Part Eleven It's Over, Right?

Fillia went right into action, turning into a dragon. Behind her, she could hear Lina starting a Laugna Blade spell, while Zelgadiss and Amelia were throwing astral spells to keep him off the astral plane. Fillia flew up, seeing Sirus and Gourry rush forward to attack. She opened her mouth and fired her laser breath at Drrael. To her surprise, the beam reflected off his tough, scaly skin. Drrael turned to her.

"You fool," Drrael roared. If I can convert Mazoku wretches into lowly humans, dost not thou thinkest that I can perform the same task upon thee?" Fillia's heart went cold. The full realization came crushing down on her as she remembered the condition that Xellos first came to them in. His broken and bloody body that could not heal was etched into her mind in one horrifying memory that gave her nightmares during their journey. She flew back, trying to escape Drrael's long arm which reached out to her.

"Revert!" he commanded. Pain blinded her as she felt her body condense into her human form. The pain did not end there, however, as she felt her tail push back inside of her. She tried to scream, but only brought up blood. Fillia was briefly aware of the fact that she was falling, but it did not register in her mind. She closed her eyes, feeling Drrael pulling at her soul.

"Finally! I am once more restored unto mine former glory! No more must I devour bodies in order to leech out souls. Finally, I can pull souls as I wish without the hindrance of human flesh!"

"FILLIA!!" Xellos screamed. Sirus was slightly taken aback by how loud Xellos' voice was and how it carried so far. Sirus had been frozen in horror as Fillia bounced on the ground, once more human. Suddenly, Xellos was by her side, trying desperately to cast a Recovery. "No," Xellos whispered. "NOOO!!" He held her head gently in his hands, crying out for all the world to hear.

Sirus turned to Drrael, the monster who should not have existed. Energy flowed around him as he started to chant an ancient white magic spell. The spell was extremely dangerous, and would probably kill him in the process, but Drrael would not be allowed to escape. He would need time, though, in order to complete the spell. Thankfully, it was Xellos who provided it.

"Drrael," he shouted. "Do Mazoku have feelings?"

"Why wouldst thou wish to know? Drrael answered. Sirus continued to gather energy.

"The feelings I have for Fillia," Xellos continued, ignoring the tears that streamed down his face. "They have always been there, even when I was a Mazoku. Since you turned me into a human, the feelings have only intensified. DO MAZOKU HAVE FEELINGS?"

"Thou art far more perceptive than Kotowa had given thee credit for, child," Drrael replied. Sirus continued the energy build. He tasted blood in his mouth, but continued the spell. "When I was created by the energy Mother Golden Eye used to make thee and thy kind, I took with me the emotional block meant for thou. Whenever a creature is brought into the cursèd world of thine, it comes with instincts and emotions to guide or hinder it. For thee and thy Mazoku brethren, the Dragons that sore and the humans in this particular world, emotions are far more complicated than they are for the simple beast. I took the block with me to avoid any hindrance that mine emotions may cause. Thus I am free, but thou Mazoku cover thy feelings with the pain thou feedest upon. Thou art lucky, tiny Mazoku child. Thou canst feel stronger what thy brethren can not. Mother Golden Eye must have blest thee for another of her purposes for Chaos."

Sirus could almost hear Xellos' beliefs shatter into pieces by the revelation that Drrael provided. He could feel Drrael getting ready to attack Xellos. Sirus would not allow it. No one else will die today. Not if I have anything to say about it.

"Foul beast!" Sirus called. He slipped into the ancient speech Drrael seemed to like using. "Thou art, by far, the most malicious and vile Mazoku every faced by man. But knowest thou that thou canst not win in such a confrontation with champions of light?" Sirus smiled inwardly as he realized how much he sounded like Amelia. But it didn't matter. They could not fail.

"Pitiful human. I both am and am not a Mazoku. I was made to be a Mazoku, but I have transcended the limitations of thy companion's brethren."

