“What?” Strafe was confused at Dyne’s request.

“Don’t send me in as Vahn,” Dyne repeated.

“Then who will I send you as?”

“Your mother! Who else? Me, of course! Who else? Definitely, don’t send me in as Noa!”

“You won’t go in as Vahn, and you’ll go as yourself. Then where will your starting point be?”

“Rim Elm. Where else?”

“Do you plan to be a good guy in that game?”

“Yeah. What did you think I was doing?”

“I thought you were planning to side with the enemy.”

“Why would I do that?”

Strafe didn’t know what to say.

“Why would I send you not as the main character? If that’s the case, you won’t get the Ra-Seru, Meta!”

“If my plans succeed, I won’t need Meta.” Dyne smiled.

Strafe was pondering for a bit.

“I can’t think of how you could use being a person without any destiny to become a Ra-Seru user. How will you use that to your advantage?”

“You guys really lack imagination. For people like you, you didn’t need strong companions because you were already at the top. But as for me, if your world is as cruel as you say it is, and considering that you are about to die, I would need people who are as strong as Vahn, Noa, and Gala. With them, I would be more at ease.”

“Fine. If that’s the case, I will increase the difficulty all the more. If you plan to have strong allies with you, I will also make it so that you can’t survive without them, and they can't survive without you. The fate of Legaia is already grim. Truthfully, the guiding fate of the Imaginarium Bond will disappear once you start each game. The guiding fate consumes energy, so I can’t keep it up indefinitely. In Legaia, the moment you reach the time when the game actually starts, the Imaginarium bond’s control over fate will end. Without you, those three are going to die.”

“I’m fine with that. I’m still confident that I can complete it, though. I will surely be stronger than Vahn, Noa, and Gala.”

“How will you accomplish that?”

“Won’t it be better for you to watch and see?”

Strafe paused for a bit, then nodded.

“Alright. This little gamble of yours has piqued my interest. If you manage to take advantage of this in the game, then I attribute it to your wisdom and ability.”

“Nice! Now about the items that you will give me. I am requesting three.”

“Depends on what those items are.” Strafe frowned.

With Dyne’s memories as a basis, Strafe knew of certain items that quickly made Dyne’s life easy. 

“If you are asking for any of the Ra-Seru eggs, forget it. I won’t be giving you those eggs. Those items are too powerful. If I give you an egg now, it will create problems with the storyline. These eggs have to be hidden in the Genesis trees.”

“I won’t be asking for those. Geez. Don’t keep assuming things.”

“Alright. What do you want? Armors? Items? The Point Card?” Strafe began to ask.

“The first is the Water Key Gate. In the game, it was used to close the river damn. It was supposed to be in the hands of the King of Drake Kingdom.”

"Water Gate?" Strafe was confused. He knew what the Water Gate was. That was a critical item that held no importance in the process of the game.

"Yep." Dyne smiled mysteriously. A trace of excitement could be seen on his face.

"I can arrange that. But due to the workings of fate, you will begin not in Rim Elm but somewhere near Drake Castle. But why that item? Are you planning to get to Biron monastery first?”

“You’ll see. Just let me play my game.” Dyne laughed.

“Fine. I’ll give that to you.”

“The next item is the Golden Compass.” Dyne listed.

“The Golden Compass?’

“Are you just going to repeat everything that I am saying? You should know what the Golden Compass is! It’s an item that allows me to ambush enemies easily!”

“I understand. But you do realize that the items don’t work exactly as it is in the game! The game uses a turn-based battle system, but you won’t have that advantage in that world! It’s all real-time! That item will simply make it easy for you to sneak up to the enemy by giving you some form of cloaking!”

“That sounds even better!” Dyne laughed.

“Alright, then. I’ll put it alongside with the merchant who you meet near the Hunter Springs. What’s the third item?” 

“The third is the most important. If you can’t give me this along with the two, I can make it that I won’t need the Golden Compass. The item can be acquired a bit late game, after all. But it isn’t powerful. The Chicken King.”

“The Chicken King?” Strafe was surprised. 

“No. The Chicken Queen. Come on, man! Quit repeating and start deliberating! Is it possible or not?”

“If it’s the Chicken King... I can craft an item like that, but its actual application within the game will grant you a burst of speed when running away. In my world, powers can be created as long as the mindset and soul are right. So, this item will only work if you really intend to escape. But just like it is in-game, if you meet the bosses in that game, you won’t be able to flee.”

“I know. That sounds perfect!”

Strafe had a strange look.

"Remember, Golden Compass will help grant you a form of cloaking, which allows you to ambush enemies or avoid them! The Chicken King only works if you really have a desire to flee. If you have any desire to fight it again, it won't work.

