I won't let you hurt Lina anymore! Fire burned in the heart of the young man, a blaze that was fueled purely by the sorrow of said girl's confession, and it ran through all that he was with a cleansing light. Do you hear me, Shabranigdo? Never again!!!

I loved you, Zelgadis. The words of the ruby-eyed sorceress spurred him on.

Then, and only then, did the Greywers child understand the true power that Rezo had locked away inside his stone body. He took the knowledge, accepted the power, and made a decision.

Body. Heart. Soul. Together, they made him who he was, what he lived for. But he wanted to live for Lina, and nothing else.

So he blasted the legendary Dark Lord Shabranigdo with the power that was his love for the scarlet haired sorceress, destroying the possession.

Everyone fell silent when blood exploded from the incision on the chimera's chest. Crimson ichor splashed the ground, each droplet leaving it's own stain on the face of the earth.

"Impossible!" The Dark Lord cried, trying to hold in the liquid life. "That... damn Greywers boy... broke the seal! But... how?!" Shabranigdo collapsed to his knees, then twisted and fell back.

The Slayers team gathered around the chimera's body, hald expecting him to revive and blast them to their next life in a single energy attack.

"Zelgadis?" Ameria asked, upon finding the Shamanist's eyes had returned to their original color. "Zel?"

"Zel, c'mon man, you're scaring me." Gourry's blue eyes widened with fear at the unnatural coldness of his ally's skin.

"Zelgadis. Zel. Are you still with us?" Xellos searched the chimera's throat for a pulse, but recoiled when he touched the bloody pulp-remains of his trechea.

"Zelgadis Greywers, answer me!" Lina demanded, tears threatening to flow down her cheeks. "Please... Zel... I'm begging you..."

Lina... my Lina... I wish it could have been... The dying youth's blue toned hand covered hers. How will you remember me when I am gone, my Lina? What keepsake can I give you so I do not disappear from your memory?

The red headed girl gently held him, cradling his still form to her as tightly as she was gentle. Ameria had gone through every healing spell in white magic twice; all she was able to accomplish was the minor recovery of his throat. Gourry, feeling usless and impatient, paced. Xellos was praying to the Lord of Nightmares herself, rather than to the Beastmaster.

"Zel... Please, I don't want you to die!" Lina whispered into his ear, crying with each desperate plea.

"Lina." Zelgadis rasped, the pain in his voice smothering the relief she felt. "Prom... promise me you'll... you'll remember that I... I wasn't perfect. I don't... don't want to be an idol... untouchable... pro-pro-promise me that... you'll move on... don't grieve too long."

"Zel, don't talk like this." Lina begged, fresh tears obscuring her vision. Her love was dying in her arms, and she was helpless to stop it.

"Remember that I..." A violent shudder ran through his battered and bleeding body, and scarlet nectar bubbled over his lips with his last words. "I loved you, too... more than life itself." He closed his eyes, breathed his last, and died in the arms of his redeemer.