*Azami*

I found myself in knee deep in water inside of a chasm. Purple waterfalls dropped into the black stone I stood on. Oddly, the water didn't seem to rise.

"Where am I?" I asked, glancing around.

"Azami," a voice called out. The figure smiled. "Or should I say 'Daddy'?"

I gasped as I saw my dad walking toward me.

"Conrad? What are you doing here?" I stepped back. "Wait, you aren't him. Are you?" My eyes narrowed. "In that case, you must be Itou."

The figure resembling my son continued to smile. "Would you believe me if I said I'm not him? Better yet, would you trust me if I said I know a way that you can save your son?"

I gasped. "Save Conrad?"

*Osamu*

I found myself on another floor as I reached the end of the maze I had been stuck in for who knows how long.

Should I turn around and look for Rosa and the others? But, were they truly sent to that floor?

I touched my chin and closed my eyes. I couldn't sense them even with zen mode. Either we got teleported to opposite ends of the floor or they ended up else where.

Maybe it would be best to continue forward. If they were in that maze, they would eventually get pass it. So long as Yuko was with them.

I walked toward the direction of the stairs leading to the next floor. They weren't too far apart, surprisingly.

The following floor glistened with gold, a direct contrast to the stone covering the other floors from head to toe.

I gritted my teeth as a familiar presense approached.

"You made it, my dear puppet," Mammon said, smiling. Her black robe remained tattered.

"Who are you calling a puppet?" I asked, clenching my fist.

She stared at it and smiled. "You lost your Celestial Knuckle technique. Even with zen mode, you're going to find it hard to take us down."

My eyes shifted to the one seated on a gold throne. Conrad laid asleep.

"Move! I'm taking my nephew!"

My body leapt up on its own seconds before the ground underneath rose up to grab me.

"You won't be able to avoid this!" Mammon yelled as the gold sprung out of the walls to create coils.

It wasn't pure gold, so it wasn't going to be easy to rip if caught.

I dodged the shifting earth and metal, while closing the distance between us. One of weaknesses of zen mode was that it was mostly a defensive technique. Offensively, it only helped with close range. But it did provide one with the speed to get up close and personal before most could react.

"You're going down!" I said, punching the earth as it formed a encircled me. Mud flew in all directions.

I flew upward as the metal rings came for me. Their targets appeared to be my arms, legs, and wings.

The demoness held her hand out, causing a dark vortex to swirl around it.

"Oh, you won't be fighting me. You'll be up against someone else."

My eyes widened as she pulled out Azami from the portal. His eyes were dull.

"Azami!" a voice called out from the portal. it sounded like our nana.

"Stand back, Nana!" I yelled.

"M-Mu? You're there?"

"Yeah, I'll deal with these demons."

"Alright. But please don't hurt him too much."

I snickered as the vortex closed. "I'll try not to."

Azami stayed still like a puppet.

I slammed my feet against the ground as I landed next to him, shattering the marble floor.

"Azami, how did you end up in this predicament?" I asked.

He reached a hand out. "Conrad, I'll protect you," he mumbled as if in a trance.

"Here you go, use this," Mammon said, handing a golden blade with a red hilt over to my brother. "Conrad had me make it just for you."

Azami smiled. "Such a good boy."

"Conrad? You mean Ifrit did!" I yelled, slashing the air with my arm.

Azami gritted his teeth as he stood his ground. "You'll pay for hurting Con, brother."

I glared at Mammon. "Me? The one who hurt him is the one standing by you!"

"You dare blame my son's friend? Conrad give his life for her. My son wouldn't be friends with a villain."

I scoffed. "She's not Piedad! Mammon is using her as a skin suit!"

"How mean. I used to think you were a good king," Mammon said, stepping back.

"I thought so too," Azami said.

I lurched forward to punch Mammon as soon as she smirked at me.

"You'll pay for this!"

Azami rushed at me but I avoided his attack.

