"Who Brings Shadow" with Official Lyrics (Hades Theme) | Final Fantasy XIV 

"Case in point─I do not consider you to be truly alive. Ergo, I will not be guilty of murder if I kill you." Best villain in this whole game, by far.

God, Ardbert's whole Shadowbringers story arc fucked me up so bad. This guy who only ever wanted to help was manipulated into destroying his home and killing the people he'd spent his life trying to save. He wasn't even allowed to make one last sacrifice for them because Minfilia knew he'd be needed later. And then, sure enough, we turned up and after years of helplessly watching his people suffer and die because of what he had done he was finally able to save his world.

I'm glad I've seen the lyrics now, because before I could only hear the third line as "Two toed geckos tumbling through time" and I thought, "well that can't be right, can it...?"

"Our defiance drives us straight to the edge" *Zooms in dramatically on Dragoon*

Dude, the moment he lowers you the axe and the music starts playing, holy shit.

“The victor shall write the tale, and the vanquished becomes it’s villain.”

"This world is not yours to end. This is our future. Our story!" ...Damn it, I love this game so goddamn much.

"What, all by myself?"

I went into this fight knowing the whole Azem thing because my husband has played through Endwalker and I don't mind him sharing spoilers. So during that scene I, through my tears about Ardbert, said "Guess who's got more than half of their soul back, bitch."

Fun Fact: the man vocalist is the original English voice actor for Raubahn.

I've played most of the FF series and this is quiet possibly the best moment across any of them. The darkest hour, ironically bathed in blinding light. The offer of the axe. The music. The WoL rising to their feet while Ardbert's voice speak from them. The almost heartbroken look of horror on Emet-Selch's face when he finally sees just *who's* sundered soul he's been dealing with - something we wouldn't be able to appreciate the gravity of until some patches later. The Exarch coming to the aid of his inspiration. The final square off. Emet invoking his true name. The desperate battle for the future fought upon the ruins of the past. And at last, a final sad smile from one friend to another as he accepts his fate and entrusts the legacy of his people and the future of the Star to us. Perfect.

"I am Hades. He who shall awaken our bretheren from their dark slumber."

This song shows so much how Emet and the WoL are two sides of the same coin. Both fighting for the same cause, yet so different in their goals. One fights for those he lost. One fights for those he can yet save. One brings shadow, one brings the light

"We stand together." "Im surprised you can stand at all" "I couldnt very well leave matters half finished. Expanse contract, eon become instant. Heroes from beyond the rift, heed my call~!"

Home, riding home. Hold on to hope. That's Emet. After a thousand thousand years, he has been holding onto hope. All he wants is to go home. I feel bad for him. He started out as a ludicrously cartoonish villain, but in the end, he was the greatest.

“This is my world. My story” - Emet Selch “This is Our world. Our story” - Azem (WoL + Ardbert)

I can say with full confidence that the moment Ardbert passes you the axe then you’re revealed to be a shard of Azem then you’re standing inside those summoning circles virtually radiating power was the greatest moment Ive ever had in a video game. The worst was a minute later when I had to wait in queue to do the Hades fight 😫 XIV giveth and XIV taketh away.

FFXIV's Expansion Finales are god-tier. They actually like to provide satisfying resolutions instead of jebaiting us for the next expansion.

Just finished this boss fight today, managed to avoid spoilers till that point. Gotta say when that theme started playing, it was instantly a favorite.

In my first playthrough, the "home, riding home" portion of the song occurred at the same point where the game zoomed in on my player character giving a death glare to Emet Selch while standing in the middle of those pillars of light. That moment gave me chills.

"I challenge you emet selch" such a great line from an otherwise "silent" protagonist

As someone who jumped ship from WoW I am still amazed at how well FF14 does the things that WoW was trying to do. A genocidal villain who actually feels morally grey and I feel sad about his death. It was necessary but it didn't feel great to do. We also understand his motives, he really was pulling the strings from behind the scenes for quite a while and his plans were intelligent and made sense. The protagonist needed a friend to travel through time and space in a magical tower in order to effectively disrupt his plans and the antagonist adjusts his plans in a way that makes sense. Also that G'raha had a master plan, but his plan made sense and we can see how he came to his conclusions about what he had to do. His plan collided with Hades' and both people react intelligently to their plans being thrown into disarray. It's just so refreshing to see people with plans that are a few steps ahead of the player but in a way that makes sense and is resolved by the end of the expansion's launch content.

I may be overinterpreting but I like that the lyrics have like 5 different contexts depending on where are in the story.

