"You've changed a lot since you were human," Hirokan commented with a gentle smile. "Gotten...braver. Stronger."

Tetsuda looked up from stone cup. His companion sat on a rock on the other side of the fire, the light illuminating his forced pleasantry. Night was little different in Iyan than in the human realm, but now it seemed darker, more empty and cold—even with the ubiquitous sulfur drifting through the air. They'd left the palace immediately after Tetsuda's exile, and after a few hours' travel, they'd found themselves in a wasteland full of black rocks with a small pond. He only drank to occupy himself, truly—demons had no need for food or water.

"It's not an ideal strength," Tetsuda said. "Or, at least, not an ideal time for it."

"It's difficult," his companion agreed. "You've loved him for so long, and now you've been ripped from him by a force you can't comprehend…"

"No," he said, shaking his head. "You're wrong. I can comprehend it. Tyrannus is—"

A few rocks skittered across the ground, and in an instant, Tetsuda withdrew Erectus and turned. The tip of his blade hovered mere millimeters from a masked face.

"Put that down," she hissed. "We're not here to harm you."

He blinked a few times. "Regina?"

The mask lowered, revealing the Ultima Luxuria's face. "Yes, it's me. We abandoned Tyrannus not long after you two did."

"What do you mean, 'we?'"

Footsteps sounded behind Regina, revealing Potentia and Zelotypia.

"You defected, too?" he asked.

"We were planning to after the first purges started," Potentia said. "But we just brushed it off as post-war paranoia."

"After what happened today, though, we knew we couldn't stay with Tyrannus any longer," added Zelotypia. "He annoyed Tyrannus to no end, but Basileus was the closest companion Tyrannus had before you. So after you and Hirokan left, we renounced Tyrannus and left."

Slowly, Tetsuda nodded. "I'm glad, actually. With what I have planned, I'll need more than just the two of us. Sit down. I'll tell you what I was about to tell Hirokan."

So they sat around the fire, all eyes fixated on Tetsuda, as the incubus began.

"You all know that Tyrannus killed Tairo a year ago, but not all of you know how. He didn't just kill Tairo—he absorbed him, body and soul, using the technique Anima Effusio."

All eyes widened, save for Hirokan, who had witnessed the event directly. "What?" Potentia breathed.

He nodded. "And he's had the ability for quite some time. Tyrannus said the soul of Iacto, the previous Ultimo Superbia, acted as a 'warden' of sorts, keeping the souls from overwhelming his mind. It's safe to say that Tairo was more powerful than Iacto, and...well, in short, I think Tairo's overtaken Tyrannus's mind."

"You're certain?" Regina asked.

"Yes. It has to be. Tyrannus's mannerisms, and even his appearance...they're changing. And I'm worried he'll be completely consumed if he's left alone much longer."

"What do you suggest, then? Killing him?"

He shook his head. "I can't do that. Even if he's changed, the real Tyrannus is still in there somewhere—my Tyrannus is still in there somewhere. I'll save him. Before the madness, he mentioned he went to somewhere called Cosiyan to train with Iacto. Maybe there's a solution there."

"Cosiyan's real?" Zelotypia asked. "I thought it was just a myth."

"Myth?"

"Cosiyan is supposedly a place full of ancient knowledge and secrets of great power. It's regarded as a children's tale by most, but if Anima Effusio is real...then Cosiyan must be a real place."

"What type of ancient knowledge does the myth talk about?"

"Well, Cosiyan is supposed to be home to the Gens Pereat, or 'Lost Tribe.' There's eight of them in total, one for each demonic race, and they're considered the originators of all demons. Now that I think about it, Tyrannus must have based the Factionry system off of them. If anyone can help you, it's them."

"Assuming they even exist," muttered Regina.

"It's the only chance we have. But it's not one I want to take together. I'll need more than knowledge to stop him. I'll need soldiers, and lots of them. I want you to gather as many people as you can, but avoid areas of heavy military presence. Keep it to Ceniyan and the area surrounding it if you can. We already lost one good demon today—I don't want to lose another."