Lyla and Tenko were at the boundaries of the city. Lyla was using her Gaia Scepter, driving its brush-vines into the ground to create huge, disruptive vines within the city. Tenko was protecting her when they heard footsteps.
Kaiser came into view. "Kaiser, what happened? Why did you come so early?" Lyla asked. Tenko growled at Kaiser, and Lyla and Tenko instantly felt a cold shiver. They saw Piers approaching from behind Kaiser.
Lyla became furious. "What did you do with Kaiser?"
"I just gave him a reason not to attack me. Now, seize your attacks," Piers commanded.
"Never!" Lyla retorted.
"Kaiser, go ahead," Piers ordered. Kaiser charged at Lyla. Lyla was rooted to the spot, unable to dodge, but Tenko moved between her and Kaiser, breathing fire from his Nyx Scepter. Kaiser cut through the flame with his sword, but Tenko quickly erected an earth wall. Kaiser cut through the earth wall, but in that moment, Tenko changed his form. He increased in size, grew earth claws with lightning sparks on his body, a wind wing on his back, and an enlarged flame breath. Kaiser attacked with his sword, but vines shot from below and bound him.
"Tenko, now!" Lyla shouted. Tenko barked and breathed flame mixed with lightning from his Nyx Scepter, striking Kaiser and rendering him unconscious.
Piers looked at Kaiser with disgust. "He is useless."
Lyla was furious. "How can you say that!" Huge vines shot up and wrapped around Piers, but Piers moved at such high speed that he was now standing in front of Tenko; the vines only grabbed air behind him.
Piers looked at Tenko. "Get ready for your death." Piers raised his sword, ready to slash Tenko, but Kaiser woke up behind him and was ready to strike Piers. Piers instantly stopped his attack and dodged. "Never thought you were still alive."
"I can be called many things, but a quitter is not one of them," Kaiser asserted.
Tenko charged, covering himself with flame and lightning. Piers used his sword, but when Tenko's head met Piers's Phantom Insignia, the sword was pushed away, and Piers stumbled as Tenko ran past him, now standing behind him.
"For a deadly beast, you are strong," Piers conceded.
"You can defeat one of us, but let's see if you can defeat all of us," Lyla challenged. Tenko, Kaiser, and Lyla faced Piers, who simply smiled. Lyla sent a group of vines, which Piers burnt with Hellsfire. Kaiser and Tenko used this moment to appear behind and in front of Piers.
"Just this much?" Piers said. He stopped Kaiser's sword with his own and used Hellsfire to force Tenko back. "Umbrae Vocare!" Several black spirits gathered near Piers, forcing Kaiser to back down. Tenko used his flame breath to stop the black spirits. Piers then infused Hellsfire into the spirits. "Noctis Pinion!" The infernal spirits flew toward Lyla, Kaiser, and Tenko.
"What are these?" Lyla asked, using her vines to stop them.
Kaiser used his water slashes. "Don't know, but whatever it is, it's bad."
Tenko used his water breath to halt the spirits.
Lyla had an idea. "I have an idea, but I can only hold him for a few seconds. You would have to stop him within those seconds."
"Don't worry, I have something that can do that," Kaiser said. Tenko barked in agreement.
Lyla took out some seeds, threw them toward Piers, who used Hellsfire to burn them, but they grew instantly, shocking him, and the vines grabbed him. Piers used his Hellsfire to the maximum, but the plant covered him more and more. No use, these plants absorb spirit powers to increase their growth, Lyla thought.
Kaiser, consumed by anger, shouted, "Sword Saint Technique, 1st Form, 9th Verse: The Elemental Slash!" Flames engulfed the area, wind increasing their reach and strength. As the vines wrapped around him, Kaiser used them to fuel the flames, causing the earth to melt into lava and cover the sword with an extremely hot Lava and water to surround him to keep him cool. His entire eyes glowed red. Similarly, in front of Tenko's mouth, a tornado formed, mixing lightning, fire, water, and earth, shining like a wind cannon ready to fire.
Kaiser slashed, and Tenko fired the cannon blast. The slash and the blast collided against Piers, causing a massive explosion.
Kaiser, Tenko, and Lyla watched the smoke. "Did we make it?" Lyla asked.
"No," Piers's voice came from the smoke.
Kaiser, Lyla, and Tenko's eyes widened. Piers appeared in front of Lyla, ready to sever her head.
Deep within the water of consciousness, Rei woke up and swam toward the surface. As a single finger rose above the water, Piers's red eyes instantly turned blue. Piers dropped his sword and put his hand on his face.
"Stop! I won't let you kill them," Rei demanded.
"They are obstacles! They need to be eliminated!" Piers argued.
Kaiser, Lyla, and Tenko watched as the two personalities fought for control within a single body. Rei picked up the sword and placed it at his own throat. "If you won't stop, I will kill myself!"
"Fine, I will stop! I will stop!" Piers conceded. Rei's finger sank back into the water. "I am sorry, guys. I won't be able to keep this up any longer," Rei said. The blue eyes turned red. Piers, completely shaken, said, "I will spare you for now." He walked away and sent his spirits to tell his comrades to cease fighting.
In another country, the Fate Demon walked through a village. "How many cities have we conquered?"
"We have conquered the Principality and are on our way to conquering the Milan Country and Great Amos Country that are located on the north of the Galu Republic," a demon reported.
"We need to do this discreetly and make sure no one knows about this. This is going to be our trump card in increasing our numbers and preparing for the upcoming war," the Fate Demon commanded.
"Yes, Master."
"By the way, did you find Rei's location?" the Fate Demon asked.
"No, it's like he has disappeared from Astria."
"It's highly unlikely, but did you search Galu Republic, Houlthart, and Weiss?"
"Yes, we have been keeping tabs on those countries, however, we have not found him," the demon said.
Suddenly, another demon arrived. "Fate Demon, we got news on Rei!"
"Speak up."
"Our brethren in the Principality think that he is in the Principality."
"Do they know his location?"
"Unfortunately, no."
"Tell them to search his location. I need to fight Rei before he turns 18. At all costs." The Fate Demon's face twisted as the memory of an old man brutally killing his body flashed through his mind. He clutched his body. "Rei, I will kill you this time."