World Terminus

World Terminus
Japanese	世界の牢獄
Romaji	Sekai no Rōgoku
Game	Kingdom Hearts
World	End of the World

This article is about the location.
You may be looking for the Ethereal Blade.

The World Terminus is a location in Kingdom Hearts.

Found deep within the End of the World, the World Terminus is a series of pillar-like structures spread over what appears to be a vast empty space. Upon each pillar, there is a beam of light that acts as a terminal to an area within one of the worlds Sora has previously visited. On each pillar is a sphere of light enabling travel to the previous pillar and to the next pillar, although the latter will only appear if Sora has sealed the Keyhole for the respective world, or slain the Heartless within the pillar.

The Terminals

At first, each terminal is blue in color. If Sora has sealed the Keyhole at that world, the respective world's terminal is a purple color, meaning that only Olympus Coliseum, Atlantica, and Halloween Town may possibly be blue. The last terminal will always stay green in coloration.

Each terminal takes Sora and his party to a location from each world. Monstro is not accessible, as it had no Keyhole. The first pillar takes Sora to the Third District of Traverse Town, where several Soldiers and Large Bodies are defending a chest with the Brave Warrior item (originally obtained by defeating Guard Armor). The door to the First District is the only route not blocked off, which allows Sora to return to the World Terminus.

This same pattern follows for all other terminals, with the exception of the green terminal, leading to the 100 Acre Wood and the final terminal, leading to what is presumably Hollow Bastion. In order, Sora is taken to the Third District in Traverse Town, the Rabbit Hole in Wonderland, the Olympus Coliseum Gates, the Bamboo Thicket in Deep Jungle, the Plaza in Agrabah, Calm Depths in Atlantica, Oogie's Torture Chamber in Halloween Town, the Galley in Neverland, the Empty Meadow in Hundred Acre Wood, and the Laboratory (研究室, Kenkyūshitsu^?) in Hollow Bastion. Upon completing each terminal, Sora receives a copy of the item he received upon beating the boss of said world.

Like his entries into Atlantica and Halloween Town, Sora is changed into his merman and vampire forms, respectively. However, most of these terminals do not strictly follow the rules or designs of the corresponding world. For example, the atmosphere of Olympus Coliseum is that of the later Cup matches, even though it is visited at the Coliseum Gates, and the Neverland terminal does not allow free flight.

In the original release of Kingdom Hearts, the chests in the first eight terminals hold accessories received from bosses in the corresponding worlds. In Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, the accessories obtained from the terminals are replaced with synthesis materials; for instance, the Brave Warrior in Traverse Town's terminal is replaced with a Spirit Gem. The exceptions are Atlantica's terminal, which holds an AP Up, and Neverland's terminal, which holds the Mighty Shield.

The green terminal, which takes Sora to the Hundred Acre Wood, bears a save point rather than a host of enemies. One will also find there one or two items, and it is interesting to note that the color of the light that forms the terminal to this world is green rather than blue or violet, and when Sora enters therein, he disappears in stars rather than in dark mist.

The final pillar burns red, and initially leads to the Laboratory, a location within Hollow Bastion that Sora had previously never been, indicated to be the lab where Ansem's apprentices experimented with the Heartless. The area consists of a short hallway blocked by a giant Heartless emblem at one end, with a small room to the side. This room contains a large, mysterious machine with a computer console and five capsules on it hooked up to a tank of unknown liquid. Red, orange and black voids of space dot the hall and lab. The computer holds a cryptic message:

Ones born of the heart and darkness, devoid of hearts, ravage all worlds and bring desolation. Seize all hearts and consummate the great heart. All hearts to be one, one heart to encompass all. Realize the destiny: the realm of Kingdom Hearts. The great darkness sealed within the great heart. Progeny of darkness, come back to the eternal darkness. For the heart of light shall unseal the path. Seven hearts, one Keyhole, one key to the door. The door of darkness, tied by two keys. The door to darkness to seal the light. None shall pass but shadows, returning to the darkness. One born of the heart and darkness, hunger for every heart until the dark door opens.

The message appears to be part of Ansem's research, speaking of the ability to access the realm of Kingdom Hearts, along with the door to darkness and the two Keyblades that can seal it. After reading the message, numerous Heartless appear which must be defeated before Sora can leave. The beam of flames will disappear following Sora's departure therefrom, leaving behind a hole leading to Evil Grounds and the boss battle against Chernabog.