As the sun set, alarms blared across the underworld facility.
Kyoko struck first, slitting a guard's throat and shouting, "Everyone, run!"
Cells opened. Prisoners scattered. Kyoko found Hide and rushed to his side. "Sit. I can fix this."
An ethereal figure hovered behind her. Kyoko's hands moved with supernatural speed. Moments later, Hide's damaged legs were healed.
They ran.
Down the corridors, they passed Fidel, who was engaged in a brutal fight.
"The boss is on the second floor!" Fidel called.
Kyoko and Hide sprinted upward, encountering Rose and Petra battling summoned beasts. Kyoko stopped.
"Go on, Hide. Someone's following."
As Hide disappeared ahead, a woman stepped from the shadows—a whip-wielding mercenary.
Kyoko recognized her. A trap was already forming.
The merc lashed out. Kyoko dodged, responding with thrown needles. They missed. The woman smirked and summoned a familiar.
It bit deep into Kyoko's left arm.
Without hesitation, she severed her own limb.
The merc laughed, stepping closer.
Kyoko launched more needles, striking the beast. Then, she whistled.
Strings pulled tight around the mercenary's body. Kyoko yanked the cords. The woman was shredded.
Petra arrived.
"Are you okay?"
Kyoko reattached her arm with Mend. "Yeah. I'm fine."
Petra saw through it. "Really?"
Kyoko looked down. "Please keep it secret."
Petra hugged her. "I promise."
Hide ran past Jack battling giant killers in the arena.
He found Chronos confronting Balthier and his bodyguard.
"Chronos," Hide said.
"Perfect timing. Take the boss. I'll handle the meathead."
Hide nodded. "I have unfinished business."
Balthier smirked. "So your name isn't Alex after all... Cyrus."
They descended to the dungeon. Balthier mocked him, but Hide said nothing.
The door shut.
"Why here, Cyrus-kun? Missed my torture?"
Hide dropped the illusion from his eye.
Balthier froze. "It's you..."
Hide advanced slowly. Balthier laughed—then gas filled the room.
Balthier gloated until he realized: he was tied to a chair.
"You never left the illusion," Hide said. "You've been mine since we stepped inside."
Balthier panicked.
Hide held up a syringe.
"This drug was once injected into my eye. Now you'll feel what I felt."
He plunged it into Balthier's eye. Screams echoed.
"It's just us here," Hide whispered. "No one will hear you."
Bear traps triggered. Balthier's legs were mangled.
"You can't kill me," Balthier spat. "I broke you."
Hide turned away.
"This is how you died. You just don't know it yet."
He walked out. Balthier's screams followed.
Chronos waited. "Done?"
Hide nodded.
"Here," Chronos handed over an envelope of payment.
The two joined the others outside.
"Cyrus, Kyoko—light it up."
They each took a lighter, tossing them into the facility. Flames consumed the compound.
Chronos smiled. "We'll meet again."
The Zodiacs departed.
Kyoko lingered. "If you ever need help, we'll be there. Don't forget us."
"Kyoko, come on!" Fidel shouted.
She ran to catch up.
Hide stood alone, watching his past burn.
"I could have destroyed it all... but I needed to face it."
He turned toward Rexes.
Later, Hide returned to their inn. Charlotte lay asleep, clutching Twinkles.
He smiled, stepping inside.
"I'm back, Charlotte," he whispered.
Then collapsed beside her.