“Are you sure it will just be this?”

“Very sure.” Dyne smiled confidently.

“I can arrange the workings of fate for one to fall into the hands of the merchant and allow you to acquire this item.”

“Then that’s that. What about the other games?”

“It is best that we talk about it next time. Since I will merge my spirit into this item and bony myself to it, we can talk about it more later. For now, we begin our journey.”

“Wait! I still have one more request!”

Strafe was about to refute, but then he realized that Dyne’s previous request wasn’t anything over the top.

“What is it?”

“Send me in... two... no... Three years before the game starts!”

“Three years? But that’s not logical. You won’t acquire the Ra-Seru then! Vahn has to grow up yet, and Meta would not have hatched from his egg yet! It will only be during the time that Zeto attacks that you’ll get the opportunity to have a Ra-Seru.”

“I know. I have my plans.” 

“Then that can easily be granted. Are there any more requests?”

“None. Go ahead and beam me up, Strafey!”

Strafe shook his head and laughed.

“Looks like it will be an interesting year. Let’s go!” Strafe raised his hands, and the Imaginarium Bond gave a light glow.

At that moment, Strafe appeared in the world within the Imaginarium bond.

Below him was a city with hundreds of people releasing their energy.

Dyne was right next to him in the air.

“Where am I?”

“In the last remaining world of the Imaginarium Bond.” Strafe gave a soft sigh.

“The last world?”

“Yes. This is a rather young world. Haven’t you asked yourself why we didn’t use any means to speed up the time in the worlds within the bonds to increase its population and strength?”

“No.”

“There are several reasons. The first is that it requires a lot of energy. In fact, to speed up time, we would require to sacrifice people in our world to increase the time in the worlds of the Imaginarium Bond. And the more people in these worlds, the more energy is required. Basically, the amount of energy you need to waste will increase as the world's population grows. So obviously, my Master wouldn’t dare do that. Life energy is the only energy that can speed up time, after all. They give up the time of their life as energy for us to use.”

Dyne was startled.

As Strafe slowly descended, the crowds below all knelt down obediently. Many of them were crying.

“You have heard our discussion, and you know of my plans. My life is nearing its end. And the only hope that we have is this person. The God in this world is far, far stronger than the gods in my world. And yet, He allowed me to meet this young man and have hope for the future.”

“Hail Dyne! The hope of our Master!” The crowds chorused together that it was so strong.

“Why are you bringing me here?” Dyne wondered.

“Because although you will be playing, I want you to remember just what was sacrificed for you.” Strafe suddenly raised his hands as several items were began to appear one after the other.

Several strange artifacts could be seen—a towering sword, a large heart, a large bright red stone that glowed like the sun. More and more objects appeared.

“This should be enough.” Strafe whispered.

“I still need to prepare some items for you, after all.” Strafe laughed as he glanced at Dyne and called his attention.

The bright objects suddenly had no effect on Dyne’s eyes.

“Dyne. This is the youngest world my Master has. Its population is simply a little over a trillion. I will use some of the energy to breach the dimensional separators between this world and mine. The rest of the energy will be used to create Legaia and sacrifice these various god-tiered artifacts to make that world and prepare the other worlds for the future. Remember their sacrifice. Engrave it all to memory.” Strafe smiled.

Suddenly, a strange series of memories flashed before Dyne’s eyes. It was as if he knew everyone's names in the crowd below and even the other people in this world. He glanced below in shock and couldn't help but trembled.

The crowd below had no hatred in their eyes. They were already doomed to die once Strafe dies, so it was a good thing that they could die for that would give their Master hope.

“Wa-wait!” Dyne hesitated.

“Do not worry, Dyne. They don’t blame you, and neither do I. Nor am I doing this to guilt-trip you. This is necessary. You will be their hope. When I reached this plane, I would lose my body and die eventually. I only have a little over a year to live. They will die with me. But now, you will be the owner. And you will be their hope. Citizens of Elpida! Give your greetings to the hope of my world!” Strafe made his grand announcement.

“We greet you, Dyne Valiant! The hope of Alos Vasilous! May you enjoy the game we make! May you grant peace to our two masters! And may you live forever!” The entire world shook as every citizen shouted with a great cheer. 

It was a cheer of great rejoicing. It was a cheer of great hope. It was a cheer that broke the heart of Dyne as he watched helplessly.

“Citizens of Elpida! You will not be forgotten! Live on in the world that will cause this Valiant the power he needs to overcome the devils that plagued Alos Vasilous!” Strafe’s eyes began to tear up. And then Strafe shut his eyes. 

Dyne’s vision grew dark, as well.