Okay but when I did this fight the first time, we wiped and one of the Healers quit because he was a jagoff who didn’t want to help the newbies. But we decided to keep trying without him, and a new Healer dropped in right when we needed one the most. It was the most shonen freaking thing ever

I fucking love how Shadowbringers manages to create a morally grey situation that you could argue being completely justified for believing in either side. Emet-Selch is in his rights to want to return his people, especially considering in his eyes he isn't committing any sort of heinous atrocity but rather heroically restoring the world and it's people to their former and superior glory. On the other hand the WoL and the Scions are their own alive and living beings that exist separately from the souls that were sundered to make them. They're their own brilliant and powerful people that, despite their "imperfection", deserve to exist simply because they do. regardless of the circumstances that caused their creation. Ultimately there is no villians nor are there heroes. Only survivors.

The scene prior to the battle is straight up shonen. And it works so fucking well. It's also another Final Steps of Faith moment where you better reach it at peak hour and not at 1am on a weekday like me. >_>

"Authors of our fates, Orchestrate our fall from grace, Poorest players on the stage, Our defiance drives us straight to the edge" Well goddamn, after EW there's even more meaning to this

One brings shadow (Emet/Hades, HE LITERALLY BLANKETS THE ARENA IN SHADOWS and brings "shades" to fight you, he is the SHADOWBRINGER) One brings light (You are the warrior of light, you're full of light after absorbing the lightwardens, you "expose" Emet and his creations, and the history of the realm, the lyrics even say "You are the light") Threescore wasted, ten cast aside (3 unsundered Ascians, Emet, Eldibus & Lahabrea who survived the final days. 10 cast aside are the other ascians in the council of 13) One dark future, no one survives (The future being the rejoining that ascians have long sought for, where most would die if it were to occur) Home... Riding home... (Expresses the Ascians' plight in restoring their home) Forged in fury, tempered in ice (likely describing HW, Nidhogg's fury and Shiva's ice) Hindmost devils, early to rise (likely describing our plight in Stormblood) Heaven’s banquet leavened with lies (describing our journey to Eulmore, everyone eats despite not knowing what exactly they were eating) Sating honor, envy, and pride (Ranjeet, Titania and Innocence)

"It ends this day. One way or another, it ends." I love that one so much more than the alternative. It fits the scene better IMO.

I wish the WoL had one voiced cutscene and this was it. Entire game you're silent, but suddenly, to everyone's surprise... "I challenge you, Emet-Selch."

“7 dislikes” Damned Ascians.

'Seeing someone transformed is akin to seeing them naked.' .....emet. bad news.

i can't even sing along without tearing up, that moment was just too emotional, btw. fighting Hades with tears in my eyes was quite the challenge

After travelling a while along with Ardbert, this was a rooller coaster of feelings. It was obvious that Ardbert will leave us, but after having him introduced as enemy before him turning to a friend and then into your literal soulmate, just to save you in your worst state.. Holy fuck. The whole setup is just perfect. Especially as you use all the wardens light to throw it through Emet in form as Ardberts axe, honoring the endurance and glory of him.

Having played through most of Endwalker... this song hits so different now.

Before learning the lyrics, the chorus to this song is just *OOOOOOOO!* something *OOOOOOOOO!*

I never knew I would be quite as engaged to an MMORPG. FFXIV definitely deserved to be a premium MMORPG. Everything about it is great.

Now imagine if THIS was his mount theme

I just beat shadowbringers for the first time last night. The cutscene before fighting Hades has to be THE BEST cutscene so far in ff14. Definitely the best in shadowbringers' msq up to this point. This cutscene, from the despair and refusing to give up despite everything, to Ardbert at our side and the music kicking in. This cutscene was AWESOME. I CHALLENGE YOU, EMIT-SELCH!

The WoL defeated countless primals. Help bring Nations together. Brought Unity and Prosperity everywhere. Defeated Ascians. Saved another World from impending doom. Did what was believed impossible. Achieved miracles. *And that’s just 1 soul out of 16* before reuniting more. Imagine if the WoL had ALL 16 souls.

Imagine how jelly Magnai would be if he found out the female Xaela WoL was actually a fragment of Azem who likely was the basis for his beloved Azim.

" This world is not yours to end. This is our future, our story" I'm new to FFxiv, and I've never had a game make me so excited or driven to play since Ghost of Tsushima. And when my character spoke those few words, I got chills all over my body, and this was during a hot day in the summer

I just now noticed Hades' staff has an effigy of Zodiark.