"Mazoku," Sirus continued, ignoring Drrael's response, "Mazoku torture, hurt and inflict pain upon their chosen victims so that they may live on and feed. But the victims of such tragedies have the opportunity to move on with their lives and rebuild what was torn down before them." He was surprised that Drrael did not just cut him down where he stood. By now Sirus was glowing rather brightly from the energy he had gathered and was continuing to gather. In the back of his mind, he wondered where the others were. "But even as the victims of mine companion's cohorts make anew the life they almost lost, thou steal it once more form them. Thou devour their most precious possessions, their souls, and use it for thine own purposes. How canst thou do such a thing?"

"The answer, human child, is simple. I am and yet I am not a Mazoku. Thus the normal rules thou applyest to normal Mazoku do not apply to me."

Sirus charged forward, screaming. Drrael was infuriating in his calm utterance of the fact that he killed for no reason. It was indignatious and horrific. Sirus could not allow such a being to exist any longer, lest he would go mad from the hate he felt for the abomination before him. He ignored the blood that kept coming up into his throat and continued to charge toward Drrael.

"Thinkest thou that such a small spell can do harm unto me? Thou art foolish in throwing away thine life."

Sirus pushed forward. All he had to do was touch Drrael with this spell and it would be enough to destroy him. At least, that was what Sirus hoped. He could hear Amelia calling out his name in the distance. Sirus finally reached the beast's large toe that had dwarfed Fillia. He touched Drrael's scaly hide.

"Jin Chi Gi Shin Rei Ha!" The spell exploded, throwing Sirus back. He hit the ground hard but rolled with it, trying to slow himself down. He felt bones snap and crunch beneath him. There was a deafening screech from Drrael's general direction.

Sirus was aware of smoke, pain, and darkness. I'm still alive? After that spell? He was amazed. However, the pain shot through him again as he realized the full extent of his injuries. Amelia was by his side, casting a Recovery spell on him. Opening his eyes, he saw her blue ones filled with tears.

"Sirus," she whispered. "Don't you ever do that to me again."

"Never again, Highness," he said. Sitting up he pushed her aside, casting his own Recovery spell which was faster. Together, they looked over to the pillar of smoke where Drrael stood. The light spells were starting to falter, but everyone recast them, tossing them once again into their bleak surroundings. Zelgadiss cast a small wind spell, blowing the smoke away. To everyone's surprise, Drrael still stood, though he didn't look very well. He stood there, motionless.

"Congratulations, human. Thou hast learned of the ancient white magic that died with its creator's eons ago. I applaud thou even more, for despite the risks to thou and thine companions, thou hast cast the spell and lived. Misfortunately, and to thine own fault and sorrow, thou shalt now die."

Amelia dove in front of Sirus. "No! Vile creature, you will not have this man!"

"But thou art in ere. Even now, I am taking his soul away from him. He made a grave decision when he decided to heal the wounds I hath inflicted upon him. In white magic, the Recovery, no matter which version is used, draws upon the soul of the caster or the victim. Thou, foolish white magic child, have delivered unto me thine most precious possession, as thou hast called it. Thou hast given me thine soul."

Sirus' eyes widened as he realized what was happening. The corners of his vision darkened. How could he have been so stupid? How could he have let this happen?

"And know this, before I take thee into the void where I will feed upon thee, the spell thou risked everything upon may have harmed mine physical body, but thou hast failed in harming me." Before his fading vision, Sirus watched Drrael repair all the damage in the blink of an eye. His vision turned black. The last thing he heard was Amelia's sobbing.

Xellos gently put Fillia's head down. He had watched Fillia and Sirus die, and he would not allow this to continue. "I'm sorry, Fillia," he whispered to her stiffening form. Reaching up her skirt, Xellos felt around until he got what he wanted. Pulling it out, he ignored its weight, balancing it on his shoulder. With his free hand, he slammed his staff to the ground, teleporting onto Drrael's body. He lifted it into the air, bring it down onto Drrael as hard as he could. Fillia's mace bounced off like nothing had happened. Xellos ignored the lack of success and teleported somewhere else. He didn't care if Drrael could heal himself. This was personal.

