I placed a hand on my chest. "So what you're saying is that my past life's evil side wishes to absorb me?" I said.

Reginald nodded. "Yes. Margaret must've told him about your revival. With the rosary in his possession, he only needs to obtain you. That's why Serrano is here. He agreed to protect you."

"Protect me?" I glanced up at my older brother.

He smiled and patted my head. "Yeah. I should've all of those years ago. This time, I won't let anything bad happen to you."

I smiled. "No need to take on all of the pressure. I can protect myself too!"

He laughed. "Yeah. You did quite the number on me back in Nine Petal Island."

"So that's what that place was called."

"We should get you checked up, Conrad. Who knows what the demon having your rosary can do," Rocio said.

Serrano curled his hands into fists. "I'm sorry, brother. Tetsu and I failed to protect it."

"Don't blame yourself, kid. We can retrieve it," Skah smiling.

Serrano smiled back. "You really are more like Etsuo than your son."

Uncle Skah glanced at his son's core. "I get that a lot." He held out his hand and patted his son's core. "My pegasus might be a little wild, but I still wouldn't trade him."

"Reminds me a bit of our wild big sister," Aunt Rocio said, smiling.

Mom laughed. "I miss those days..."

Serrano said that Mommy used to be very cheerful and playful. If only I could meet that side of Mommy.

Aunt Rocio snapped her fingers. The next thing I knew, we were standing in the middle of a lab. It lacked the pods of Aster's room, but it certainly had its own charm. Spread throughout several tables were various flasks with unknown liquids. Some of them even had solids inside of them.

"Oh, you made it back! How did the mission go?" Uncle Woolsey asked as he stood by a giant test tube. Standing beside him was a girl with purplish-pink hair.

"Plum!" I said, running over to her.

"Con-con!" Plum yelled. She jumped and tackled me to the ground. "You're alright! I thought that you had died!"

"Seriously, Plum. You would've known that Dad revived him if you had attended our meetings," Rocio said.

Plum stood up. "Oh..." She frowned. "So, you did die..."

I pushed myself up from the black floor. "Yeah, but I'm alright now. I know that I'm technically a zombie, but I feel better than I did while alive."

I bit my lip as I noticed Mom winced at my remark.

"That's great to hear," Big bro said, patting my head from behind.

I smiled as he messed up my hair, though it was already pretty unruly. Maybe some gel would help it flatten it whenever I wasn't wearing my helmet. Aster had given me some. Come to think of it, where had she gone? Why wasn't she here?

Rocio stepped forward and flew up until she was directly above the giant test tube. She lowered my cousin's core inside and watched as it sunk toward the bottom.

"Woolsey, hand me over the crimson bottle labeled Dinergy."

"Dinergy?" I asked.

"I named it after Dine. She helped me discover that the properties of the liquid go beyond just restoring stamina."

"What is this made out of anyway?" Uncle Woolsey asked as he picked up a container labeled Dinergy from a cupboard. Its crimson contents were glowing, bathing the room with a red light.

"It's made out of red bioluminescent moss. A core absorbs the light from it, allowing it to speed up the natural processes such as regenerations. For Dine, its light was potent enough to allow her to grow beyond the blob stage. I should warn all of you, just because it worked on Dine, it doesn't mean that it'll benefit Roa. Dine was a blob, to begin with."

"Please make it work!" Daiyu yelled. "My Roa can't remain in his core form forever.

Uncle Skah patted his wife's back. "Don't worry, Daiyu. If it fails, then we'll just find something else. And who knows, maybe Etsuo's already found the cure for that illness that was inflicting him. The crystals around his body indicated that it might've been a regeneration disorder."

Aunt Rocio gasped as she poured the liquid into the giant test tube. The entire thing had begun to glow brightly. "A regeneration disorder? What could've caused it?"

"Think it had to do with one of the opponents he faced."

Daiyu gulped. "Really? Then we must be wary of that person. We wouldn't want to share the same fate." She glanced back at the test tube and reached her hand out to touch it. Her lips curled into a slight smile. "Roa, we'll find a cure for you. I promise we won't leave you in this state."

"Woolsey, Plum, mind keeping an eye on your nephew?"

"Hmm, Roa's always been kind of rude to me, but fine. I'll watch over him," Aunt Plum said, nodding her head.

"I'm already keeping an eye on the lab, so I might as well," Uncle Woolsey said, grinning.

"Keeping an eye for what?" a voice called out as the doors swung open. We turned around and saw Margaret walk in with three others.

"Why did you come here?" Big bro asked, embracing me. "If it's for Conrad, then we won't let you take him."

