This episode answers one of the questions from a previous episode: It turns out the Creator of the Ruins (or at least what’s revealed to be the Fifth Ruins) is Hayes. While La Krulshe never said his name in that earlier episode, another automaton shown in this episode named El Fajula specifically calls him the Creator. This opening scene also shows that Yoruka is still working with Hayes and Saniya (and presumably Ragreed), meaning that her dirty work is going to be coming into conflict with her servitude to Lux real fast.
After the opening theme, we see that Lux and Airi have been called to a meeting with the Four Great Nobles at what looks like Atismata Castle. They know about Lux’s ability to fly Bahamut, and they essentially blackmail him into a) winning the All-Dragon Battle at the National Foundation Festival, plus b) defeat the Abyss that the insurgent army has stockpiled. The nobles confirm that Ragreed is leading the plot to overthrow the New Kingdom, and they want Lux to defeat Ragreed and the Abyss on his own before the opposition’s army comes to destroy the New Kingdom. In exchange, all charges against Lux, Airi and Headmistress Reiri will be dropped. Airi is very concerned for Lux, but he really doesn’t have much of a choice.
Back at the academy, Lux asks Lisha to make some changes to his Wyvern Drag-Ride. Out of the corner of his eye he spots Yoruka and chases after her. She says that “it’s been awhile,” but really it’s only been a few days so pfffft whatever little girl. Yoruka and Lux talk, and Yoruka goes into the details of her contract with Lux’s father a little more. She also mentions that her younger twin brother is dead, and has been for while. Lux repeats that he’s not going to go after the king, and so Yoruka bids him farewell, telling him not to die before she can kill him first.
The next day marks the beginning of the All-Dragon Battle. We get to see Lux’s battle with an unnamed opponent, and he wins but just barely. These battles are taking a great toll on him, and he hasn’t even left to fight the Abyss yet. After this battle he takes a short breather outside, and Airi catches up to him to chat briefly.
At this point it should be noted that Airi is occasionally narrating this episode. She mentions an accident happening in the middle of one of Lisha’s battles; it’s shown that Lisha loses control of her Drag-Ride via some unknown reason – although if we remember the earlier fight with Yoruka, her Drag-Ride has the ability to control other Drag-Rides, and so she must be involved somehow. Lisha is apprehended despite her fierce protests and she is taken to jail.
Meanwhile Lux is oblivious to this incident because he has taken his Wyvern to go fight Ragreeds’ Abyss. He shows up at the cave where they’re hiding, only to confront Saniya instead. She uses the horn (previously called the “whistle” up to this point) to send the Abyss after Lux, and he leads them to where the nobles are waiting with their troops. They shoot the Wyvern down and Lux is allowed to rest for a bit, but he cannot sleep because he feels like he has overlooked something.
Back at the academy, Airi sits down with Celes, Krulcifer and the rest of the Chivalric Order. She apologizes for keeping Lux’s secret plans from them, and fills them in on the situation. There are some protests from some of the girls, but Krulcifer interrupts them all. They must win the All-Dragon Battle the following day, together, or all of Lux’s efforts will be in vain. Once they win the tournament, then they can go rescue Lisha.
The show flashes back to Lux, and as he hears explosions overhead he realizes what he has missed: Ragreed’s troops have showed up to fight earlier than expected, resulting in the nobles’ troops and their base being completely wiped out. Lux re-summons his Wyvern and takes to the skies, shouting for Ragreed to come out and fight him.
As the duo fight, Ragreed says that he will become the emperor of a new kingdom, and he will rule with a tyrannical fist over everyone and everything. Lux, naturally, says that he will not allow that to happen. However as dawn starts to crest over the horizon, Ragreed reveals the new terror which has emerged from the Fifth Ruins (where Hayes and El Fajula have stayed behind): Giant Warriors, and one is walking directly towards the capital! Ragreed taunts Lux, saying that he can do nothing in his Wyvern, and he’s right. However if Lux were to summon Bahamut, he will only have twelve minutes to defeat the Giant Warrior, Ragreed, and all of the insurgent troops. What will he do, and will he survive at the end of those twelve minutes?
My thoughts: Here’s a new theory for you – what if Hayes is Yoruka’s twin brother? She tells Lux that he looks similar to her brother, although his hair and eye color are different. And what if everyone who has dichromatic eyes is already dead? It would explain why only Lux and Airi were mentioned on their mother’s tombstone, and not Hayes or Fugil.
I also have the theory that Lux will not survive until the end of the last episode, but I hope I’m wrong. It just seems that he’s being asked to do so much and make so many sacrifices, that short of a miracle I can’t seem him coming out of this ordeal alive.
The only major issue I have with this show right now is that it seems like there are so many questions which have yet to be answered, and I’m not sure how the show will be able to wrap them all up in the span of one episode. I guess we’ll see next week.