Reappearing around Drrael's face, he shoved the mace into Drrael's large eye, forcing it shut. He teleported again, and again and again, continually slamming Fillia's mace, though it did no good.

"Annoying gnat! Thou art like a child who does not understand a superior who is before him! Thine soul shall be added to mine stomach, and there shalt thou become aware of slow and excruciating pain for this annoyance!"

In one smooth motion, Drrael predicted where Xellos would next appear. He didn't stand a chance. Drrael shoved a massive hand to Xellos, who was not as fast as a Mazoku anymore. Xellos felt several things break as he flew out over the barren wasteland. The pull of his soul was hard to understand. After all, he was a Mazoku. Why should he have a soul? He certainly didn't deserve one.

Xellos was faintly aware of the impact.

Amelia's tears fell unhindered down her face. Half of their force was now down to just four. Lina-san had been unable to cast the Laugna Blade when Sirus was gathering so much energy, and now, like Gourry-san and Zelgadiss-san, and herself, Lina-san was frozen in horror. However, from Gourry-san, their came a war cry unlike any other as he rushed forward, Sword of Light blazing in his hands. Zelgadiss-san made a move to join him, but Lina-san stopped him.

"Alright you two," Lina-san said. "Listen up." With both of their attention to her, Lina-san placed a finger on each of their foreheads. Amelia felt a small fountain of knowledge enter into her mind. The knowledge of how to cast a Dragu Slave.

"Lina-san?" she asked. "What did you do?"

"That was a spell my sister taught me. You both have the knowledge on how to do a Dragu Slave, but only once. After you cast the spell, you won't be able to cast it again without learning how." Her face was stern. "Let's see what a triple Dragu Slave can do to him before Gourry gets himself killed." All three started to cast the spell in perfect harmony, releasing it at the same exact moment. Gourry paused in his frontal assault and watched all three hit Drrael. When the smoke cleared, Drrael remained unharmed. Amelia cursed him.

Casting a Levitation spell, Amelia flew up over to Drrael, staying low. "RA TILT!" she shouted, blasting Drrael with everything he had. She fell to the ground, which thankfully wasn't that far away. Looking up however, she saw that all her energy did nothing.

Sirus, it looks like I'm about to join you, she thought sadly, already feeling her soul being pulled away.

"Amelia!" Zelgadiss shouted. He cast a Ray Wing bubble around her, beckoning it to come to him. When the bubble burst, he examined her. But it was too late. "Noooo!" he cried out, slamming his fists to the ground. He had so few friends. Only one love, but very few friends that accepted him for who he was. Even though Amelia had wanted him to be more than friends, she was still precious to him. To precious to loose like this. This pointless and senseless killing.

Growing up, he knew nothing of friendship because he was so weak. It was his weakness that forced him to be alone on the streets and landed him in jail. It was his weakness that made him perform body duty. It was his weakness that had given him into Rezo's hands. Rezo and Shabranigdo's hands. It was that same weakness that turned him into a monster.

Yet a small number of people trusted him. It didn't matter to them what he looked like, they trusted him. Despite how poorly he treated them, insulted them, ignored them, left them alone to go cure-hunting, they still trusted him. They still wanted to be his friends. But his weakness had reared it's ugly head again as, one by one, he watched them die. Amelia had been like a little sister for him, though she saw that affection as something else. He would be damned if he was going to let any more of his precious but few friends be killed, just for the sake of killing.

Zelgadiss stood up, banishing the tears that slid down his face. Lina was by his side, trying to talk to him, but he didn't hear her.

"No more," he whispered. "No more!" he shouted. "Do you hear me Drrael? Friends in this world are too precious and I will not let you take any more!" He ran forward, drawing his sword. "Phase X!!" He ignored the pain as he shifted phases. He ignored Program Rezo, who tried to calm him down.

I'm sorry, Program Rezo, he replied No more friends can be sacrificed. You said so yourself. I was designed to fight Shabrinigdo, so I can fight Drrael.