I think what I love most about this game's music design is that months, years even after the patches, you can find whole new meaning and impacts within the lyrics. It really is something to behold. Reliving Shadowbringers after completing Endwalker is just such a feeling of "we knew absolutely NOTHING about this world at all" and it really gives a brilliant significance to these characters. I could sympathize with the ascians in Shadowbringers, honestly, but having completed the entire story arc now, it's such a moment of this dawning of realization. Beautiful, beautiful writing and character development and the music just deepens further and further the more the game ages. I can't run into this fight in roulette without crying now. It feels like punching a best friend

God....I wish I could experience shadowbringers for the first time again. I'm so happy I live in the timeline where FF14 succeeded and thrived.

People can say what they want but Emet wasn‘t evil. He wanted to bring back his loved ones, something we all would do if we just could. And as he said, he lived thousands of our lifes, shared meals withe the kind of ours, gave our kind chances of chances, but always saw how the people were fighting against each other and couldn‘t hold together in any situation. He was egoistic in a way that he wanted to bring back those who fell while we were egoistic and wanted to keep safe those who we love.

I'm glad this video exists. I finally beat Shadowbringers a few weeks ago but it was like 5 or 6am in the morning so Duty Finder wasn't exactly popping and my FC was largely asleep still. So I sat around for over an hour with this song repeating just riding the hype as long as I could.

This scene. This scene just gives me such chills. An amazing end to an amazing expansion. That fight's still probably my favorite trial in the game.

Out of pure respect for Emet-Selch and wanting to fight him head on with nothing held back- "This ends today. One way or another, this ends." I wouldn't be upset at all if he even won

"Weary wanderer. No fight left to fight, no life left to live!" Christ alive, this cutscene and trial cemented Shadowbringers as my favorite expansion over Heavensward. So much good shit. "It ends this day. One way or another, it ends."

had someone told me that the game had great music, I would have started playing much sooner! god this song is amazing!!!

just finished this msq today,and this song make my 45 minutes wait a lot enjoyable

Bro I started this game this year in March and finally got to this part a few nights ago, this game is just phenomenal and I actually care about the story and the world itself. It doesn’t even really feel like a grind fest to get up to this and beyond.

CHAMPIONS FROM BEYOND THE RIFT HEAR MY CALL! My character: I CHALLENGE YOU EMET SELCH! WE FALL WE FALL WE FALL WE FALL UNTO THE END THE END THE END OUR END WE WON’T END!

I have a confession to make: I watch this cutscene in game every 2nd day. Just finished post ShB and oh my, I cried like a baby during ShB ending and post. This has to be the best lore in any game I played and god damn I love ffxiv.

Just finished ShB last week. I can say this cutscene has topped the Last Step of Faith one. Which I didn't think was possible.

The guitar part always get me, just finished this like 3 days ago, I've never felt this way when playing a game before

No other mmo can outshine the story telling that ff14 has, ardbert handing you his axe was the highlight of this expansion for me

One more chapter we've yet to write... is this the biggest hint ever?!

My friend sent me this song a couple years ago. I just finished this trial. It was a long, arduous journey but the smile on my face, when he gave me his axe and this music started, was genuine

The line " One dark future no one survives " suddenly gain a new meaning after Endwalker .

In all seriousness, and after much reflection, I think for me this may be the greatest moment in gaming history.

I've seen a couple people do small lyrical analysis here so I thought I'd throw my hat into the ring as well. This is my passion and my favorite song to boot. To start "One Brings Shadow, One Brings Light" is resembling the WoL and Ardbert. Each Warriors of Light and Darkness in both worlds. "Two toned echos tumbling through time" Both WoL and Arbert had to transcend their world and also the time differences between. "One dark future no one survives" Referring to Uriange's vision about the very calamity we're travelling to The First to prevent. "Here proud angels bathe in their wages of blood" I believe this means the Sin Eaters as many of their designs look like that of angels. "At this the world's end do we cast off tomorrow" When all life is threatening to succumb to the light, only now do we take up arms to fight against fate. "One brings shadow, one brings light, To this riddle all souls are tied" Ardbert and WoL did merge into one soul and Emet did say that we were all pieces of former Ascians "Heaven's banquet leavened with lies" Referring to Eulmore and how it seems like paradise but underneath it all is more repulsive than anywhere else "Sating honor, envy, and pride" Defeating Ranjeet, Titania, and Innocence respectively "Home, Riding Home" I believe is reflecting on how despite the WoL being free to travel, all throughout ShB there's this underlying urgency to settle things in the First so that our friends can go home (I think it lines up with a line in A Long Fall/eScape "Come ride heroes ride" which is fittingly played while battling through the Crystal Tower in The Twinning) "One more chapter we've yet to write" This is speculation but this could be foreshadowing for EndWalker being the last expansion in the Zodiark/Hydaelyn arc. Soken has forshadowed like this before, hiding Omega's theme in Azys Lla's theme. and finally two lyrics together "Run from the light" and "You are the light" meaning that Ardbert is most likely the darkness in the repeated lyrics Sorry for boring anyone who reads this. I'm always open to hearing more! Tl;Dr One Brings Shadow, One Brings Light. You and Ardbert!