Margaret laughed. "Why would I want him? I mean, my children do enjoy a good rabbit stew, but it's not really my thing."

"How did you enter?" Rocio asked, flying over to her.

"Easy, I cracked the code." The Dragon Pillar smirked. "It was pretty simple. Try to come up with a harder one next time."

"Leave this place, Margaret."

"I will, but first, I need some of that liquid you used on Dine years back. I want to speed up my son's healing process."

"Don't!" Serra yelled. "Bylet doesn't deserve it!"

Rocio scoffed. "Even if I wanted to, I have no more left. I used the final vial on Roa's core. By the way, were you aware that Satoru is alive?"

Margaret gasped. "What?" She turned aside. "That fool, I told him not to expose himself."

"I heard that!" I yelled.

She glared at me. "So what? That doesn't change a thing. You're making it sound like Satoru being alive is a bad thing."

Grandfather stepped toward her. "That son of yours broke the rules. For that, he must be punished. And don't think about protecting him. You pushed me to punish Takeshi, so do the same to Satoru."

Margaret clicked her tongue and jumped back. A veil of water covered her. "Takeshi's was more severe. He armed the enemy against us. Satoru hasn't done that."

Grandpa smiled. "Perhaps not, but you have." He leaned forward until his nose was nearly touching the veil. "Or do you think that I'm stupid? Weren't my words from earlier enough of a warning to you?"

The Dragon Pillar laughed. "If you've figured it out then there's no need to continue with this charade."

Uncle Woolsey gritted his teeth. His hands were shaking. Was he scared? If so, why? We had Grandpa and Daisaru on our side.

Grandfather jumped back as knives of water emerged from the veil, shattering the various vials around us.

I turned around and watched the giant test tube in horror as the water began to spin wildly.

"Hand over Conrad, and I'll spare Roa."

"No, not this again," Big bro said, shaking his head. He hugged me tightly.

I noticed that Daiyu's eyes were on me.

"Let go of your brother," she said with cold eyes.

"Don't listen to her! She's doing the same thing that Satoru did with Dan!" Big bro yelled.

"I figured, but I need to save my son, so let go of him."

"No! I can't have you give up Conrad!" Mom yelled as she hugged Serra and me.

A wooden sword appeared in Daiyu's hands. "Then, you've left me with no choice."

I gasped as I realized that uncle Skah had jumped into the test tube. The waves prevented him from diving to get the core.

"Wait, maybe if we drain the water," Big bro whispered.

"Maybe I can try to free Roa," Auntie Plum said, staring at the container. She held out her hands and calmed the waters. "Go, big bro!"

"Thanks, Plum!" Skah said as he broke through the water's surface.

"Skah, be careful!" Daiyu yelled as she turned her attention away from us.

Suddenly, the water shot out of the test tube, throwing Uncle Skah into the floor. The crimson water bubble carried Roa's core with it.

"No!" Auntie Plum yelled. She tried to seize control of the water, but it the core continued to be dragged away.

Margaret laughed as she held out a hand and yanked out Roa's core from the crimson water. "You're too weak, pork chop."

My uncle Skah pushed himself up and rushed at Margaret, but the water grabbed his arms, breaking them.

"L-let go of Roa this instant! I had to fight your son to get him back, and I'm not afraid to fight you too. Even if it means dying!" he yelled as white flames exploded from his broken arm.

Margaret took one step back as a part of the veil started to evaporate. "You forget the difference in skill between us, stupid bird."

"Your skill and strength won't stop me!" He gasped for air as water covered him completely.

I glanced at my grandfather. His golden eyes watched Margaret's movements closely. Was he trying to come up with a strategy without risking Roa's life?

Rocio cupped her hands but stopped herself from launching flames at the Dragon Pillar. She glanced at her dad.

"Skah, pull back," Grandfather finally spoke up. "Serrano, let go of your brother."

"What? You're trading Conrad for Roa?" Big bro yelled. "I won't allow it! Frankly, I don't care what happens to him after everything he pulled. The guy killed my teammates and later tried to turn Tetsu against me!"

Grandfather waved at me. "Conrad."

I touched my brother's hands. "It's fine, Big bro. Let go of me."

"What? You're going along with it? Why? Do you even know Roa?"

"No, but I do know that people care for him."

"What about us? We care for you," Big bro yelled, hugging me tighter.

I smiled. "I know. Now, please let me do this."

"I can't let you do this!" he said, tears streaming down his eyes.

He glared at Margaret and let go of me. "Mom, hold on to him tight. I'll take care of this."

