*Yuko*

Yuko opened her eyes and saw her master on the ground. A pool of blood covered him and the others as they laid scattered across the ground, some of them with limbs twisted in shapes that shouldn't even be possible.

The triplets had been protected by their daddy.

"Daddy?" Yen cried out as stared at all the blood coming from his back.

Feng smiled and turned around. "I'm going to go look for your mommy," he said, limping toward the collapsed stadium. But his legs gave in.

"Daddy!" Kun yelled.

"Papa?" Lei said, opening his eyes. He chased after his siblings.

Meanwhile, others laid lifeless. Though, among them wasn't anyone she knew. At least not yet, Feng and her master's life forces were quickly vanishing. And Nori and Ximena were nowhere to be seen.

She looked up and saw Iah's father glance back. He grimaced at the sight. The barrier that he had formed around them was shattered in the far ends. At least he had managed to protect the children.

But Master and Yuko laid near the edge, closer to those who were missing, had died, or were near death.

"Yuko," Master said in a weak voice. His wings were wrapped around Yuko. He tried his best to smile past the pain. "I managed to save you."

"Master," Yuko said, eyes wide. She stared at the blood around him. His wounds wouldn't heal. "Please don't leave Yuko!" Tears streamed down her face, sobs escaping her lips. "Please don't do what Yuko's parents did to her! Please!"

He patted Yuko's head and smiled. "Please, continue to live on... my beloved Yuko." His hand slid down her face before falling lifelessly.

"Noooo!" Yuko screamed as tears covered her eyes.

"Huang?" Bai asked as she soon as she woke up. 

She shook the unconscious young man next to her. His right leg had been blown off but was healing. Was that the immortality that the his nephew mentioned?

Tears streamed down Bai's eyes. "Hey! Wake up! Huang! Please." She glanced at Yuko and the others. She turned her blue eyes toward the rubble and took a deep breathe. Closing her eyes, she stayed still for a while, before finally saying, "Seems that some of them are still alive. Including Huang."

She glanced up at Takon who remained still. Eri's brother, Hikaru, was still in his grasp.

Eri and the amethyst haired man who resembled Saya rushed at him in unison battle. Alongside him was a beautiful violet haired woman as well as the source of the shadow that Tetsu and she had seen before the explosion, Tatsu.

"Tsk. What is up with this guy? Why is he kidnapping a kid?" Bai asked as a white aura radiated from her. The white aura covered everyone who was still hanging on to life. Master wasn't one of those...

Yuko shook her head, barely able to listen to the white-haired girls words as rage bubbled within her.

Yuko glanced back at her lifeless master. She felt feelings she wasn't used to start to bubble toward the surface. It was more painful than when she had swallowed the mana crystal potion. It was sensation that wanted to rip out of her heart and consume the world. She summoned her pen and rushed at Takon, bypassing Tatsu, the Magus Maximus, Eri, and the unnamed violet haired woman.

"Hey!" the Magus Maximus yelled. "Stay out of this or you'll die!"

Sand enveloped Yuko. In an instant she transformed into the shape of the red-haired shadow being, Aster, and sent Takon flying, freeing the child.

The violet haired woman caught Hikaru and glanced over at Yuko. "Be careful. You could've killed the kid!" She handed the child over to Eri.

"Sorry," Yuko said after sometime. Her tone was almost emotionless. Her emotions, it was as if something was ripping them apart until all that would be left of her was a husk just like what she was prior to reuniting with Tetsu at his school...

"Brother," Hikaru cried.

Eri smiled. "You're safe now, little brother. Let's go meet up with Yuzu." He turned around, prepared to take his brother to where the others were when suddenly Takon appeared behind him.

Yuko watched as Eri hit the ground with a loud thud.

"Brother!" Hikaru yelled as the man yanked him from Eri.

"Eri!" Eri's girlfriend yelled as she ran into the center of the ruined stadium. "Eri!" She shot bullets of water at Takon but he deflected them all back at her. She went left, right, and spun around, slashing her own bullets with a water sword. "I won't let you get away with this!"

Staring at the unconscious Eri only intensified Yuko's rage. Perhaps it was because he was Master's doppleganger, but she felt as if she had just watch Tetsu be killed again.

