The Great Old One slid out of the ruined building, making a sickening slithering noise as it did so.  It seemed to be some sort of enormous scorpion, easily twice Michael's height even while on all its legs.  Twelve legs, thick hairs protruding from them jutted out of the bloated and pulsating body.  Its head was small in comparison, a lump on the front, added as though it were an afterthought.  Its mouth dripped a vile greenish fluid that smoked when it touched the ground, and the eyes above appeared randomly over the remainder of its head, tiny and so numerous as to be uncountable.
    Donovan, behind Michael, spoke.  "I welcome you, master!  I have brought the mortal, as you asked."
    The Great Old One looked toward Donovan, and suddenly Michael could feel the entity's toughts grating through his own mind.
    "Well done, you may leave us."  Michael nearly screamed, hating the feel of that thing in his mind.  It made him nauseous.  Then it was gone, and Donovan had left.  He stared at the Great Old one.
    "So, you are the one that Stinnett fears so much."  Once more, the massive presense of the being roiled through his mind.  He gritted his teeth to stop from crying out.  He wasn't about to show any weakness to this thing.
    The Great Old One laughed, out loud.  "I'm terribly sorry, it must hurt you for me to do that.  It won't happen again." he was speaking now, though Michael did not know how, and did not really desire to know.  All he wanted to do was get out of here.  But it did not seem his host was going to allow that.  As though reading his thoughts, which, Michael supposed, was not beyond the ability of the creature, the Great Old One took a quick few steps forward, and feinted an attack toward Michael.  The knight nearly fell over in his haste to get out of the way.  This only made the Great Old One laugh more.  "Oh, and to think I had anticipated this battle so much.  It seems that you are no more than any other mortal."
    "You intend to fight me."  Michael said.  It wasn't a question - the monster's intentions were quite clear.  "Why?"
    "Very simple.  One day, you may become powerful enough to defeat Stinnett.  It is a very silly idea, that a mortal could challenge one so powerful as he, or I, but it is not unthinkable.  And after, perhaps, dispatching Stinnett, you might decide that you wished my death.  And so, I have decided to stop you before this can happen."  The scorpion-thing almost seemed to be grinning.  "Besides, I have not battled a worthy adversary in many years.  You, I suppose, will have to do."
    With that, the Great Old One darted forward, striking Michael's side with one of his front legs.  The force knocked him across the room, and he landed painfully on the stone floor.  Through a haze of pain, Michael could hear the monster mocking him.
    "What a valiant knight you are!" the voice intruded into his mind again, mocking him, making Michael writhe.  "Knocked down even before he could strike a blow!"
    Michael rose to his feet, despite the protests of his injuries.  Both his hands clasped his sword and willed its magic forth.  The blade hummed into life, glowing brightly.  The magic coursed through him once more, wiping away his pain, his uncertainty.  Leveling the sword toward the monster, Michael growled through his teeth. "Get out of my head."
    The Great Old One faltered for a moment, a look of uncertanty crossing his face.  It was the perfect opening.  Michael leapt forward, and with a great swing of his sword, severed one of the thing's forelegs.
    The cry of the beast filled the cave as the sword's magic careened through it for the split second that they were in contact.  He leapt back involuntarily, trying to put more room between himself and Michael.
    Michael pressed the attack, taking a sizeable chunk of another foreleg.  The Great Old one hissed and swung at the knight, barely missing.  Michael had to jump backwards to avoid being crushed.
    "So, the mortal proves to be more than he seems!" the spider-thing said, seeming half-amused and half-angered.  "Perhaps I will get the battle I wanted!"
    "Perhaps" Michael answered "you will die." and darted forward.  The Great Old One was was quick, twisting to the side and managing to avoid the brunt of the attack.  Michael had to dive to get out of the way of the counterattack, but was quick to thrust the sword into the swollen torso of the being.  The scorpion cried out in a mixture of fury and pain, rearing back involuntarily.  Michael slashed it across its exposed underbelly, letting loose a pus-filled mixture of blood and black ochre.  The Great Old One retreated further toward the building from whence it came.  Michael followed, glaring his killing intent toward the monster.
    The monster retreated slowly, not wanting to give its adversary any openings.  The two came closer to the ruined temple that served as the entity's sanctuary.  Michael moved around, trying to cut off the Great Old One's intended escape route, but the spider was still nearly as agile on ten legs as it had been on twelve.  Michael felt the magic of the sword draining from him suddenly, and moved back in surprise.  This prompted a rushing attack by the monster, which he only barely managed to avoid.  His magic was failing him?
    The Great Old One seemed to notice it too.  "Interesting!  So, your power fades, does it?  I wonder-" he burst out into terrible laughter.  "Of course!  Your holy sword will avail you not, here in the depths of hell!  For my sanctuary holds more ancient evil than your puny mind can concieve.  And your weapon is not its equal."  With that, the creature turned and ran toward its sanctuary.
    Michael didn't know what the thing had been talking about, but he did know that he would never catch up to it.  So he did the only thing he could.  He threw the sword at the retreating scorpion.
    The Great Old One screamed in pain as the sword lodged itself in his back.  Its magic was fading the closer the thing got to its sanctuary, but the horrid being's progress slowed as its back four legs dragged, useless, underneath its weight.  Michael could see the effect the sword had on the thing.  He ran to close the distance from himself to the scorpion.
    The Great Old One's progress stopped altogether.  Its keening cried raked against Michael's consciousness.  "I cannot die like this!  I cannot!  There is no mortal that can best me!"  His thoughts degenerated into a meaningless fury, breaking against Michael's unprotected mind.  Michael's head was spinning as his mind was filled with the thoughts of the dying creature.
    And then it stopped.  The only sound in the room was that of Michael's labored breathing.  After a few moments, he walked closer to the corpse.  The Great Old One lie, dead, with Michael's sword embedded in its back, no more than ten feet from its sanctuary.
    The sound of a man clapping caused Michael to whirl around to the entrance of the cavern.
    "Very, very well done.  I congratulate you."  Stinnett said.