"Serrano, don't!" Mommy yelled.

Brother transformed his earrings into a pair of swords and plunged them into the water. He gasped as the water pulled him in like how it had done to our uncle.

"Serra!" Mommy yelled.

Brother let out a grunt. A silver-blue aura manifested around him, pushing the water away to form an opening. He lurched toward the Pillar, but his attack was blocked by a white-haired man.

"Move away, Audrey!" Big bro yelled. He slashed him in half and kicked the guy's upper half into a wall.

Margaret's eyes turned cold. She raised her left arm in front of her. Brother's swords tore through the blue cloth of her sleeves, but underneath were scales the color of lapis lazuli.

"You have a death wish, don't you?" she asked.

"Mom, get a grip!" Audrey yelled as his two halves slowly joined back together.

Margaret didn't listen. Instead, she threw Roa's core toward one of the girls standing behind her and used her now free arm to stab my brother through the chest.

"Serrano!" Mom yelled as the aura around my brother died down.

I wanted to scream but couldn't. It was as if my voice had been taken from me.

Mom jumped back. "Conrad," she said, staring at me with horror. A purple aura had swallowed me. I held out a hand and formed a sword of darkness. I appeared in front of the Dragon Pillar with one leap and kicked her into the one holding Roa's core. I removed the aura from one of my hands, grabbed the core flying in the air, and threw it over to my uncle Skah.

Honestly, I had no idea how I even knew how to control the energy the way I was. My body was moving on its own.

Margaret guarded again. The scales of her left arm cracked as my sword's edge met them.

"Die," I said in a cold tone as an explosion of darkness came from my sword, sending Margaret stumbling back.

"This power, it has to be that of Hanketsu."

"Hanketsu," I said in the same tone as before.

"Conrad, calm down!" Mommy yelled as she ran over to us.

Margaret pointed the finger at her, gathering water between her nails. "Give into the rage, Conrad."

"You won't, get away with this!" Big brother said as he stood up. I gasped as I noticed some of his hair strands had turned silver. His eyes had turned blue and cat-like. He dashed in front of Mom and spun his hands as the laser of water came his way. The water laser struck Margaret in the chest, but her scales shielded her again.

"What was that?"

Big brother huffed. "That's a technique that my cousin developed. I couldn't get it right... until... now." He fell to the floor.

"Serra!" Mom yelled.

"Selena, take Roa's core. I'll heal him," Uncle Skah said as golden flames surrounded his hands.

"Like I'll let you!" Margaret yelled as water danced erratically around her. The liquid formed blades, slicing through the walls. "All of you will perish here!"

Grandfather sighed. Roots emerged from the ground behind Margaret and grasped her. She bit down on the roots, tearing them apart with her sharp fangs. "Not even you will stop me, Reginald."

"Mom, get a hold of yourself!" Audrey yelled.

"Listen to him, Mom," one of her daughters spoke up. "We lost our bargaining chip."

"Yeah, because you lost it," the other girl said.

"Shut up! Now isn't the time for th-" She screamed as roots grabbed her too.

Margaret gasped as Audrey was pinned to the wall by roots as well.

"What are you doing?" she asked, staring at Grandfather with wide eyes.

Grandfather smiled. "What? You aren't the only one who can threaten to hurt another's family if you don't get your way."

Audrey and his sister let out screams as the roots tightened around them. Audrey unleashed flames, but they failed to burn through the roots. "My powers have no effect on him."

Margaret gritted her teeth.

Grandfather smiled. "You've lost this one. Now, prepare to face the song of divine wrath."

Margaret laughed hysterically. "You might be the Chosen of Ein, but you aren't a god! You're as much a mortal as I am!"

"I wasn't talking about myself."

I took a deep breath as I readied my sword. "Hanketsu is the angel of judgment. As his reincarnation, that role falls to me. Now, prepare to be judged!"

"Not too fast, rabbit boy!" a voice yelled. I gasped as my sword was grasped by an orange-haired man. Around his neck was the rosary that cousin Tetsu often wore.

"Itou," I said, jumping back.

"So, it's as we suspected. Margaret really was working with the demons," Skah said as he glared at the Dragon Pillar.

Margaret smiled. "You're late, Itou. Not that I needed your help. That boy's sword wouldn't have killed me."

Itou stared at me and smiled. "Perhaps not in one strike, but a multitude of them might. Also, please use my real name while I'm here."

"Fine, Iblis."

"You forgot to say 'Master' in front of my name."

Margaret huffed. "I don't bow before a master."