Yuko let out a roar, shaking not only the city but the valley itself. Space-time began to warp around her.

"How is it that you're doing this?" Takon asked, eyes wide as he stared at Yuko's transformation. The violet haired woman took the chance and attacked the shadow man from behind with a staff and taking Hikaru back from him. The man grimaced and slashed the air erratically with his claws, almost cutting the woman's neck off. "How many of these vermin are there?"

"You killed master!" Yuko screamed, causing the plumes of dust to rise from the ground. The ground around her was rapidly being eroded away.

"This power, where is it coming from?" Tatsu said, staring at Yuko.

"I'd heard that the Tanuki could transform, but I'd never seen anything like this," his brother-in-law mumbled.

Takon snickered as he floated into the air. "What's with this power? Why is your power like an imitation of Aster's? How can such a lowly being such as yourself copy the power of a goddess?"

Yuko in the shape of Aster rushed over to him and gripped him by the neck, sinking her claws deep into the man's smoke-like skin. "She and you are no gods. No deities would never attempt to do what you just did!"

Takon dissolved into shadows and appeared farther away. "I don't know who you are. But you appear to bare some strange powers. I take it that you're one of Takeshi's experiments?"

"Experiment?" the three adults asked, staring at Yuko in surprise.

"Yuko is Yuko!" she yelled, covering Takon in sand. "Die!"

The male ruler destroyed the sand with a simple swipe of his hand. "Seems that your real powers are weak. All that you got going for you is an imperfect imitation. An upgraded version of a Tanuki's shapeshifting powers, but an imperfect replica regardless."

"Takon, return! We have enough life force energy at the moment!" Aster's voice echoed throughout the heavens. "However, we are struggling to stabilize it. If we don't do so soon, our efforts in Zionia and Xeleria up until now will be for not! We can always return to take the boy another time."

"Take the boy?" Eri's girlfriend asked as she took Hikaru from the violet-haired woman. At the same time she was trying to save Eri's flickering life by covering him in regenerative waters.

"What do you want with the kid?" the Magus Maximus asked as he laid on the ground. He was too exhausted to continue standing.

Takon grinned. "You'll see in due time. I would love to take him now, but that will have to wait for later. I guess that our time here in this world wasn't for not if we managed to gather the necessary life force to complete the first step."

"What?" the Magus Maximus asked. He stared at the various dead. "You stole their life force?"

He nodded as a black vortex opened behind him. "Yes. It was all for a greater purpose, though. You are fortunate to live and fight another day."

"Damn," Daisuke said, standing up. He covered his knee in a purple light. "We got to follow them!"

"Wait, you're too injured to pursue him! As are the rest of us! Plus, we got other issues to deal with," Tatsu said, pointing at the helling sight around them. The ground was burnt, bent, and broken beyond recognition. Not to mention, a dark slime covered several areas.

Yuko curled her hands into fists. "I won't allow you to escape!" She rushed at Takon. It was then that a barrier appeared before her and flung her into the ground.

The shadow man grinned as he jumped over the ruins of the stadium "You will die at the hands of my shadows, little girl. Take it as a sign of mercy as a pitiful being such as yourself can't hope to control such power."

A veil of water shielded Yuko. "You won't touch her!" Eri's girlfriend yelled. Yuko was amazed by how much strength she had.

Yuko stared at her hands and saw shadows beginning to envelop her. "W-what's going on?"

"But I blocked it!"

Takon grinned. "Those aren't my shadows, but her imitation powers beginning to consume her. I'll leave you to finish off our job. Imitation sister!"A smug grin covered his lips. "Alas, at least your 'Master' and the others will serve a higher purpose. Their life shall allow us to complete our present and perhaps even our ultimate goals. Grand, ain't it?" Takon rushed away, no one rushing to pursue them further.

"You monsters!" Yuko growled, sending shadows flying in all directions. She crumpled to the floor as the shadows consumed her body. "NOooooo! Someone..." Blood splattered across the ground.

"Hey!" Eri girlfriend said.

"Stay away, Yuko... can't control it," Yuko screamed. A beam of darkness flew up from her and ripped through the sky.

