Rei looked at Tenko, his scepter unformed, struggling to create its true body. "How did my scepter form?" Rei thought, a desperate question in his mind. He remembered his own scepter changing, attracting all the ores, krystallites, and magic gems in the dungeon to complete its formation. But there was nothing here to help form Tenko's Nyx Scepter. Rei's first instinct was to abandon Tenko and flee. Hunters and dungeon monsters were closing in, intent on killing him, and Rei didn't want to die. He clenched his teeth and started running, remembering all the times he'd spent with Tenko. But he wouldn't let those emotions cloud his judgment. "The world is like this," Rei thought. "It is the survival of the fittest."
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, "Do you think so?" Rei was startled. He remembered. This was the exact thought he'd had in his past life, soon after he was jailed. He had been sitting in a cell, talking to his mother, his weak, distrustful eyes hidden by his long black hair. "This world is like this," he had told her. "It is the survival of the fittest. If there would be a next life, I would only focus on my own survival." His mother's gentle voice had replied, "Do you think so? My son, I know you feel betrayed, but don't become a bitter person. Otherwise, what will be the difference between you and that woman who put a false accusation on you? Promise me something: you would always remain the same helpful person, no matter what."
Without realizing it, Rei was running towards Tenko, tears streaming from his eyes. As he scooped up Tenko, a surge of lightning coursed through his body. Rei clenched his teeth and yelled, but he held on to Tenko, turning and running directly towards the charging dungeon monsters and hunters. As he reached them, Tenko's unformed Nyx Scepter began to attract their ores, krystallites, and many other important minerals. The thunder emanating from the Nyx Scepter intensified, but Rei didn't put Tenko down. Instead, he used his Chaos Scepter to create a huge tornado. He then used its powerful wind and a few wind bombs to blast himself to the other side of town. He fell hard, feeling his bones crack, the thunder still coursing through his body.
Suddenly, Rei heard footsteps and looked around, completely terrified. Hanna was coming. "I am not going to die so easily," Rei thought. He struggled to his feet, holding Tenko, who was now enveloped by the scepter's thunder, his own body wracked with cracked bones. He pointed his scepter at Hanna. "Stand down, sister," Rei grit out, "otherwise I will make you." His eyes were now a mix of determination, anger, and disgust.
Hanna pulled out her sword. Inside her mind, she tried to raise her hand, willing herself to stop. "Stop this!" she silently screamed. She began chanting, channeling fire magic through her sword, creating an inferno of fire. But then, an earth wall, not created by Rei, blocked her attack.
"Stop!" Bart's voice boomed from the left. Hanna was suddenly enveloped in a box of golden light. Eugene, from the right, extended his palm, which glowed with a golden light. "I will show you my true strength!" he declared. Hanna, chanting fiercely, unleashed a fire slice that again turned into an inferno, shattering the golden shield.
Athena, watching from the mind realm, saw the interference. She immediately used her divine power to control Bart and Eugene. Their eyes glazed over, and they both extended their hands towards Rei. "I can't get out alive," Rei thought, his gaze falling on Tenko. "Tenko, survive." Rei channeled his lightning spell, desperately attempting to control Tenko's mind.
Eugene used his holy magic to strengthen Hanna, who then sliced with her sword, sending a raging inferno towards Rei. Rei shielded Tenko with his body, his skin burning, but he didn't stop controlling Tenko's mind. Bart's earth spell pierced through Rei's body, but Rei held on, refusing to give up. Finally, when he was done, a small smile touched Rei's lips. "This might reach late, but I hope this will save you, Tenko," he whispered, before losing consciousness as blood seeped from his wounds.
Inside Tenko's mind realm, the sky was a vibrant dark blue, but the ground was an unsettling black. Tenko saw a colossal black Navarion, its red eyes fixed on him. Tenko began dodging its attacks, but soon, he was bound by chains. Athena, present within the mind realm, could exist and exert her divine powers. As Tenko was bound by her attacks, he was unable to break free. Athena created a screen, displaying Rei's dying scene. "Oh, poor soul," Athena sneered. "He had to protect you, but now he will pay the cost. It's because of you now that he will die."
Tenko's eyes filled with despair. He struggled desperately against the chains, but he was powerless. A large paw, appearing from the ethereal form of the Nyx, pushed him down, pinning him, making him unable to move. "How does it feel to be the cause of your master's death?" Athena's voice dripped with malicious delight.
Tenko growled, a deep, guttural sound, and his eyes began to glow. A huge surge of energy erupted from him, completely disintegrating the large Navarion. Tenko then heard Rei's voice, calm and clear in his mind: "Tenko, I have always known that your Nyx Scepter was going to transform, so I have been collecting krystallites and ores for you, and even learning to control minds so I can control your mind and assist you during this fight. However, I have little time. I might be dead by the time this message reaches you. So Tenko, I want you to do your best."
A single tear rolled down Tenko's fur. He looked at Athena with cold, angry eyes, his fury now visible not only in his gaze but in his entire expression. Athena's face showed amusement, ready for a fight. However, her expression suddenly shifted. Power began surging around Tenko, and soon, the energy started turning into a swirling vortex. Cracks began to appear in the mind realm. Athena desperately used her divine powers to fix the cracks, but they appeared at a much faster rate than she could mend. In just five seconds, the mind realm shattered.
On the outside, Bart attacked with his earth spell. Eugene strengthened Hanna's magic, and by slicing with her sword, she unleashed a fire slice that transformed into a raging inferno, all headed towards Rei, who lay on the verge of death. But a fierce wind suddenly swept them all away. Tenko, now in his large, powerful form, fangs bared, stood with an angry expression directly in front of Rei, shielding him.