"Sorry, brother," I said, knee kicking him in the abdomen.

Mammon narrowed her eyes at me. "He was a lot more of a challenge at the palace."

I laughed. "That's because you demons can't bring out our true power! You can't even bring out your full demonic strength while inhabiting those two. Your promises of strength and riches are false."

She shook her head. "Only because you refuse to give in completely to the darkness." The demoness jumped out of the way as I threw a punch at her.

She smiled as her metal rings finally caught my arms and legs. "Your zen mode is weakening. Seeing your brother has thrown you off balance."

I jumped forward and headbutted her as hard as I could in the head.

Mammon winced and staggered back.

"What's your head made of, Mister?" she asked, rubbing her head.

I gasped. "Piedad?"

She gripped her head and fell to the ground. "H-how did she regain control?" Her eyes widened. "The necklace, it must be close." She stood up and smiled as I struggled on the ground. The binds were getting tighter.

"Mammon, release her! And tell the same to thing to Ifrit."

She knelt down and grabbed my head. "Sorry, but you don't order me around. I was hoping to turn you into my puppet, but you've proven to be more work than you're worth."

I winced as she pressed down on my head.

"Let go of him!" a voice called out.

I looked up and saw Azami tackle Mammon into the wall.

"What?" Mammon said, surprised. "How did you break out?"

Azami smiled and snickered. "Who said I was possessed?" he asked as he took out some black handcuffs and placed them on her. They were the same as the ones we had used for Etsuo when he was imprisoned in the palace dungeon.

Mammon glanced at Conrad. "But he said..."

Conrad opened his eyes and smiled. "Got you, Mammon."

She gulped. "Hanketsu?"

He nodded and stood up from the throne. "I'm currently keeping Ifrit at bay. He is like a raging lion. Which would've been impossible if not for the assist my father made at the start of the fusion. I probably won't be in control for much longer. But the least I can do is free the one I love from her demons."

Mammon winced. "I'm not Tierra."

"You don't have her full soul, but you are still her." He glanced at me and smiled. "Seems that I didn't have to lift a finger to save you from your demons."

"Huh?"

He turned away. "It's nothing. Just... he'll be happy if he were here."

"Happy? Who?" My eyes widened as it hit me who he could be talking about. "Takeshi told you to save me?"

Hanketsu nodded. He gasped and reached his head.

"Azami, hurry! Put the handcuffs on me!"

"On it!" Azami yelled, letting go of Mammon. He ran over to him and grabbed his arm.

"Unhand me!" Ifrit yelled, sending my brother flying. The entire tower shook as the demonic energy destroyed the floor.

"Conrad!" Azami yelled as he reached a hand out for him.

Ifrit pointed a hand at him and formed a red sphere full of cursed energy. "Die, Papa!"

"Azami!" I yelled. Sadly, the binds were still on me.

"Dad!" a voice called out. I turned around and saw Setsuko holding me by the shoulder.

My eyes widened as the sphere was stopped by Serrano and Tetsuya.

"That idiot just won't rest."

"You made it, brother! Die along with Papa!" Ifrit yelled, laughing hysterically.

"Serra!" Azami said.

He winced. " Help me us here."

Setsuko let go of me and pushed Azami out of the way. "Let me help. Uncle Azami can't use his powers here Remember, the restriction?"

Ifrit's eyes widened. "How can you use yours?" Ifrit asked.

Setsuko smiled as she pushed back on it. "Alma nullifies such restrictions. Hence why I am the ideal one for taking down the likes of Mei, Daisaru, this tower!"

Ifrit flew into the throne and groaned. "Curse you doves."

A tired Hyosetsu smiled. "Wished I had the energy to punch you."

Serrano panted as he flew over to him. "Release my brother!"

Ifrit smirked. "Like I told Mommy, I am him. Conrad and I share the same soul. I am the wickedness that your brother lacked, or rather hid. If he had me, he wouldn't have been pushed around by her nor those bullies. The kid suppressed his dark thoughts as best as he could. He secretly detested you. Why were you the one loved and not... me."

