought she would save Emiri. I wonder...[/color]"

[hr]

"[color=lemonchiffon]I told you that I would handle the paling myself, did I not?[/color]"

Nadeline had decided to follow Ultima purely out of spite. After she and Wesley would go their separate ways, she found herself tailing after Ultima, despite the Esper's very apparent displeasure. Honestly, the princess was simply being childish at that point, and would not go back no matter how many times Ultima instructed her to. All the way up to the rooftop, the two bickered between one another, until finally, Nadeline would put her foot down, refusing to budge. Ultima would rub her temples, feigning a headache--though Nadeline was sure doing a good job getting under her skin. "[color=lemonchiffon]Truly, His Highness must have the patience of a saint to put up with your antics,[/color]" She said outloud.

That he did, but Nadeline wasn't about to admit that to her. "[color=coral]I changed my mind,[/color]" She stated simply, rapier in hand as she placed her free hand on her hip. "[color=coral]Considering my family specializes in banishing monsters from the city, I decided I'd make your respect me once and for all.[/color]"

Now [i]that[/i] was a laugh. "[color=lemonchiffon]You're a pompous princess who simply cannot see the way of others,[/color]" Ultima said. "[color=lemonchiffon]We do not have to get along.[/color]"

"[color=coral]No, we don't,[/color]" Nadeline agreed, much to her surprise. "[color=coral]But seeing how Shemhazzai and Hashmaal are...the way they treat their chosen is vastly different from our own relationship. You may have granted me your seal, but it isn't enough. So I've decided if I cannot earn your respect through words, then action will have to do.[/color]" She pointed her rapier to the side. "[color=coral]I will activate the paling. You sit there and watch.[/color]"

Is that what she would try to do? "[color=lemonchiffon]And when you fail--which you will, considering it takes several humes to even begin the enchantment--I will be here to correct your mistake.[/color]"

"[color=coral]Should I fail, it means I have no place along my fiance and my friends. I will hand you over to Shion,[/color]" Nadeline informed her, once again surprising her. "[color=coral]The end is near, whether we want to admit it or not. If I am not strong enough to protect my future city, then it means I have no place in it.[/color]"

Ultima would not respond, though she nodded. Taking in a breath, Nadeline walked up to the crystal, tapping it once with her rapier. It would glow in response, to which Nadeline would then form Ultima's crown on her head. Turning to face the city, she held out her weapon, the wind picking up around her. Her rapier would fade, reforming as a staff, and Nadeline would raise it higher. She had to reach out to Ivalice herself, to go beyond just the castle. Further, further, she had to feel the world around her. [i][color=coral]It's like staring into the heart of the city,[/color][/i] She couldn't help but note as the crystal would once again react to her.

She could feel the power coursing through her, but it was different somehow. What was it? Ultima's? Her own? She wasn't entirely sure, but in that moment, something else clicked. Opening her eyes, Nadeline would slam the end of her staff into the ground, a literal wave of holy magicks erupting into the air, forming a brilliant pillar of light. It would then bubble itself out in a single wave, effectively eradicating nearly every single monster of darkness and pushing back every one that hadn't been purified to well beyond the city's limits.

Nadeline's eyes were wide with surprise, her mouth slightly open. It wasn't that she didn't have confidence in herself, but holy crap, where did all that power come from?! She could hear Ultima chuckling behind her, and she turned around to face her Esper. "[color=lemonchiffon]A little desire goes a long way,[/color]" She stated as Nadeline's staff turned back into her rapier, her crown fading. "[color=lemonchiffon]Feel better now?[/color]"

"[color=coral]Better? I feel like an entirely different person![/color]" She stated, though she was still in shock. "[color=coral]I just...can't believed that worked! And the crystal...[/color]"

"[color=lemonchiffon]Unused,[/color]" Ultima confirmed her suspicion, tapping the crystal herself. "[color=lemonchiffon]Your part is done. Run along, now.[/color]"

As Nadeline opened her mouth to retort, the pair had felt something change in the air. Nadeline looked towards the plains, as if trying to look for something. "[color=coral]I just...got a terrible feeling...[/color]"

Once again, Ultima remained silent, though she would instead return to mist. Nadeline didn't bother asking her what happened, instead descending the tower, immediately heading to Wesley.