I glared at the shirtless dark-brown-haired man. Around his waist was a monkey tail.

"So, you're the Monkey King," I said as soon as the others were gone.

He laughed. "Making short talk? Why? Seeking to buy yourselves more time? Fine, I'll indulge you. Besides, it seems like things are getting intense inside."

I glanced at the smoke rising from the top of the island.

"You're here for the Ziz, aren't you?"

"Yes. We need it to finish our plan. With the Three Dimensional Beasts in our control, we will be able to open up Heaven's Gate."

"So, you really are trying to create the end of the world. Do you wish to lure out our Divine Couple?"

"They aren't our target."

I gasped. "They aren't? Then what is?"

"The Slumbering Light. With it, Abyssia will never again find itself in a state like it is now. We chosen will also be free from the shackles of destiny. The same goes for you chosen of the light. If only you had accepted our offer."

"You wanted us to surrender," I said. "As the crown princess, I can't do so! The fact that you'll willing to sacrifice the lives of many to preserve your realm proves that to me."

"Calm down, Princess. Don't let his words get to you," Aunt Miyuki said, patting my shoulder.

I nodded. "Alright."

Daisaru sighed. "Isn't it the same with you, Zionians? You have killed many of us to preserve your realm."

"That's because you attacked us! We aren't going to take a hit and lay down! We'll hit back just as hard, if not harder!"

The Monkey King grinned and vanished from view.

I gasped as I realized why he had entertained me. He had riled me up to knock me out of Zen mode.

I turned around, expecting him to stab me, but Aunt Miyuki kept him away with a barrier of ice. "See why I told you to keep calm? Don't allow your opponent to rile you up. Keep calm and remain calculative."

My cheeks flushed. I had managed to become stronger while in Munil, but not necessarily wiser. Wisdom, I would require more of it if I sought to become a great queen.

I took a deep breath. Relax, Setsuko. Clear your mind. Don't let his words get to you.

"Don't try to push it," Miyuki said. "It takes time to get it right." It was odd to see my aunt-in-law so serious. Was this the expression she used to have in her youth? Uncle Bastion did say that she would often have a poker face.

I shook my head. Perhaps I would need Alma's assistance to activate Zen Mode again.

"You need to figure out how to do so on your own," Alma's voice echoed in my head.

"I know," I whispered as I clenched my weapon. I watched my aunt blocked and dodged all of the Monkey King's attacks. At the same time, she had managed to surround him in water, which he evaporated away. Lady Miyuki rapidly cooled down the vapor, turning it into a thick cloud of mist. The Monkey Pillar glanced around, unsure of what angle she would attack him from.

I transformed Alma into its twin-mace form and spun them around. An orange aura blazed around me.

I couldn't just stand around and let my aunt do all of the fighting.

I gathered the dust suspended in the air, transforming it into a truck-sized boulder.

Miyuki flew away from Daisaru, detecting my attack. I flung the giant rock at the abysmal, sending him flying beyond my line of sight.

"Yes!" I said, grinning.

"It's not over yet, Princess. Takeshi buried that guy under a mountain during our last battle."

Miyuki gasped and pushed me aside while forming multiple walls of ice in front of her. A ball of green flame tore through the mirrors of ice. Miyuki swung at the flame with an ice-encased hand, flinging it into the sky.

"That sure caught me off guard," the Monkey King said as he flew over to us. He dusted off his arms and grinned. "But don't expect to get another surprise hit like that on me."

Flames danced around him.

I clicked my tongue. I was making the same mistake as Tetsu in his battle against my cousin.

I flew back, allowing Miyuki some space as multiple icicles appeared out of her arms. It looked as if she had wings on them.

Daisaru launched his flames at her. Globs of water emerged from the icy arm wings and captured the flames. Thick mist surrounded us once again.

"You probably gave me the hardest time after Takeshi in Grand Crater," Daisaru said as he locked fists with Miyuki. The force of the explosion distorted the space around us.

