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A stranger named Zizhan arrives in the House, offering his services. Although several people are put off by his
arrogant behavior, he is allowed to stay. Around the same time, Philip and Ariadne return from their Risan honeymoom.
Tranns and Lucien, meanwhile, head off to Hyrule. A message thrown through a lobby window interrupts a moment between
Adriana and Aden. A frustrated Adriana reads the message, which informs the Phoenix Fighters that both Jake and Bendix have
been kidnapped, and that they are invited to try and take them back. It was signed simply by "Dat Mann." As the pair
get over the shock, the rock that came with the message flies at the gong and rings it, bringing the inhabitants of the House
into the lobby. Everyone piles into the room as the magical rock dips and dives and finally attacks them. Adriana traps it
under a cage and plans the rescue team.
Many people step forward, and a volunteer rescue team of ten people set out
to track down the kidnapper. The team is composed of Pfalz, Pipira, Philip and Ariadne, Amorette, Inigo, Zizhan, Sito,
and Cirrus. With the rock as a willing guide, they soon arrive at a small town, where the rock stops in front of a strange,
bare building and remains silent. The Phoenix Fighters knock once and are received by a man in Ebene garb. Calling
himself "Aquila," he elegantly welcomes them into the building, which appears to be larger inside than it is on the outside,
though just as devoid of decor. After the group demands he release the hostages, he snaps a finger and they are teleported
into two different rooms, splitting the group in half.
One half, with Cirrus, Pfalz, Amorette, Ariadne, and Zizhan,
goes through room after room of riddle or word puzzle, racking their brains to find the solution. Still, their progress is
steady, and they begin to advance quickly with the aid of Zizhan's quick mind at the end. The other half of the team gets
thrown into a similar room, but of a more physical variety that force them to work together. Both seperated teams get the
uneasy feeling that the challenges are pretty easy to handle, and they are just arriving to the last room when the lights
go completely out.
The lights turn back on to reveal not only everyone back together, but Bendix and Jake sitting tied
up in two cages, as well as a gloating Aquila sitting on a throne. He declares himself an Ebene officer that they should fear
as he threatens the kidnapped pair with an ominous lever. After tiring of his monologue our heroes attempt to save their friends
with a quick dash, but this results in failure with Ariadne and Philip being shocked in varying degrees when they touch the
cages. In anger, Aquila pulls the lever, but its malfunction causes Jake's cage to open up instead. Using the distraction
to his advantage, Cirrus dashes in an stabs Aquila before he can do anything. With his dying breath the villain activates
a hidden switch which sets Bendix's cage on fire.
Everyone gapes in horror as Bendix is burned alive, his screams making
many turn away in horror. As the fires die down and only his ashes remain, our heroes mourn his loss. Zizhan, ever cautious,
goes as far as to taste the ashes to see if they are real. His suspicions are not waste, though, as soon enough the ashes
tremble and light errupts from them. Out of the ashes a glowing figure flies out, red wings spreading out. To everyone's surprise,
Bendix's figure shifts to someone that catches them completely by surprise: War.
Smirking and jovial, War greets everyone
and happily reveals that he's been tricking them all along under the guise of Bendix. After toying with them for a bit, Ariadne
attacks and stabs War with her talons. It is then that he reveals that he used a spell to copy Ariadne's and Philip's immortality
upon himself. Growing bored with the situation, though, the maniac sets the building to crumble and teleports everyone outside,
leaving them stunned.
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