Final Fight Afterthoughts

[Vanguard319]

So, real spoilers with this video+To Kill a Raven in mind

You see in the video, Louiseux protects you with a sphere, and they mention sending you to a different place/time, hence why we are still alive in what is probably a distant future post Garlean destruction. In the final CS, Cid mentions that we have stopped Dalamud in its tracks, and its progress towards Eorzea was solely based on Nael deus Darnus. Because of this, Louiseux won't need to do his final plan/solution.

Actual chat:

Cid: The how of it is beyond my fathoming, but it seems the White Raven sought to draw Dalamud unto himself.
Cid: To this end, he raised the floating isle...only for you to send it─and his hopes─crashing to the ground.
Cid: Which leaves Dalamud short of an earthly sanctuary, and condemned to hang in the sky where it bloody well belongs.
Cid: Sounds simple enough in retrospect, but I must confess, my heart was in my mouth throughout. Seems I needn't have worried, eh?
Cid: And with matters resolved, we won't be requiring the “last resort” old Louisoix kept muttering about...whatever the hells that might have been.

So it would seem that, in the future, the Garleans somehow continue with their plans and Louisoix must indeed enact his last resort, and we return to a whole new world cue the alladin song.

I'd agree with your assessment, to a degree. What I was trying to point out that it wouldn't be the first time in the franchise that the villain played a Thanatos Gambit, where his death only made him more powerful/forwarded his plans.

Two examples: Emperor Mateus in FFII, you kill him, he pretty much conquers the great beyond, then comes back to claim the mortal coil as well. Also Caius Ballad in XIII-2, killing him kills Etro, and merges all of time with Valhalla, which is exactly what his goal was. (kudos for being the first FF villain to actually win in the end.)

I'm seeing something very similar with Van Darnus. He stated repeatedly that he would use his own flesh to realize his goals, stating such would imply you intend to become a human sacrifice. Then during the fight itself he says the following:

I will not suffer Life/Death

All these lines suggest to me that he intended for you to kill him in that fight, as it would realize his plans faster.

scenario 1: you win, he dies according to plan, becomes one with Dalamud, and is reborn as a being who has trancended life and death. (wouldn't be the first time in the franchise a villain tried to become god.)

scenario 2: you lose, he takes your head as promised, he uses Dalamud to destroy Eorzea, and aquire ultimate power.

either way he only has something to gain.