"Aunt, be careful!" I yelled. Rosa had explained to me how the battle between Takeshi and Aster had resulted in cracks in space-times. From those cracks, a giant abysmal had emerged. It took all that Queen Saya had to destroy it and fix the tear in space-time.

"Don't worry. Eiji strengthened the space-time fabric of this area."

"So, he was prepared even for that," the Monkey King said as he flew back. He held up his hand.

I glanced up and saw a giant red pillar coming our way.

Daisaru caught the pillar and ejected white flames from it.

Miyuki pulled back and increased the ice cover around her.

I covered myself in a wall of ice and stone as a couple flew in my direction. The flames burnt through my defenses. Luckily, I managed to encase them in stone like Miyuki had done with water. The rocks did end up melting, but at least I was safe.

"You're running out of steam," my aunt said as she spun her red ribbon around. "To make matters worse, you failed to get out a part of Capitolinus, didn't you?"

Daisaru panted as he transformed the black pillar into a red staff. "You can see all that? Zen mode is truly impressive. If only I weren't too impulsive, then I too would've mastered it. At least to your extent. That state of being is said to have no limits, so mastering is impossible."

I bit my lip. Great, something we shared in common.

Miyuki smiled slightly. "You can always try."

Please don't give the enemy advice!

"It's too impractical for me," the Monkey King said, smirking.

Why was he smiling? Did he have something planned? I formed an earth spike behind me and flung it at him while he wasn't looking.

The Monkey held out his right arm, catching the spike. "Plus, my natural instincts are rather well-honed."

"I can see that," my aunt said.

Why wasn't she attacking him? Did she have something planned? Or was Zen Mode showing her something that I had overlooked?

"I do wonder what your limits are. Would bringing up your late husband break the flow?"

Miyuki's eyes widened.

Daisaru grinned. He lurched forward and punched her in the stomach, sending her plummeting toward the ground.

I flew below her and caught her as soon as I powered down. "Auntie!" I yelled.

"I'm fine," Miyuki said even though blood trickled from her mouth. "Return to Second Heaven. It's dangerous to be in First Heaven against this guy."

I placed a hand on her stomach and covered her in an orange aura. "Once I heal you, I will."

I looked up and saw the Monkey King rushing at us.

I threw both of my maces at him. He swatted them away with both his arms, but he still suffered damage as tendrils flew out of small holes.

"Those are sturdy stuff."

"Of course. My late uncle and Takeshi made them," I said as I moved the maces around in the air.

The Monkey ducked, not risking getting injured. While Abysmals had incredible regenerative powers, it did have limits. For one, it drained one's stamina. Eiji, Eiko, my aunt, and my dad must've done enough damage to drain a significant chunk of his stamina.

"Bastion, what do you know about him?" My aunt asked as soon as I finished healing her.

Daisaru snickered. "So, Rocio was right about all of your buttons."

I moved my weapons faster. This monkey was starting to remind me of his underlings, namely Satoru and Roa.

"Calm down, Princess," Aunt Miyuki said as she flew out of my arms. Her stoic face had returned. How could she be so calm in this situation?

Daisaru sighed. "I don't know all the details, but I do know that one of my comrades was killed in battle against them."

"By them... You mean my mom too?" I asked, rattled.

"Yes. Those siblings took down the former Pig Pillar. He wasn't as strong nor as smart as me, but he wasn't a pushover. Alas, it seems it took all they had to bring him down."

"What was the Pig Pillar doing in Zionia?" I snapped.

"Like I said, I don't know all of the details. Reginald and the Rulers probably do."

I curled my hands into fists. The Ox Pillar was here years ago too. But he did scouting. So, why did the Pig Pillar engage in battle?

A mighty crow shook me out of my thoughts.

I glanced up and saw a giant griffon with emerald wings. The flaps of its wings created a gust that pushed all three of us down. The trees below snapped like twigs, and tornados descended from the dark clouds overhead.

