"That will be quite enough, Dolphin."
It seemed like the whole world exploded as Dolphin was blasted away from Lina, the geysers exploded releasing everyone as they all gasped for air when they crashed to the ground.
"W-what happened?" Amelia gasped when she looked up, seeing an orange haired woman stand before them. "Who are you?"
"Oh yes that's correct you all did not meet me before." Zelas chuckled, placing her hand on her hip. Her current appearance was a green vest over a yellow and orange shirt, with tight black pants. "I am the Greater Beast, Zelas Metallium."
"W-what happened to Miss Lina?" Sylphiel gasped.
"Lina!" Gourry cried, as he saw the shaking body of Lina Inverse was falling backwards.
That's when a familiar pair of arms grabbed her, holding her up. She very slowly strained to open her eyes. "A-about time… You got your ass here… Xelloss." Crimson fluid dripped down her mouth. Several wounds had appeared on her body, each bleeding badly. She felt all her strength draining away rapidly, and her body felt like it was under attack, like as if she was being beaten to death by an unseen foe.
"Don't talk." Xelloss spoke in a hardened tone, pulling her close as his amethyst eyes were open. "It took us a while to shake Dynast off our trail, especially when Sherra showed up." He narrowed his eyes. "I felt your call though and tried to rush as quickly as possible… We were nearly too late."
Zelas nodded. "… She still got that curse through though, she'll just die more slowly this way. You're going to have to work fast, pup."
"What? What did she do to her?" Zelgadis growled. "Can't we heal her?"
"Not with this curse, it is a variation of the Raugnut Rushavna, but instead of turning the human turning them into a hunk of flesh, it eats away at their magic and slowly drains their life force while attacking their body from the inside. It can be created by sacrificing a life force and putting its power into a curse, I imagine Dolphin killed one of her creations for the energy." Zelas explained. "In a matter of hours it will drain Lina Inverse dry and kill her, healing magic has no effect on such a curse, in fact speeds up its process."
Amelia let out a strangled gasp. "T-then how can we save her?"
"X-Xelloss…" Lina groaned, her hand gripping his arm as she could barely speak, the others couldn't even hear her. "T-the p-pledge…."
Xelloss just nodded quietly, pressing his lips against her forehead. "Just hold on a little longer."
"Zelas…" Dolphin hissed as she approached her. "How dare you interfere with my affairs?"
"When you interfered with my little boy's Soul Touch." Zelas smirked, snapping her fingers.
Dolphin let out a scream in pain as obviously she was struck on the Astral Plane.
"Using that curse obviously drained you, which is why you'd be a fool to challenge me now." Zelas said with a twisted grin. "I'll let you live for now, only because I don't have time to kill you slowly and I need to recharge from the lesson I gave Dynast. Xelloss." She turned to her general priest. "Transport them to Wolfpack Island now."
"Understood, Lord Beast Master." Xelloss bowed his head. "Get around me all of you." He hissed.
Zelas chuckled softly, narrowing her eyes. "Oh and Dolphin, be glad I'm ordering my servant away now. Because he would be FAR much less merciless than I would be if given the chance, because I think even at your current level he could take you on." She snapped her fingers once more and vanished, just as Xelloss teleported with the group.
"Damn you Zelas…" Dolphin hissed, vanishing herself into a pool of water. "You WILL pay for this."
They arrived on Wolfpack Island in Zelas's throne room, Xelloss was holding Lina with a scowl on his face as she twisted in agony.
"So this is Wolfpack Island?" Zelgadis asked as he looked around.
"Unnn… Xelloss…" Lina groaned, squirming a bit as her head was pressed against his chest. She then coughed once more, shivering at the sight of her own blood staining her glove.
"Oh my Miss Lina!" Sylphiel gasped. "She's looking worse."
"You said magic can't work but can't you do something?" Gourry asked, his voice filled with panic.
"Mr. Xelloss you can't let Miss Lina die!" Amelia cried, tears in her eyes.
"I have no intention to." Xelloss replied rather coldly. "Mistress?"
Zelas nodded, waving her hand. "Go on to your quarters pup, I'll entertain our guests until you're finished."
"Thank you, Lord Beast Master." Xelloss bowed his head, then slowly started the leave the room.
"Xelloss…" Gourry and the others looked ready to follow.
"You all are to remain here, if that wasn't clear." Zelas spoke up.
"We're not just going to stand around here!" Zelgadis hissed.
"Oh? So are you all planning on making a pledge with me too?" Xelloss turned to face them, his eyebrow raised. "Because I cannot guarantee your safety if you're around, this curse might have a nasty backlash when I perform the pledge."
Lina's eyes widened when she looked up at him, she let out another coughing fit before she could voice a protest.
Sylphiel took a sharp breath. "Y-you mean you're going to…?"
Amelia gasped. "Of course, the pledge would save Miss Lina's life!"
Zelgadis grit his teeth. "… I hate to admit it, but it might be the only way to say her…"
"Xelloss… Do it please, we don't want to lose her." Gourry said.
Xelloss nodded. "I'm not saving her for your reasons mind you, but my own." He smiled softly, then strolled away towards his quarters. He placed her down on the bed, her blood already spreading across the sheets like it had all over his yellow shirt and cloak, her blood had also stained his gloves.
"X-Xelloss…" Lina twisted again in pain as the curse continued to attack her, slowly forcing her heavy eyelids open to look at him. She felt her mortality cursing upon her every breath she took.
Xelloss smiled at her as he closed his eyes, waving his staff which the red jewel glowed. "Now Miss Lina, this will only take me a moment. It is a good thing we discussed everything ahead of time, I fear you would not have enough life left in you to state all your terms..." a violet gem appeared in his hand. "Even though I had hoped to have heard your answer under… Better circumstances."
She glared at him through her extremely weak eyes, her vision blurring every second. "... Just... Shut the hell up... And get on with it." she coughed, a bit more of the red liquid escaped from her mouth. While she had already made the resolve to take the pledge before being this close to death, that didn't mean she still didn't have her worries. That and in a way she was glad about these circumstances, this way the damn fruitcake couldn't hold it over her head that she really chose it completely against her will, if she didn't take it now she'd die. Well that would save a lot of explaining to her friends who she knew would all rather see her live right now.
Xelloss waved his forefinger, leaning his head close as he placed the finger upon her lips. "I will not allow L-sama to claim your soul, Lina-chan." his Mazoku eyes slowly opening, piercing through her as death was creeping closer. "... For it belongs to me." Placing the violet jewel into the palm of her hand, he connected his lips with hers.
That's when several sparks of black magic exploded through Lina's body. The curse was fighting through Xelloss's magic as she let out a cry of pain through the kiss. Xelloss backed up a bit and held a hand behind her head. "I just need you to say the words dear Lina, and I can do the rest."
Lina nodded, once more forcing her eyes to open from the darkness that was swallowing her. The gem in her hand slowly glowing. "… I pledge myself to you, Xelloss Metallium."