Remember

I still get emotional when they start blaring HOOOOOOMEEE, RIDING HOOOOOMEEEE

WOL: “Are you truly desperate to see me as the villain? Very well. Tonight, the hero dies!”

My boy Warrior as THE warrior of Light makes my warrior main heart smile.

I just beat this part today. When ardbert gives you the axe, By far the most badass moment the WoL had so far holy fucking shit

It's amazing how whispers in the shadows can speak so loudly when light is shone on them.

Goosebumps and tears. Every time. It's perfection.

Endwalker has already come out, but this ending is still as beautiful as the day I saw it

You are the Shadow and the Light... The Warrior of Light and Darkness.

Whenever I see this scene and hear this song I get goosebumps every time. The most hype finale of any expansion. I wish I could forget all of Shadowbringers and go through it again just to experience this moment for the first time again.

You know you're fucked when you're confronting some plucky wanna be hero and 7 "random adventurer friends" show up out of nowhere with death in their eyes.

I killed -Vicar Amelia -Malenia BLADE OF MIQUELLA -Eredin -Several Players in PVP (Serveral Games) -Hades and many more... while listening to this Song.

Played the game 4 times and always gets goosebumps at this scene

the single most epic moment in all ffxiv

Partially using this video to learn mechanics

"The Dying Gasp now accessible" Me: OOHH SHIT HERE WE GO!

"it ends this day, one way or another it ends" i love that one so much

Emet-Selch is just such an amazing character, love his design and the whole story around him. He will always have a special place in my heart ❤️ Amazing video, thank you for the feels!

“Show me your *vaunted* strength! So that I may expose the lie of your fragmented existence!”

Every time I watch this, the sweeping shot behind the AST gets me. It fits the music perfectly.

Is it just me or can this song be as tragic as it can be inspiring?

Old school FF fan before Shadowbringers: No FF villain will ever top Kefka Old school FF fan after Shadowbringers: So Emet is the G.O.A.T

> goes tetra mega ultra zetta fascist mode > loses to a bunch of naked catgirls

By far one of my most favorite villains. This is how it done.

When those first fucking strums of the guitar rift, I knew this was the best game ever. I knew I would never be able to forget how I felt.

The victor shall write the tale, and vanquished became its villan, come lets cast side titles and pretences and reveal our true face to one another

Honestly Emet-Selch is my personal favourite final boss.. Mostly for four reasons.. 1. The Music is perfect as his Motif.. 2. He admits that he's a schemer and a really damn good one at that.. 3. He can set up just about anything and if he wants to play Final Boss.. Oh he WILL play that.. 4. Just how memorable he really is overall.. If he can beat Kefka and Sephiroth in the top villains of FF... That had been going on for more than a Decade! YOU KNOW HE'S GOOD.

"If you had the Strength to take another step.. Could you do it..? Could you save our Worlds..?"

The way your character looks into the camera is so epic haha

Beat this yesterday, felt so goddamn hype seeing myself stand at the summoning area.

"I challenge you, Emet-Selch" always the best option in this moment for dialogue imo

Me clicking on this video one expansion later: I'M A GROWN MAN! I'M A BIG ADULT, I CAN DO THIS! > 2:26 happens *OPEN THE FLOODGATES*

i just finished this expansion in November and I dont think I breathed throughout the last section of this expansion. And then Ardbert held out his axe and I went "oh this is INSANE" when the beat dropped this scene was CRAZY and formulative media for the rest of my life I think. Im still thinking about Emet nearly 3 weeks after I finished EW, thats how good it was

We are AZEM!! soul shattered wanderer and savior of worlds once lost!!

“This world is not yours to end. This is our future. Our story.” - A Close Friend

I was "stuck" waiting in queue for this boss for a while, but it was ok, this song slap so hard...such a powerful part of the story with music to match

Probably one of best game osts ever.