Daisaru chuckled. "Rocio did it! She freed the Ziz!"

"Freed?" a voiced called out.

The three of us gasped as we saw a woman dressed in blue fighting against Rocio on top of the Ziz. The woman in blue kicked Rocio off of the griffon's back.

The abysmal spread out hers wings, but arrows of water tore through them.

"Damn. I should've expected this from someone who once held the title of High Priestess," Rocio said as she closed her wings.

"Be gone, Abysmal!" the woman yelled as a sphere of water danced around her hand.

"I won't let you kill Rocio!" Daisaru said, grabbing his wife, covering her with his body. He spat out black gunk from his mouth as the attack tore through his back.

Rocio stared at him in awe. "Dai, you're at your limit, aren't you?" she asked, touching his face.

Daisaru smiled slightly. "Perhaps, but no matter what, I'll protect you."

"It's best that we retreat for now, dear."

Daisaru nodded weakly. He pressed his head against her shoulder.

Flames enveloped the two abysmals as the former High Priestess readied another attack.

"You won't escape!" the former High Prietess of Xian yelled as she fired her attack. The water broke through the water of flames, but nothing was there.

I clicked my tongue. "They got away again, but at least we managed to defend the Ziz," I said, glancing a the giant griffin.

The former High Priestess covered the Ziz in a barrier of water as it began to flap its wings, creating more intense gusts than when it first appeared. "Issue is getting it under control."

"Allow me to help with that!" Miyuki said, throwing her crimson ribbon at the beast. The ribbon tied itself around the beak of the creature as if by magic.

"Thanks. Now, I hope that this works as well as it did the first time. Beastial Restraints!" the former High Priestess yelled. Water ribbons appeared and grasped the Ziz's wings, preventing it from flapping them.

Wow. Just who is this woman?

"Looks like we weren't needed after all," a voice called out. It was Hyosetsu. Accompanying him were Ocarina and Rosa.

My sister flew over and hugged me. "I'm so glad that you're okay, Setty!"

"Same here, Rosa," I said, stroking her long brown hair.

Rosa gasped. "We need to check on Dad!"

I glanced at my dad, who was still encased in his cocoon. I let go of Rosa, flew over to him, and removed the stones. Inside, I found my dad with a dull look in his eyes.

"Dad?" I said, my hands shaking. I touched his face. It was cold, but he was still alive. "Dad, are you alright?"

He didn't respond. Had being devoid of his sensations as long as he had broken his psyche?

"Dad!" I said, grabbing his hands. "Please, wake up."

"Setsuko!" a voice called out. It was Rosa.

"Sis." I turned to look at her with tears in my eyes.

Rosa's eyes widen as soon as she saw the state our father was in. "Dad... what happened to him? His eyes, they're like Dan's after his aunt stole his soul. Did Daisaru do the same thing to him?"

"No. His soul wasn't removed. But what he felt might've been akin to it. His mind is likely teetering at the edge of oblivion right now. In a state resembling that of a person going into that final light," Aunt Miyuki said as she appeared behind us. She curled her hands into fists and got closer. "Osamu!" She touched Father's forehead with her right index finger. "Osamu, I know that you're there."

My little sister hugged our Dad. "Dad? Can you hear us? If so, please move! Please!" Rosa cried, tears staining her eyes. "Dad, you can't leave us too! You and Setty are the last immediate family have left!"

I stared at my dad's right hand which I continue to hold. It twitched a little, curling as if it wanted to embrace someone. But beyond that slight movement, there was no reaction. I clenched his hand tightly.

"Keep fighting, Old Man," I whispered, staring into his dull eyes. "I know that you'll emerge from the oblivion you're in." My lips curled into a trembling smile as tears threatened to spill over. "After all, I did get my stubbornness from you."

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter ^^. Was originally going to publish this on the 5th, but decided to publish it today to coincide with it being All Souls Day (those who know Spanish might be able to figure out one of the reasons). Thoughts? Theories?**