"That's an Erebus!" Iah's father said.

"Damn, get out of one mess and into another," the Magus Maximus said, shaking his head. He tried to stand up but his legs still wouldn't budge.

"I'll get her away from here," Tatsu said. "You rest. Edith, Ocarina, take care of the injured."

Edith nodded and helped her husband up while Ocarina picked up Eri.

After that, Yuko's conscious began to fade... like a light going out. Soon she would be united with Master. 

[On the outskirts of the ruined area of the capital]

"What's that?" I asked, glancing up. From where Anis and I stood, I could make out a black pillar even though we were miles and miles away. In fact, the thing went higher than the clouds themselves.

Anis and I sped up and didn't stop until we came across a familiar pair. Laying on the helling looking terrain were Nori and Ximena.

I flew down to them. They were both heavily injured. It looked as if Ximena had shielded Nori with her body, else he probably would've died.

I closed my eyes and placed a hand over both of them. I channeled my lifeforce into them.

"Yuko.." the red-haired boy whispered as soon as she woke up. "Yuko... must've... awakened her true powers."

I gasped. "True powers? Like her eye ability?"

Nori gulped. "That's not the full extent of her powers. She has a very powerful ability, b-but it's one which she can't control yet. It activates when under immense emotional pain."

Nori closed his eyes. "Nori first saw it when Yuko and Nori's parents died."

"Tetsuya," Ximena said with trembling lips. She held her hands close to her chest in prayer. "I... I hope he's okay."

I felt my heart sink. So she too had a bad sensation...

"Nori, Ximena, what exactly happened?" Anis asked.

"A few minutes ago, a silver-haired man appeared to battle Takon. But things turned sour from there... he took a hostage and released a shock-wave. Luckily the silver-haired man was kind to shield us, but it wasn't enough to save us. The barrier shattered, sending some of us flying."

"Let's go and get this to Tetsu," I said, showing them Agnes.

Ximena grinned and rose. I had managed to close their major injuries. Thankfully she could handle the minor ones herself.

Suddenly a beam of light appeared next to us. It was the Celestial queen. Along with her was Takeshi. He didn't seem in much better shape than he was when we had left him. So, why had he come?

Tetsuya's father stared at the Erebus. "Do you sense it too, Anis?"

His wife nodded. "Yeah..." Tears streamed down her face. "Tetsuya... our son is no more."

I took a step back and cupped a hand over my mouth. Tetsu was... NO! NO! He couldn't be! H-he must still be alive... just like in the battle against Satoru. Y-yeah, that has to be it...

"No," Ximena said, shaking her head. "We came to this world after risking our lives to save Serrano. How could we end up like this?" She collapsed to her knees. "No... He can't be dead. W-what...what about the others?"

Takeshi stared at her with distaste. "You secretly only care for my nephew, isn't that right?"

"No! Of course not. Tetsuya is my best friend!" she said, glaring at him. "I wanted for the three of us to return back home, alive..." Tears streamed down her face. "Yet..."

Nori put a hand on her shoulder. "Nori lost someone one day too." His eyes shifted toward Takuya's father, hate emitted from his eyes. A hate that he rather keep bottled in. For it wasn't right for a priest to allow his emotions to control him. At least not the negative ones involving the seven sins. Anger being one of them.

"I know. But..." She turned around and leaned her head against Nori's chest, causing Nori to blush.

"Let's go and check on the others. Lady Saya, do you think you got enough energy left for the trip?" Anis asked, wiping away her tears. She was incredible, pushing forth despite what had happened to Tetsu. Was my mother this hardy too?

"Alright, but I'll be keeping my distance this time," Saya said. She closed her eyes and warped us back to the outer rim of the destroyed stadium grounds. Not to far from us was a giant shadow tanuki. It had to be the source of the Erebus. Thankfully the thing had wandered away from the others to an empty plot of land.

"Rosa, Anis, go and stop that... thing," Takeshi said, keeping his head low. "And bring the shield to Tetsu, I think it would only be right if he had it on. At least one last time."

"I'll get it to him, but first we need to find a way around that creature," I said.