A tear streamed down his face.

"Con," Serra said, reaching a hand to him.

"Poor kid," Yuko said.

Azami turned away. "It's all my fault..."

Conrad reached to grab Serrano's hand but quickly pulled it back.

"Curses, I'm losing control again!" Ifrit said, pushing Serrano away.

"Serra!" Kohri and Rosa said, grabbing him.

Ifrit stared at everyone.

"Ifrit, get out of here!" Mammon yelled.

"Shut up!" Yuko said, covering her mouth in sand. Since Mammon couldn't use her powers, she couldn't push it away.

I smiled as she did that.

"Kohri, can you break Dad's binds?" Rosa asked, glancing back at me.

Kohri stared at his hammer. "I'm not sure, but I can try."

"If only I could use my powers, I would probably be able to melt through them," the red-haired woman who had accompanied them said.

"A Kasai no Ki?" I said.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Have an issue with that?"

"Not really," I said, scoffing. Unlike my father, I had nothing against them. Having fought against otherwise good people to the death, I knew how foolish the blood war between our nations was.

She raised an eyebrow at me and smiled slightly. "That so?"

"Brother, fight!" Serrano said as Rosa continued to hold on to him.

"Serra, rest," Rosa said, pulling back her older cousin. "Setty and Tetsu have this."

"Yuko too!" Yuko said, slamming the ground. The mud that Mammon had made in our fight turned into sand and wrapped around the agonized Conrad-Ifrit.

"Damn it! I-if only Eiichi were he-" He gasped and smiled. "Eiichi. That's it. I need to go find him."

"Yuko won't let you!" Yuko said, yanking him back.

"What does he have to do with the pervert?" Hyosetsu asked.

Setsuko averted her gaze. As did Kohri.

Serrano's eyes widened. "So, Onami's theory wasn't wrong. That guy did have something to do with what happened to my brother and Piedad."

I turned away as I remembered what I'd heard about Eiichi's link to what had happened to Rosa. If he was willing to do that, he was likely capable of much more.

Ifrit blew away and sand and vanished.

"Come back!" Serrano yelled as he fell to his knees.

"Son," Azami said, grabbing his arm.

Serrano pulled his arm away. "Go and get my brother," Serrano said as he passed out.

"Serra!" Tetsu yelled, running over to him.

Setsuko shook her head. "That idiot. He's lucky he hasn't died despite everything he's pulled."

"We need to return," Rosa said. "Ifrit's going to hurt the others!"

"Last I heard, Eiichi was training alone, but his brother might've joined him," I said as Kohri hammered away at my metal rings.

"I don't care much about Eiichi, but we have to save Eita," Tetsuya said, turning around.

"Sadly, we can't leave until we reach the top," Setsuko said, staring at her hand. "I tried teleporting outside earlier."

"To break the tower's seal, you need to defeat Camio," a voice called out.

"Asil," Hyosetsu said, glancing at the figure by the entrance. 

The green-haired youth pushed himself up and glanced at the struggling Mammon. "So much for the archdemon of wrath."

Mammon glared at him, causing Asil to turn away.

"Camio should be at the top of the tower," Setsuko said, glancing up. "Vapula and Bylet should be there too."

"Talking about me," Vapula said as she appeared and grabbed Mammon.

"Don't let her free her!" I yelled.

Yuko nodded and grasped Vapula with her sand.

"Sand? Think this will stop me?" Vapula asked, blowing a puff of smoke on it. The sand turned purple but remained. "What?"

Setsuko chuckled. "Sand's already disintegrated rock. You can only make it smaller and smaller, but Yuko can control that too."

Vapula pointed her pipe at Yuko.

Tetsuya dashed forward and formed a barrier around her and the rest of us.

"Asil!" Vapula yelled.

Hyosetsu grasped his sword and glanced at the green-haired young man.