The demon chuckled. "I love that rebellious spirit of yours. Reminds me of my own."

More roots darted up from the ground and reached for him, but he kept them at bay with dark flames.

"Margaret, go and take care of those two old men for me."

Daisaru grinned. "Me? I haven't done a thing, but I'm fine. I've been wanting to punch her for a good while now," the Monkey Pillar said, moving his neck side to side.

"Daisaru, you still haven't recovered," Rocio said.

"My daughter is right. You are in no state to fight. Leave her to me," Grandfather said as bull horns appeared from his head.

"Hey, please don't destroy this place. It's my home," he mumbled.

Grandfather snickered. "Sorry, no promises. Now, go and take the others to safety. Conrad, go with Daisaru."

I jumped away from the Archdemon. "Understood."

"How tense. I don't recall you being this obedient. What happened to the kid who ran away from home to find a girl he barely met?" the Archdemon asked, giving me a toothy grin. His hair grew longer and turned black. Gradually, he reverted to his true form.

"How do you know all that?" I asked, gritting my teeth.

"I know because I am you." He glanced at Mommy. "I know that you've buried your rage, but you really shouldn't. You should use this chance to get your revenge on all who wronged you, beginning with your mom."

I dashed in front of Mom. "Don't you dare!"

Mom passed Roa's core over to Daiyu. "Conrad. Don't shield me. I must face this rage head-on."

"But it's not my rage."

She smiled. "You're a gentle kid, Conrad. But now it's time for me to act like a mom." A dog-like tail emerged from her back. "Go with the others. Skah, move away."

Skah picked up Serrano and appeared next to us. "Sel, be careful. You're dealing with an Archdemon here."

"I know."

"Selena, retreat!" Reginald yelled.

Mom raised tiles from the floor and threw them at the archdemon, who simply melted them away with his flames. "No, Dad. I can't run."

Grandfather kicked Margaret aside and jumped over to Mom. "Fine, we'll do this together."

She smiled. "Yeah."

"I'll join too," Woolsey said, walking over to them. "I've done nothing thus far, and frankly, that's boring."

"Me too!" Auntie Plum yelled.

"No, you go with Skah and Rocio," Mom said.

"I agree. It's too dangerous for you," Grandfather said.

Aunt Plum frowned. "Okay..."

I walked over to her. "I'll be fine, Auntie." Though I said that, I wasn't actually sure about it. Something big was about to go down, but all I could do was flee.

I turned around and gasped as I saw the archdemon in front of me.

"You're mine, kid," he said, grabbing me by the neck.

"L-let go of me!" I yelled, kicking.

"Conrad!" Mom yelled. She threw more rocks at him, but once again, they melted before they could reach him.

"Let go of Con-Con!" Plum yelled, unleashing a torrent of water at him. The water evaporated on his skin.

"M-Mom, Plum, stay back!" I yelled as an unbearable heat began to work its way up my neck. I gripped the sword in my hands and stabbed the demon in the chest. The shadows dissolved, absorbed into his body. "No way..."

The archdemon laughed. "You can't harm me, kid. Now, come with me. We must prepare the ritual to become whole."

I squirmed once more. "Let go of me!" I cried.

"Conrad!" Mom yelled, leaping at the demon, knocking him to the floor.

I reached a hand out for the rosary and yanked it away from him. In my hands, it transformed into a black scimitar. "Die, demon!"

The archdemon grabbed my core with one hand before I could bring down my sword on him.

"Let go of him!" Mom yelled as she raised her fist.

"Shut up, pest!" he yelled, slamming her into the giant test tube where Roa's core had been.

"Mom!" I yelled.

"Selena!" Grandfather said as he avoided Margaret's claws.

"You'll lose them all, Regi. You can't save any of them, just like you couldn't save your beloved Tulia," Margaret said, laughing.

Grandfather slammed his elbow against her neck, sending her crashing into the floor. "Let go of my grandson!" he yelled as thorns appeared around him.

"We're not done yet," Margaret said, gripping his leg with more ice.

He launched the thorns at her, but they bounced off her scales. Something told me that she had strengthened them after Serra and I had hurt her.

"It's over, Conrad! Your anger won't save you this time. In fact, it'll make things worse for you," the archdemon said as space warped around us. "You can't escape your fate."

Tears streamed down my face. I needed to get away and check on Mom and Serra! But how? I closed my eyes as I felt the life-force being drained from my core. Why couldn't our happiness last? Why did it always end in tragedy?

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed this chapter. This is the last number entry in this book. Only the epilogue remains. Overall thoughts?**