"Seems like we'll have to fight," Ximena said. With her silver rapier, she pointed at the rabid shadow tanuki in front us.

"Smells like blood," Nori said, sniffing the air.

Saya covered her nose. "The smell is intense... So many dead. Thankfully Tatsu and Daisuke are still alive. So are the rest of my family."

Takeshi snickered bitterly. "Yeah... you're a lucky one, Queen Saya."

"So mean man really is capable of caring for others. Still, Nori can't truly forgive him for what he has done," Nori said as we left Queen Saya and him behind. "For taking those Yuko and Nori cherished. Still, Nori never wished anything bad to befall his family. Poor Tetsuya. He wasn't at fault for the mistakes of his father, so why did he have to pay with his life? He'd suffered too."

I glanced back and watched as Saya teleported along with Takeshi to someplace safe, leaving the rest of us with the shadow tanuki. I knew who it was right away. Perhaps it was because I could feel the anger bubbling within her, the rage of having the one you love ripped away from you.

"Yuko!" Nori yelled. The shadow Tanuki lurched at us, sending waves of darkness in all directions.

"That thing is Yuko?" Ximena asked, eyes wide. She gasped. "S-she is... But how did she become..."

"It really is hard to believe," Anis responded. "It's as if the shadows consumed her, turning her into an abyssmal."

Nori closed his eyes and moved the veil darkness around Yuko, creating a path to the giant shadow tanuki.

"You can use shadows?" Ximena asked, shocked.

Nori nodded. "I don't like using them, but this is a special case. I got to save Yuko."

Yuko let out a roar and raised her tail.

I moved in front of Nori and held Tetsuya's shield in front of us, shielding us from the incoming attack. It was odd, how it was letting me use it. It was as if Tetsu wanted to protect me, as well as stop Yuko himself. I took a deep breath and made my way toward the one who hadn't him abandoned when I did.

"Master," Yuko said as soon as she saw the shield. Tears of blood rained down her shadow covered face. "Tetsuuuu!"

We all closed our ears. Her shriek caused the entire valley to shake.

"Yuko, control yourself!" I yelled.

Shadow Yuko raised a claw into the air, striking the shield. The force of the attack sent me and her flying several steps back. She then let out another roar.

"Stop it, Yuko!" Nori yelled at the top of his lungs. He reached his hand out toward her. "Don't you remember me? I'm Nori!"

The abyssmal Yuko didn't listen, she charged directly at me. The Dragon Emperor jumped in and shielded me from her attack.

"She's gone," he said sympathetically. "We have no choice but to kill her."

"No!" I yelled. "There's got to be a way to save her!"

"Y-yeah," Nori said, tears in his eyes. His hands shook as he formed a sword of light. "W-will this work on Yuko? S-she's not a demon so..."

Ximena put her hands on his shoulder. She held back a sob. "I hate to say it, but that's the only hope we have now. Only Tetsuya and you are capable of stopping her. Sadly Tetsuya seems to be dead, and she doesn't seem to be responding to your screams."

Nori looked as if he wanted to scream, "Why was this going on?"

The child lowered his head. "Heavenly Father, Nori knows that you didn't create this universe, but rather your siblings, but I still beg of your aid. Perhaps tell you brother and sister to lend Nori a helping hand. Nori's friend is in need of salvation. A salvation he can't seem to give her."

"We will stop her," Setsuko flew overhead along with Serrano, Ryonoko, Hyosetsu, and Eiichi.

"We mustn't give up hope... I was unable to save someone once... no, make that twice now. But, I won't allow it to repeat!" Serrano yelled. He looked as if he was holding back from crying. My future brother-in-law raised his sword up high. "So, please, Emperor Tatsu, allow us to deal with her our way. If we do fail then spare the girl the grief of living out the rest of her life as a mindless beast."

The Emperor closed his eyes and nodded. "Alright, I'll be here on standby. Just be careful not to die yourselves."

I closed my eyes and transformed my angel tool into its weapon for the second time in my life. "I don't plan to die! We'll save Yuko and go back home!" Tetsu, please protect me and the others from wherever you are!

**Solar Question: So, what did you think about the events of this Episode? Thoughts on what might befall Yuko and the others?**