SailorStar9: After uploading Chapter 10, I present Chapter 11 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny. Heck, even the pairings aren't mine.
Chapter 11: An Explosive Situation! The One who Holds the Key!
With Lina and Gourry...
The pair had stumbled upon the recuperating Armace.
"Armace, you're not going to summon Darkstar to destroy this world?" Lina asked after Armace told them about his objective.
"No, our objective is to destroy Darkstar." Armace confirmed. "Originally, we are servants of Vorfeed in his eternal battle against Darkstar."
"Servants of Vorfeed?" Lina echoed. "Meaning you were fighting on the God's side?"
"I suppose you could say that." Armace conceded. "For a period of unbelievably long, we and Darkstar's forces fought. The terrible war ended with our destruction. Darkstar's true objective was to destroy us along with that world. And as he went on, we thought he would finally succeed in destroying our home. However, the energy he absorbed from Vorfeed when he defeated him began to go out of control. He also destroyed the troops who followed him, having become a war-crazed demon of destruction. Having forgotten his original purpose, Darkstar embarked on a war against all living things. All that was left in the end was a dead, pathetic wasteland."
"But what does it have to do with you coming to this world?" Lina asked.
"The survivors began a desperate search for a way to destroy Darkstar." Armace explained. "And that was when we learned of the five weapons created by Darkstar."
"One of which is the Sword of Light, Gorun Nova." Lina realized where this was going.
"And we also learned how the power of those five weapons could break apart Darkstar's own power." Armace nodded. "Just as Shabranigdu of this world was broken into seven parts, we would use the five weapons as a gateway and divide Darkstar's power and then destroy each piece separately. That was the plan we made. We set out to various worlds in search of the five weapons. At last, I came to this one. The rest you already know. I came to find the last two weapons hidden on this world."
"And joined forces with Valgarv." Lina concluded.
With Aria's group...
Having taken Jiras captive and with Zelgadis responsible for keeping the fox beastman docile, the extended group headed out.
With Xellos and Filia...
The pair had found the still injured Valgarv and Xellos had made his proposal to the half-Mazoku.
After Valgarv straight out rejected Xellos, the Mazoku priest instantly changed his tune and attacked the half-Mazoku.
With Lina and Gourry...
"Hold on a second." Lina cut in. "If your objective was to destroy Darkstar, why didn't you ask the people of this world to help?"
"Because saying it would guarantee we'd never be helped." Armace replied. "Darkstar has to be summoned to this world for this to work. Doing that will certainly put this world in grave danger. Do you think anyone of this world would help us do that? I'm not saying you people are wrong; it's common sense not to help. That was why the only way to accomplish our task was to become your enemies. But now, it seems Valgarv is planning to summon Darkstar here before all five of the weapons have been gathered. If he does that, we won't be able to divide Darkstar's power."
"We have no time to lose." Lina declared. "We'd gotta get the Sword of Light back."
At that, Armace stepped out of the recovering chamber.
With Xellos and Filia...
"What's going on here?" Lina's group arrived to the fight.
"You were fighting Valgarv?" Armace asked the defeated Mazoku.
"How'd this happen?" Lina hurried to Xellos' side.
"I offered you in exchange for him joining the Mazoku race." Xellos explained. "He got mad and thought I was trying to trick him. Discussions went on about how you'd react after that."
"Is that all you're going to do to him?" Filia protested, Lina slamming numerous punches on Xellos' head. "Xellos tried to sell you out to Valgarv."
"Xellos is a Mazoku, so I'd expect him to do that." Lina responded. "We stayed together with that understanding. In exchange, I get to use Xellos as a convenience item when I need to. Anyway," she turned the Valgarv. "Our friend seems like he's gone through a few changes."
"If you intend to fight him, please be careful." Xellos cautioned.
"You're going to pay for hurting Xellos." Gourry stepped up.
"Lina!" Zelgadis called, their group running in. "Looks like we made it in time."
"Here, Gourry-san." Amelia tossed the Sword of Light over to its owner.
"So, everyone's here now." Valgarv burst out laughing. "Armace, you really have turned against me, haven't you?"
"That's not true, but I can't let you do this." Armace corrected.
"Don't assume you'll win because I'm outnumbered." Valgarv snorted.
"Filia, get Xellos out of here." Aria's eyes narrowed. "Things are going to get very rough from here on out."
"Don't even bother." Valgarv growled. "Either way, you're going to die." he powered up an energy sphere in his hand.
"You are going to attack your own Master, Valgarv?" Aria demanded, the hunkering image of the Water Dragon King manifested behind her.
"Light, come..." Gourry readied to pull out the Sword of Light.
"Back down, Gourry!" Aria barked. "This is between me and him; whatever you do, do not draw the Sword of Light." manifesting the 'Wise Aqvarius' staff, the command staff Ragradia always wielded, she countered Valgarv's energy beam with a swirling water beam. "Things don't have to be like this, Valgarv." she approached the enraged half-Dragon. "Drop your weapon; I care not that you are half-Mazoku. You are still half Ancient Dragon: I still accept you."
"My power..." Valgarv snapped. "Is beyond even that of yours, Water Dragon King!"
"There's nothing we can do against it." Zelgadis cursed, shielding his eyes from the dust that churned out from Valgarv's wild shots.
"You really forced my hand this time, Valgarv." Aria sighed and vanished her staff. An intricate tattoo burnt on her right arm as she charged up one of the three Holy Dragon King spells. "Gather! O stream of waters that's guided by Ragradia! Flow; in order to perish the fangs of evil!"
"I will stop you before you finish the incantation!" Valgarv swore, firing off another energy blast.
"Light, come forth!" Gourry jumped in to fend off the attack, the force of the blast knocking him back and allowing Valgarv to claim the weapon.
"Let me tell you something." Valgarv bragged. "You only need these two weapons to open the gateway. Now that I have this, waiting until all five weapons were gathered is no longer necessary. Now watch as Darkstar consumes everything in this world."
"Ragradia Glitter!' Aria fired her spell, just as Valgarv slammed both weapons onto the ground. "Missed him." the incarnation of the Water Dragon King spat when Valgarv vanished.
"We must stop him at any costs." Armace told the others. "You must go after him. I know where he is going. Before the gateway goes out of control, you must kill him. Gorun Nova and Ragudo Mezegis: he's going to use the two weapons as the keys to the gateway. But he won't be able to control it. The Darkstar energy he'll release will soon go out of control. If we are to break up Darkstar's power, we must wait for the other three weapons to be gathered."
"You're coming, too." Zelgadis pulled Jiras with them.
At the closed portal...
"What is that power?" Lina winced, seeing the immense energy pouring out from the crossed weapons in Valgarv's hands.
"Magical devices from the Overworld?" Zelgadis shielded his eyes.
"Are you joining me?" Valgarv mocked. "Gods, Mazoku and humans: the curtain falls on this unwanted relationship. Where would the fun be without an audience to witness it?"
"Valgarv, there is still time!" Aria beseeched. "You can still stop this!"
Valgarv just burst out laughing as he opened the portal. "This is where the door will open upon this world's destruction." he turned to the group who had also been transported with him below the opened gateway. "In other words, where you all will die."
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.