Resolutions

While walking the Blighted Blood, Hugo walks upon Epona, casually hanging out on a balcony. The two think about finally settling their battle, but both decide this narrow ledge isn't a great place for it. Instead, the two go their separate ways, but Epona gives a warning to her arch nemesis. Dalles, the Darklings' leader, has joined the hunt for Reah. Not only that but he's taken an interest in the Eyes of Fact. Epona casually walks by Hugo, and they continue their journeys.

[Hugo explores the Blighted Blood.]
 
After several jumps, Hugo walked into a terrible sight. Yunica Tovah was surrounded by several statues, all of whom were petrified holy knights. The panicking survivor managed to explain that Dalles had appeared before them, and he cursed everyone but her with petrification. She pleads with Hugo to do something, but he has little knowledge of curses. He told her to speak to Miuscha or Cadenza, and that he was going to continue exploring. This enraged the timid girl, who thought he was blowing off this tragedy. Hugo tries to remind her they're looking for Reah before she gets captured, so it's better to divest recourses. This did not appease Yunica, who stormed off.

...

While searching for the boss door key, Hugo came to a dead end on one of the balconies. But he wasn't alone. Toal was behind him. Hugo prepared for a fight, but Toal didn't care. He was disappointed his brother hadn't learned anything about having power. Rather than hark on it, Toal threw a replica version of the Black Pearl to his brother and left. Hugo warped to Feena, where Yunica was discussing the situation with her. He gave her the replica, and Feena combined it with "the idol" she had. After they fused, Yunica ran off to free her friends. Hugo, still focused on the task, left the sorceresses he insulted earlier without much fanfare. He, too, warped to where the petrified knights were and saw they were good to go. Mostly, at least. Yunica said Hugo was a big help in saving them, but he claimed he did nothing. Regardless, Galleon found the boss door key and gave it to Hugo as thanks.

Waiting outside the door was a strange man, but Hugo knew who it was: Dalles. The Darkling leader came with a proposition. He knows how Hugo acts and why he thinks what he does. Hugo wants power. It's a core tenant of the Fact dynasty. And Hudo, especially, wants to kill his brother. Dalles is willing to give him the power of the demons, but Hugo refuses to accept it. But then Dalles offers a taste. One of the Six Demon Lords is behind the door. Hugo can rent the power. He's unlikely to go mad, seeing as Toal didn't, and Hugo can experience more if he wants to. Hugo is enticed. Dalles casts a spell, and Hugo doesn't feel different. But maybe the boss will change that.

...

Pictolos gets up after Hugo knocks him down without using the power. And this annoys the mage. He activates the demon power, and everything goes mad. The Eyes of Fact turn into eight spheres, and they make short work of Pictolos. Hugo begins to laugh manically, giving in to the darkness. Cadena and Miuscha enter the room because Feena sensed something wrong. They notice Hugo losing his mind and try to save him, but he's not having it. His insults are as painful as they've ever been, and he charges the Lotusblade magic. The mages try to warp out, but it's too late. The girls go flying.

Suddenly, several knives strike Hugo in the back. Epona has shown up to knock some sense into Hugo as well. The two dance around, trying to hit one another, while Epona compares Hugo to Toal. He's become his brother. Something about this triggers the normalcy in Hugo's psyche, and he slowly starts to return to normal. After he checks on Cadena and Miuscha, a voice calls out to the room. Dalles is furious. How dare Epona foil his leader's plan! He curses Epona, and she starts to turn to stone. Hugo runs up to her and holds her in his arms, asking why she bothered with him. She just thought it was the correct thing to do. Unlike the curse to the holy knights, this is to send a message. It's slow acting, let's them say a final farewell, and it turns Epona to dust when it takes hold. Despite being enemies all night, the two developed a strange friendship, maybe even a love. Epona's death greatly affects Hugo, and his mind is set. He's not his brother but his own man. He has enough power from himself and not his name or from demons. He vows to right these wrongs! Cadena and Miuscha wake up and bear witness to the change. Epona slipped a strange amulet into Hugo's jacket as she passed...

And thus, Hugo fights through the Demonic Core.

...

The man Hugo saw long ago next to Epona is waiting for him. This is Kishgal, Epona's older brother. He knows Hugo had a part in his sister's death and wants revenge. But there's something about him. After round one, Kishgal bursts his demon power. As he does, the tower starts to glow and attacks Ys...

Kishgal almost surrenders. He knows Epona took a liking to Hugo, so he doesn't care. As Kishgal leaves, he asks if Epona smiled as she died. "Yes." Hugo tried to hand over the amulet, but Kishgal told him to keep it.

...

Zava is in her mirror world, and she's still interested in Hugo. She tries to get his demon power to activate, but Hugo manages to overpower her. He further upsets the temptress with the ultimate insult. He called Zava old. She and her familiars stood no chance against Hugo.

...

At long last, the two Fact brothers stand before each other. Toal says a lot of interesting things. Namely that he's sorry. He stepped aside from the priests because Hugo was always the better mage, a trait Toal was jealous of. The disinheritance freed Toal, but it enslaved his brother. But this journey has changed Hugo's mind. He's realized the curse of being a Fact and throws it aside here and now. And he proves it against his brother. Toal is glad. He did the right thing, after all. He falls to the floor as Hugo climbs the steps to the final confrontation.

---

I find the romance to be hella forced, but I'll let it slide. I feel bad for Miuscha, though...