>No, you idiot! He's far more powerful than Shabranigdo! Not only that, the only way you would be any match for Shabrinigdo would be if you were in Phase M or higher! But if you go into that phase now, in your current state, Drrael will be able to control you like a puppet!<

Then this phase will have to do, Zel responded grimly. By now he was flying up by Drrael's face, slashing away as much as he could. The animalistic instincts of this phase started taking over as his attacks became, if possible, even more savage.

"Foolish hybrid," Drrael's voice boomed. "Dost thou truly believe that thou art mine match? Thou shalt perish as they 'precious' allies have before thee." With the flick of a finger, Zelgadiss was sent tumbling back, reverting to his original chimera form. He twisted and turned in the air, trying to regain his balance so he could cast a spell properly. His eyes widened in terror as he saw that he was heading directly for Gourry. He tried desperately to change the angle of his fall, but to no avail. He landed right on top of Gourry's sword arm, breaking it as the were hurled backward. Unfortunately, it was Gourry's sword arm, so the Sword of Light impaled itself through Zelgadiss' chest, filling his lungs with blood. His eyes went blank, his soul going right through the whole in his chest.

Gourry's arm hung limply by his side after he pulled it out from under Zelgadiss' heavy but lifeless body. The anger and pain in his heart reached new heights as yet another friend died. Drrael was taking to many of the people he cared for. The emotions he felt were beyond any of the words that existed. He picked up his sword with his good hand, ignoring his body as it screamed at him to stop this hopeless endeavor. There were only two people left now. Lina, for some reason, was unable to move, which left everything upon his broad shoulders.

Gourry wanted to tell Lina to get ready to blast Drrael, but he found that he was beyond words. From somewhere deep in his throat, there arose yet another war cry that could pound down mountains. With his sword flickering in his hand, he advanced as best he could. His ribs protested loudly, saying that they were broken, along with several bones in one of his feet, but he pressed on. Drrael had slaughtered them all for no good reason. He had taken Sylphiel away from him. He had taken his traveling companions from him. He had had the gall to try and use his own brother against him. Gourry wouldn't take it any more.

Drrael scoffed and flicked a finger, like he had done with Zelgadiss. Gourry was sent backward, rolling around. From somewhere next to his heart, he felt a tug. His vision faded as his soul was pulled out.

Lina stood frozen. She didn't understand why she couldn't move. She had tried several times, but something stopped her every time. She tried to move again as Gourry fell, not getting up. This time, it proved that she could, but it was too late. She stood in a barren wasteland surrounded by the bodies of her friends and the body of her one soul mate by her feet. She started to fall into despair. All of her friends had thrown everything at Drreal, yet he still stood there like nothing had happened to him. How could she do any good if her friends couldn't?

"And what of thee, human? What canst thou do against me? Or perhaps thou wish to discuss this matter anon? It matters not to me, but thou must choose soon lest I destroy thee now."

Lina mentally ran through all the spells she knew. The only two that might be of any use would be the Giga Slave and the Laugna Blade. The Giga Slave was out of the question, but Lina wasn't sure if she had the strength left to cast a Laugna Blade. When she had tried to cast it before when Sirus (poor Sirus) was gathering energy, the spell almost broke in her hands, forcing her to stop. Lina was worried she might not have the time needed. Drrael would almost have to know that she was casting a Nightmare level spell and try to stop her before she could finish. She didn't have any choices left. But could she do it?

Go forth with love and justice in your heart, Lina-san!

"Amelia?" Lina whispered.

Listen to Amelia-chan, Lina.

"Sirus?!"

We're all here, Xellos said.

The Laugna Blade can do it, if we hold Drrael.

"Fillia? What are you talking about?"

It's simple Lina. Amelia and Sirus have been preaching to all the souls in here with us.

"Gourry? Don't you ever make sense!"

Lina-san, we've convinced everyone to fight Drrael rather than be eaten. We can hold him off long enough for you to cast the Laugna Blade, so go for it!

Amelia-chan is right. She's also quite the stirring speaker.

"Are you all nuts! If you haven't been eaten yet, then when I hit Drrael, you'll all be killed!"

