SailorStar9: After uploading Chapter 15, I present Chapter 16 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 16: Eternal Death, Final Farewells! A Cry to the Fallen!

"Supreme Elder, what are you doing here?" Filia questioned.

"Are the two of you the only ones here?" the Supreme Elder demanded. "I asked if only the two of you were here, Filia." he clarified. "And to Xellos and the Overworlder."

"If it isn't the Supreme Elder." Xellos snorted, appearing in the chamber with Armace. "It's been quite a while. By the way, what brings you to the temple of the Ancient Dragons?"

"Our goal is to preserve peace in this world." the Supreme Elder insisted.

"Meaning whatever is behind this barrier will upset the balance of this world." Armace concluded. "In that case, will you let us see it?"

"One move and you're dead, Filia." Xellos moved behind Filla, leveling his staff against her neck. "Now then, Supreme Elder," he started. "Will you please remove the barrier for us?"

"It's useless." the Supreme Elder replied. "I won't comply no matter who you kill. We will do nothing to endanger the peace of the world. Do what you please." he insisted, the group in the chamber ignoring the battle outside as the Golden Dragons flew to their doom at the hands of Erulogos and Sirius. "No matter what happens, I will not hand over the final weapon to you."

"You knew from the start the final weapon was here, didn't you?" Xellos realized.

"What of it?" the Supreme Elder challenged.

"Now that I know that, I must insist you break the barrier." Xellos replied. "I'll force you to."

"Useless." the Supreme Elder repeated. "Us servants of the Gods cannot break this final barrier. This final barrier wasn't cast by us, but the Ancient Dragons themselves. With this final weapon, the Ancient Dragons turned against we who serve the Gods. But we destroyed them before they could become enemies of the world. And then, we left the Darkstar weapon sealed behind the barrier they created. After that, we kept the Darkstar weapon sealed from the eyes of all the others. Beyond that, we cast many more barriers in order to protect it."

"You're lying!" Filia snapped. "Weren't they killed because they refused to fight for you?"

"Silence, Filia." the Supreme Elder barked. "No matter what the Ancient Dragons' intentions were, only we should be entrusted to hold and wield a weapon this powerful."

"It appears the Ancient Dragons hid it inside the barrier because they don't want you to get it." Xellos concluded. "I think they understood what that would have meant. It seems the Ancient Dragons used their powers to invert the Darkstar weapon's power to create this barrier. Meaning the only ones who could break it would have to be the Ancient Dragons' descendant or the Ancient Dragons' Master herself. Now then," he freed Filia. "Ragradia-sama, can I trouble you to break this final barrier?"

"You would not dare, Water Dragon King!" the Supreme Elder growled.

"Why should you care?" Xellos shrugged. "You Golden Dragons were the ones who put her followers to the sword. You should be more concerned about your health, Elder." he cautioned. "I have no need of you since I know you can't break the barrier. I doubt you'll just sit by quietly. I should eliminate all possible obstacles quickly. Prepare to die." he charged up his energy from his staff's orb. "And it's useless to call your Dragon army for help. Did you forget how many Dragons I killed single-handedly during the Kōma War?"

"Even if I die, I won't let you have the final weapon." the Supreme Elder dodged the energy blast. "That power belongs to us, the Golden Dragons!" with that, he took on his Golden Dragon form and engaged Xellos in an aerial battle.

"A meaningless battle." Armace sighed. "And all because we came to this world."

"Dragon Force..." Aria approached the last energy barrier and called upon Ragradia's power.

"Finally." Xellos grinned, seeing the barrier shatter. "I have it." he dove down to claim the weapon.

"Now that is what I call incredible timing." Lina grinned, landing on the ground after using Xellos' head as a footstep.

"No fair, Lina-san." Xellos wailed. "You don't jump on other people's heads!"

"Shut your mouth." Lina snapped. "It's your fault for double-crossing me in the first place."

"Figured he'd be up to this." Zelgadis agreed, arriving with the others.

"So, what's the situation now?" Lina asked.

"Well, as all of you can see, the final Darkstar weapon is ours." Aria grinned widely, claiming the energy bow.

"Lady Ragradia, I want to make a deal." Armace spoke, after Aria jumped down from the platform. "There have been too many sacrifices already."

"Unfortunately, we're done making deals." Aria flat out rejected.

"Then, I have no choice." Armace readied himself for a fight.

"Elder, Filia, get Armace." Lina instructed. "Spells may not work on him, but your Laser Breath will. Just play Aria some time to charge up Galveira. Everyone else, try to hold Xellos off."

"Xellos-san, we might have fought together as comrades." Amelia started. "But now, you have sold your soul to darkness, we'll show no mercy."

"I was always a Mazoku, remember?" Xellos sweatdropped.

"Xellos-san, I'm going to take advantage of your weakness." Amelia declared and brought out a horn cone. "Life is wonderful."

"Living is marvelous." Gourry and Zelgadis joined in. "The world's overflowing with light and joy."

"Psychological warfare..." Xellos stammered. "Oh no..."

"Ready or not, here it comes!" Aria shouted, powering up the Bow of Light and fired a powerful light beam past Armace's shoulder. "That was a warning shot." she glared at Armace. "My next shot won't miss."

"This is the power of the Darkstar weapon." Filia was astounded.

"That thing's incredible." even Gourry was stunned.

"The Sword of Light doesn't even come close." even Xellos was impressed.

"Give Galveira to me." Armace ordered.

"It was my followers who found Galveira in the first place." Aria glared. "That's why it's up to me to decide if you guys get it or not."

Armace was about to snatch the bow when several crystal spears shot from from Erulogos' hand and impaled him.

"It's time we got rid of you once and for all." Erulogos was fed up with Armace. "Now then," he addressed Aria. "Will you give Galveira to me?"

"Do you really take me for a fool?" Aria snarled. "One more step and I'll shoot."

"Resistance is futile." Erulogos smirked. "We're much faster than you."

"Wanna bet?" Aria growled, the Ragradia Sapphire glowing brightly as she called forth the Water Dragon King's imagery vestige.

"If you would excuse me, Ragradia-sama." Xellos teleported out of Amelia's headlock and behind Aria. Knocking the incarnate of the Water Dragon King out with a chop to the back of her head, he took possession of the Light bow.

"Screw you, Xellos..." Aria hissed before fainting.

"Oh my, such crude language from a lady like yourself, Ragradia-sama." Xellos tsked. "Forgive me, but I'll be taking this." he told Erulogos and Sirius. "Please be so angry." he chided the fuming Erulogos. "I said before that getting the final weapon was what matters. "And the one I meant to get it in the end was me. Now, pardon me." he vanished.

"You son of a..." Erulogos spat and gave chase.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.