"You can't go any further." An icy voice halted Lina and Xellos in their tracks. "Zelgadis won't be able to go back with you anyway."

"Wha - ?" Lina spun around, and came face to face with the chimera look-alike. "Zel!" She began to run to him, but Xellos held her back.

"That's not our Zelgadis." He growled, brandishing his stave.

"I'm Zelgadis Greywers alright," the duplicate smiled. "Just not the one that you know."

"Where's our Zelgadis?!" Lina yelled. "What have you done to him?"

"Oh, him?" The false chimera snorted disdainfully. "You can't help him, he's already lost."

"You're lying!"

"Am I? He doesn't believe in himself anymore, and certainly doesn't believe you do."

"Zelgadis Greywers doesn't give up." Xellos snarled, the blood red gem of his staff gleaming. "None of my line do."

"Your line?" Zelgadis-koppii blinked.

"Where do you think Rezo got his ability to master all magics?" The Trickster glowered. "The Red Priest is my descendant, as is Zelgadis."

"What?!" Lina turned on the Mazoku, who was locked in a stare-down with the copy.

"It doesn't matter, he's lost now."

"Zelgadis!" Lina cried out, eyes brimming with tears.

Zelgadis! Someone was crying, the pain was so thick it was almost tangible Zelgadis, no... don't give up... please... Someone was crying for him! Two voices, defending him, trying to drive back the dark.

Zelgadis Greywers, blood of my blood, don't give in. Don't let him win.

Who were those two? The voices were familiar, but the memory of who they were was locked just beyond his grasp.

Zelgadis, if you can hear me, follow my voice

Zelgadis, fight the emptiness

Zel, c'mon, don't leave me alone

Lina! That was Lina's voice! But... How? Why?

Don't leave your girlfriend hanging A brief chuckle from the second voice.

Xellos, either help out or shut up!

Xellos?! The Trickster Priest was helping?!

Sorry Lina. And Xellos... He was related to XELLOS?!

And Lina was there, she believed in him!

"Stop." The copy growled. "You can't have him."

"FIRE - " Lina began, but Xellos stopped her.

"Don't!" He hissed. "Magic can't be used inside the mind of a living being. It destroys their astral essence."

"But how are we going to fight him?" Lina pouted. "We gotta get our Zel back!"

"Lina?" It came as barely more than a whisper, originating from somewhere in the void the duplicate guarded. "Lina... please... I... I need your help." Delicately, almost hesitating, Zelgadis' slender hand emerged from the empty space.

"Zel!" Lina yelled, her hand darting out to grab his. The false chimera moved to stand between them, but the red-headed sorceress passed right through him.

"So." Zelgadis-koppii glanced down at her arm that would have skewereed him had he not become intangible. "He has faith in you, and that has restored his heart. Rezo-sama, I have failed you. Zelgadis has shattered the Second Seal..."