Through darkness and winding paths, Jyuzou reached an empty arena, with stairs on the other side leading towards a neverending grim. He breathed out, sitting down and looking around, analyzing his next, most plausible move. Out of the blue, something gleamed in the distance. Quickly, he crawled towards an object that lay behind a rock and moved around the shrivelled paper wrapped around a piece of food.

Jyuzou instantly recognized the item. It was a Magnanian special, after all, something they call the Luscious Cookie, sold at one silver a piece and filled with delicate, choco cream on the inside. Choco trees don't grow in Shimori. They're a rare find in the forest near Prope Portam and are exported at a neat price twice a year.

Before setting out, he wondered about the cookie's taste, and bought it in Handulia, saving it for later, and when it disappeared, he thought that Morio ate it on the boat. He saw sharp signs of claws ripped into the paper and muttered "That little shit!" again.

But, Jyuzou wasn't to let this unfortunate truth go to waste. He stuffed the cookie into his mouth, and oddly enough, it was still tasty, and as sweet as described. He recalled the taste of candies and cocoa in Mistwick, and his hand shook a bit. But before he had time to reminisce, over and over again, something sounded from above, which diverted his attention.

Mouth still full, he looked up, spotting a shining eye in the shadow above. He swallowed, and stood up, a bit scared, but relieved.

"There's the demon." he thought, clenching the spear in both hands.

He blinked, and then it was gone. The Morian tilted his head, unsure about the situation, and then a screech from behind echoed, followed by a flap of wings he had already heard once before. His eyes shrunk, and he turned around, seeing what he thought was dead, a long time ago.

The flying demon stood still.

With pierced wings and a crooked smile, wounds going down from his chest to his claw-like feet, it twitched.

His gaze met Jyuzou's, and the Morian hesitated, gasping.

Without a warning, the demon ran forward, extending his broken arms, and yelling out. With a similar scream, Jyuzou started spinning his trusty weapon, with a few gusts of wind blowing forth.

The demon leapt above and pushed him, choking him with his hands full of hate and despair. He opened his mouth, revealing sharp teeth, which were ready to chomp his head off.

Jyuzou bellowed, moving his arms sporadically. He wrapped his fingers around the spear and barely managed to stab the demon's side, which only seemed to be a nuisance to it, not halting any of its movements.

He struggled to breathe, as everything he did was slightly slower, yet again, he stabbed, and he kept stabbing, but nothing happened. Blood poured off its body and onto the ground, mixing with the Morian's.

Jyuzou started shaking, and crying out for help, even though he knew no one would hear or answer his desperate words. The crystal in his hand was pushed elsewhere, leaving him with only a slightly illuminated glimpse of the creature.

The shadow which covered its face seemed even more terrifying now.

Eventually, he managed to lift the spear, which luckily pierced through the demon's wing. It backed out, in a scream and moved its hands towards the newly formed wound.

Jyuzou stared at the ceiling, coughing out and catching his breath, before finally standing up, just in time as the creature jumped, pushing him backwards, but still leaving him on both feet. His eyes were blurry, but they managed to focus on the weapon.

Jyuzou breathed heavily, and trembled uncontrollably, barely holding onto the Great Kowitzer. A drop of sweat rolled down his face, while the demon moved backwards, creeping indirectly.

The Morian ground his teeth, forcing himself together, and sprinted towards the nearby stairs covered in dry blood. The creature leapt, grabbing onto his legs and pushing him downwards, once again, pinned against the ground, but this time he could move a bit more. He started swiping the spear back and forth, without a real strategy, recalling Morio's actions.

The other Morian simply went into combat and it seemed that everything kept working out in the end.

"Why can't I be like Morio?!" Jyuzou muttered. "Why can't I fight like him?! Why can't I win against every odd and come out victorious?! Why can't I be just like Morio?!"

Jyuzou gasped, as the demon pushed its hand against the spear and in turn, Jyuzou's entire body. It moved its head closer to the Morian's terrified face, once again, revealing its terrifying insides.

"I never said I wanted to be a D-Demonear," Jyuzou answered. "Idiot."

"I know, I know." Morio nodded. "I'll be fine though, don't worry," he added. "I'm not scared of anything, at least, not anymore!" he admitted, looking into Jyuzou's eyes, squinting, trying to make them out from beneath his shining glasses.

The Morian yelled as something oozed out of the demon's mouth. He moved the other hand into Jyuzou's forcing it open, and a ball covered in blood appeared on his tongue, rolling down as if it was on a string.

The orb revealed itself, though, being the shining eye the two Morians managed to stab out. The demon smiled.

Jyuzou howled, trembling. He called for help, yet, no one answered.

Except, for himself.

The eye was thrown to the side, and it seemed the spear moved on its own, raising the demon's body.

Jyuzou put his other hand on the side, breathing in and out desperately, as a ghostly apparition formed as if it was moving out of the Morian and towards the creature. Its crown tilted slightly and the chain around its body touched Jyuzou's hand.

The ghost groaned incomprehensible words and pushed the spear further, right as the demon flew up in anger.

Jyuzou moved his legs back and forth, climbing back onto a stair, while the apparition held the spear and seemed to keep the demon at a safe distance.

It quickly turned back, and its eyes, covered with a helmet, met with his as if they were signalling something important. The Morian stood up, gulping and closing his eyes a few times. He picked up the crystal and put it near his face, his hand landed on the spear, gripping it tightly, and then walked towards the ghost, feeling its shadow and mist-like body connecting with his as if it controlled every move.