Trust us, Lina-chan.

"Zel?" Lina's voice suddenly got very quiet. "Is that you?"

Hai. Though we don't know the exact consequences, we do know we won't die if you destroy Drrael. It will be alright, Lina-chan. You get to save the world again. This time, though, I'll treat you to a feast.

"You better be right Zel," Lina said loudly. "Alright!" She pushed up imaginary sleeves. "Drrael, I think it's time you get put to rest, real permanent like so that humanity can sleep peacefully without worrying about you!" She started to cast her spell.

"What?! A human with the power of a Mother Golden Eye spell? Such an abomination can not be allowed! Drrael moved to strike her down, but suddenly stopped. "Treason! Thou art mine to command and feast upon! How canst thou defy me!

"LAUGNA BLADE!!" Lina held the blade of darkness in her hand, rushing forward. Drrael was frozen, but it wouldn't last long. In one fluid motion, she slashed it right down the middle of Drrael. It seemed cliché, she knew, but somehow, she didn't think Drrael deserved a creative end. Cliché suited him just fine.

Lina released the sword as soon as she was done dividing Drrael She collapsed, feeling very tired, but looked defiantly up to Drrael. Some sort of ooze was coming out from where she had sliced him and what passed for a face looked surprised

"A curse upon thee! Cursèd child of Mother Golden Eye, thou shan't remember this victory! Thou shall grow to regret this act of hate upon me! Thou wilt pay!" His words were hallow sounding, however, as he burst into some sort of blue flame. Lina flew back to Gourry and Zel, who lay side by side. She gently pushed some hair from Zel's face. He did not move.

Looks like you were wrong Zel. You're not back. A small tear slid down her cheek, but she refused to let the rest come. Zel wouldn't want that.

"Lina-san!" Lina looked up to see Amelia getting up from where she lay. What?

"You did it! Arigatoo Lina-san!" Amelia called. There was a ragged gasp bellow her. Looking down, she saw Zel's chest trying desperately to move, but the whole caused some serious problems.

"Amelia!" she ordered. "Get Sirus! Zel's dying all over again!" Panic crossed Amelia's face as she flew of to where Sirus was slowly stirring. Lina started a Recovery spell, trying to stop Zelgadiss from loosing any more blood.

"Gourry-sama!"

Gourry-sama?? Her..she's.. Lina turned around to see Sylphiel running toward them, tears flowing down her eyes.

"Gourry-sama!" No sooner did she reach them did she start casting a healing spell…on Gourry.

"Sylphiel!" Lina shouted. "Gourry will be fine! He was just knocked unconscious, Zel needs your help now!" Sylphiel looked up to her with two large tears forming in her eyes.

"But, Gourry-sama…"

"I'll handle Gourry," Lina shouted in exasperation. "You heal Zel!" Sylpheil shook her head, focusing on Gourry again before she collapsed from exhaustion. Sirus finally landed by them, immediately starting on Zelgadiss.

Lina stood up and looked around. Lots of people were appearing all over the place. Lina wagered a guess that they were the people that Drrael had fed upon since his reawakening. The large barren wasteland was getting rather crowded, covering the light spells Lina and the others had used. But sorcerers who had fallen victim to Drrael recast several more and set them in the air. Lina's legs started to wobble underneath her. She had put everything she had into that Laugna Blade and the emotion hell of watching all her friends die was starting to take their toll. She was exhausted.

"Prepare for the vengeance of Zelmelgustar!"

"Gourry! Stand and die!"

Lina slowly turned, praying it wasn't who she thought it was. Behind her stood Martina and Zangulas. Zangulas had on his usual clothing, but Martina was in a beautiful dress with a small bundle in her hand.

"Martina? Zangulas?" Zangulas went over to Gourry, nudging him with his sword. When Gourry did not awaken, he took a closer look.

"Oh Gods," he whispered.

"Lina? What's going on here?" Martina asked. Lina turned to answer/yell at her when her world went black.
Go to Part Twelve-Geez, Where's L-sama When You Need Her?