"Sorry, but the power you offer isn't worth losing my soul," Asil said, glaring at her.

Vapula chuckled. "So, their words worked on you. Pathetic." She slashed the sand bind with her pipe and jumped back, only for more sand to grip her legs. Pressing her lips on the lip, she gasped. Her face contorted in disgust as she spat out sand. "Damn you, tanuki! I'll kill you."

Yuko gave her a stern look. "Demon threat don't scare Yuko. Yuko's best friend can beat demons up in his sleep."

"Huh, really?" Kohri asked.

"N-no," Yuko said, laughing awkwardly.

Hyosetsu sighed. "How dumb can you be not to get the hyperbole?"

Kohri grumbled and returned to his task.

"You're struggling against a tanuki? Lame!" a voice called out. Kohri, Rosa, and Yuko gasped as a black-haired boy with deep red eyes appeared behind Vapula.

"Camio!" Rosa yelled.

The demon smiled at her. "Oh, if it isn't the younger princess. I'll finally be able to get my revenge on you today."

"Hey, idiot! Focus on us! Get me out of this sand!"

Camio sighed. "Alright, hold on." Crimson flames wrapped the sand around her.

Vapula winced as the heat from the flames turned the fine dust into glass. She shattered it and jumped back. "Thanks for the save, but why are you here? You have the task to finish."

Camio smiled. "It's done. They won't know he's alive."

"Who is alive?" Tetsuya asked, blinking.

I glanced at the others who looked just as confused as the shield knight.

"Is he talking about Dad?" Tetsuya asked, tapping his head.

"Probably, but we know that," Kohri said, chuckling.

"No, I don't think that's it," Setsuko said. She shook her head and glared at Camio. "What exactly did you do?"

He smiled. "Oh, nothing. It's worthless to know."

Vapula grabbed him. "Let's go, before you say anything more."

"Wait, we can't leave mom!" Camio yelled, pointing at Mammon. Tetsuya had formed a barrier around her.

Vapula sighed. "Fine, but I'll do so myself. You'll just get in the way. You're in no state to fight after completing the task."

Camio gasped. "Y-you can tell?"

"Of course I can. Those flames of yours felt cool compared to their usual strength. Even if you were holding back, they wouldn't be that cold."

The demon sighed. "Fine. I'll go. Just be wary of that tanuki and the princess. You're no match against sand users."

"I know that now," Vapula said, stepping toward us.

Camio gasped as if struck by something, yet there was no wound whatsoever.

Vapula glared at Asil as the tower began to disintegrate. "You really are a rotten traitor!"

Asil smiled. "I was one when I decided to help you demons."

Hyosetsu smirked slightly.

"Yet, you still used demonic power," Camio said, snickering.

Asil's smile vanished.

"Let's get out of here. We need to keep an eye on your father," Vapula said, vanishing.

"Understood," Camio said, vanishing as well.

I turned my eyes toward the sky. Dark clouds packed with electricity had covered the heavens.

"Con, we need to go get him," Azami said, flying off.

I sighed. Why did he continue to run off like that?

"Kids, watch over Mammon for me," I said as I eyed the center of the developing storm. "Take her to Hideaki so he can put the same grass binds as Etsuo's on her."

"Alright, but will you be fine?" Setsuko asked.

"I should be now that Mammon is no longer an issue," I said with a slight smile. "Plus, I won't be alone. I'll be backing up your uncle."

Rosa smiled. "Yeah. I'll be praying for your safe return, just in case. Hopefully, with Conrad in tow."

I nodded. "That's the plan."

With those words, I flew in the direction of the storm's eye. Azami must've noticed something was off about it too. This storm, it had to be Eiichi's doing. 

I had so many things I had wanted to ask both my twin brother, but guess they had to wait for later.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed this chapter ^^. It was written to coincide with it being July 31st, Aza and Osa's birthday ^^. Thoughts? Predictions? Theories?**