The ghoul stepped out once again, pushing the demon away, and Jyuzou followed right after, raising his voice as if he tried copying the apparition's moves.

His head was pulsing, almost about to explode, but he kept pushing on despite the impossible and otherworldly situation he found himself in. He didn't understand, and it seemed that those who never questioned anything only moved forward.

Nearing the edge, he spotted something on the Great Kowitzer, a black eye, open near the tip, and looking directly into his face, perhaps even piercing into his soul. Jyuzou shook and noticed how the ghost slowed down, and the creature grew near.

He couldn't hesitate, or wait even a few seconds more. He had to do it.

Jyuzou yelled, before stabbing where the demon's heart would've been. It bellowed, and blood came rushing out from beneath its flesh, painting the grey rocks a dark red shade.

The Morian let go, gazing at the eye once more before the ghost disappeared in a flash, and the demon plunged into the depths below.

He wasn't sure if it died this time either, perhaps once again carried by its wings, but this wasn't something which boggled his mind.

He sat down, breathing in and out harshly. He looked the other way, and extended his arm, putting it on the ground. Then, without further hesitation, he clenched his fists gazing up in a silent victory.

For a few seconds, he felt like he could conquer the entire world.

But, something was still amiss. A few sounds travelled through the caves and reached Jyuzou's ears, immediately alerting the Morian. He stood up, putting the spear behind and hesitantly walked towards an opening behind the staircase, covered in the darkness that seemed to uncover itself the closer, whatever on the other side got.

He pushed the crystal forward, hoping it would illuminate the gloom. A few more groans, steps and an accent he couldn't recognize.

"C-Come on out!" Jyuzou yelled, grinding his teeth again and tightening his grasp around the weapon, fully expecting another brawl.

The voices stopped, and then something started running. He heard multiple steps, all of different sounds, and even some that sounded oddly familiar. He took a cautious step back, clenched his jaw, and moved the crystal further in.

Three silhouettes appeared out from beneath the shadows.

Jyuzou opened his mouth, taken aback.

"J-Jyuzou?" Bancho asked as a wide smile fought against his shocked eyes, while slowly stuffing the earlier lit Julai back into its sheath.

"Oh... Oh, Shin!" Jyuzou uttered, relieved. He threw the crystal down and ran towards the older Morian, hugging him.

"Woah," Bancho muttered, putting his hands on Jyuzou's shoulder.

"Jyuso!" Chyuuichi screamed out, joining in the hug as well.

"Ah." Atomu stood behind, carrying the fainted Zuimu on his back, and coughed out. "Y-Yeah." he beamed, and the horns on his head disappeared, with a small gasp.

A few tears rolled down Jyuzou's bruised and dirty face, and Bancho chuckled, while Chyuuichi nodded his head, almost violently. The three let go, and the younger Morian brushed everything off his face, grinning.

"You've certainly changed, Jyuzou," Bancho said, looking down.

"It's the g-glasses, right? They're broken. I'll need to fix them."

"No, not the glasses," Bancho commented. "Much more than that."

"Heh." Jyuzou breathed out, before taking a step back and glancing at the Paladian.

"It's still weird seeing you with a w-weapon in your hand." Atomu played with his hair. "I'd expect a book if I were to be honest."

"The books are still there." he smiled, taking his journal out. "I even saw a Kallunfikhuola flower!" he raised his finger.

"The what flower?" Bancho tilted his head.

Atomu's jaw dropped to the ground. "Oh my, no way!" he put his hands together.

Afterwards, his attention turned to the head sticking out from the Paladian's back, and his smile quickly faded.

"Z-Zuimu?" he asked.

"Ah." Atomu moved around, blinking stressful. "W-We would've been dead without her help."

The Morian focused on Zuimu's beat-up body, with patched-up wounds that still bled.

"This is the best we could've done." Bancho scratched his chin.

"Oh, Shin." Jyuzou covered his mouth.

"She fought the hardest out of all of us. I'd say, except for Mr Bancho, she was the one who knew exactly what she was doing. Most of our Guardian Demons took care of the jobs themselves." Atomu spoke, gulping.

"It's normal, Atomu." Bancho continued. "You'll eventually learn to work in unison."

The Paladian blinked.

Chyuuichi put his hands together and closed his eyes, muttering something under his breath. "Oh, c-chut helius. Tyrwak dar yulius uf divini. Up m-mei junya." he let go, before glancing at Bancho, who nodded, with a reassuring smile.

For a moment, Jyuzou saw a small light, travelling as if it were an animal, across Zuimu's shoulder.

"Magic?" the young Morian asked, and Chyuuichi turned, with a small beam.

"Doing my best!" he answered, clenching his fist.

"A-Amazing," he uttered, shaking his head. " I know nothing about casting any spell as of now, and l-look at you, Chyuuichi." he put his hand on his forearm, as the others turned, with the Mirillian especially peering.

Standing eye to eye, he recalled the words he so shamelessly uttered back then.

"He's as stupid as Mirillians get," Jyuzou muttered.

He shook his head, wanting to apologize again, even though he knew it wasn't the right moment.

"Jyuzou." Atomu uttered.

"Y-Yes?" he shook his head, once again looking at Atomu.

"Where is Morio?" he asked.

Jyuzou breathed out, before gazing at the bloodied staircase, leading into the darkness, hearing unrecognizable, yet muffled sounds at the end of the hushed hallways.

He opened his mouth, gasping.

"He's near," he replied.