Disclaimer: I only own my original characters, nothing more and nothing less.
Light and darkness
Demon or man?
"Do you even know where you are taking us" Lina shouted at their diminutive guide. "I think we should turn left here" Nimph was doing her best to guide the two girls outside. "Uh miss fairy, haven't we been here before?" Sylphiel asked. Lina stopped running "I agree. Sylphiel, from here on out, it's your show!" She shouted. Nimph also stopped "But the master told me to guide you outside…" she tried to argue. Sylphiel nodded, and found her wand. She placed it on the ground and chanted a spell. "Well?" Lina tapped her foot impatiently. The wand fell over. "It's that way" Sylphiel pointed down the way to the right. "Alright Sylphiel!" Lina cheered her on "You're the best!". The shrinemaiden blushed a bit "Thank you, miss Lina".
"You have to do better than that" Damien dodged another of Eruk's attacks. The two of them had been fighting ever since the girls left. Damien tossed a fireball. "I could say the same about you" Eruk's wristblades slashed the spell to shreds before it could do any damage. They kept moving in circles around each other. Even though Eruk had been involved in several battles by now, he knew that this was his biggest challenge so far. He could feel how the adrenaline was pumping through his system. He raised his blades, pure energy was emanating from them. He charged forward with incredible speed. Damien was taken by surprise, but managed to escape unhurt. He looked down at his torn shirt "Impressive. I don't understand why the idiots insisted on calling you a failure".
Eruk backed away "Oh, I'm not the one who is a failure" he smirked "I contain the rage of the demon dragon king just fine, you on the other hand…".
With a cry of rage Damien charged forward, and slashed at Eruk. His dagger drew a trail of blood as it went by Eruk's left arm "I'm not controlled by the rage, I coexist with it" Damien spun around and looked at him triumphantly . Eruk looked down on his wound "So it would seem…". He flexed his muscles. There was no serious damage, he could still use his arm just fine. For a few seconds he considered the option of letting his mazuko side take control of his body, but he decided against it. I need my brain right now, not my strength he kept reminding himself to stick to his own plan, it couldn't be that long now.
"We have to go back!" Gourry shouted. He had realized that he had left Lina and Sylphiel behind. "Gourry, we can't" Zel did his best to hold the swordsman back. "And why is that, Zel?!" Gourry raised his voice "We can't leave Lina in there!". Zelgadis took a deep breath "We are not going to abandon neither Lina or Sylphiel". Gourry stopped his struggling "I might not be the smartest guy around Zel, but I don't see how our standing out here is helping Lina" there was a poorly hidden bitterness in his voice. "We are not leaving them. Eruk is still in there" Zel explained. "Yeah, if I know him right, there is no way he's going to just abandon Miss Sylphiel" Taki added. Gourry sat down "I'm not sure I follow you, but I'm willing to wait, at least for the moment". Zelgadis nodded "Don't worry Gourry, he has a plan".
Zel turned around "Hey Filia, how's Amelia doing?" he asked. The dragon lowered her hands "I have just finished casting a healing spell, but she's still unconscious". Naga was still sitting by Amelia's side. "It's been so long" she whispered "you were just a little kid when I left home, and look at you now…"
"Miss Naga what are you doing over there?" Taki called. Naga took a deep breath, very carefully she slipped a note into the young girls pocket.
She stood up "Looks like my job here is done" she proclaimed. "What?" Taki shouted in disbelief "you are leaving now?". The raven haired sorceress nodded "I imagine that Lina Inverse is on her way by now, and I was never one for big teary reunions". The ten clones stood up and started following her. Just before she vanished in the shadows, she turned around "and you can tell my sidekick Eruk, that he can pay me what he owes the next time I see him". With that she turned around and disappeared into the shadows. "That Eruk…" Taki slowly shook her head "He sure knows how to pick up the most unusual company, doesn't he?". She looked around, and noticed how everybody was staring at her. "What?" she asked in an annoyed voice "I wasn't talking about me!". The silence continued. "Ohhh I've had it with you" she cried and walked out to the edge of their little camp. She sat down on some debris, sulking. Everybody else snickered, it was obvious that her anger wasn't real, but her outburst helped them relax. It was almost as if their problems were forgotten, at least for a few seconds.
A few minutes passed. Suddenly Taki jumped up and ran back to the others "I heard something out there". Zel stood up "She's right, someone is coming". He drew his sword and prepared for the worst. "I still say you are going the wrong way!" Nimph shouted. "And I say this is the right way!" Lina shouted back. She had already decided that she really didn't like the tiny fairy, but because of the circlet on her head, she hadn't blasted her yet. "Hey Lina!" Gourry shouted "we're over here!". Lina stopped running "Gourry! Guys! Man, I'm I glad to see you!" The petite redhead threw herself at the blonde swordsman. A few seconds later he received a punch in the head "Why didn't you come to save me, you jellyfishbrain? Some protector you are!".
Zelgadis put his sword away "I see you haven't taken any damage". Lina sent him a harsh glare "You weren't the one who had one of the accursed circlets put on your head" she pointed at the object around her head. Suddenly she felt a strong arm grabbing her from behind "oh no.." she whispered. "Don't move Lina" Gourry informed her before he tossed her into the air. "Not again" she whimpered. With one swift strike of his sword, the circlet fell to the ground, and just before Lina could hit the ground she was caught in his arms. "Wow" Taki was the first to put word to her feelings. She had seen plenty of bar fights in her life, and even though they were nothing compared to what she had seen with this group of people, the feat Gourry had just displayed, was one of the coolest things she had ever seen. Once again Gourry found himself kissing the ground. "I told you once before! Warn me before you pull a stunt like that!". She extended her hand "thanks". She helped him back up.
"Hey Sylphiel, where is Eruk?" Taki asked "and what's that?" she pointed at Nimph. "He stayed behind" she whispered "he asked that fairy to guide us outside".
"Be that as it may" Zelgadis spoke up "we have work to do". They all looked at him "What do you mean Zel?" Lina asked. "Just before we fled the mansion, Eruk asked me for a favor" Zelgadis stared at the mansion " He said that once we were safe, we should destroy that house, no matter if he was inside or not". Sylphiel looked at him in shock "Destroy it? But what about…?". He knelt down next to her "It is his decision, but I wouldn't be surprised if he had another trick up his sleeve".
Sylphiel looked down "but shouldn't we at least give him some time to get out?". Lina nodded "I'll tell you what. You go see if you can do something for Amelia, while the rest of us try to figure out what kind of spell we should use. If he's not out by then, we have no choice but to do as he asked". Sylphiel nodded and moved over to help Filia with the princess.
"Lina, what do we do?" Zelgadis asked "That Damien guy really seems to posses the power of the demon dragon king". Gourry looked at him with a blank look on his face "uhh dragon king? Who's that? I know I've heard the name before but…". Lina hit him over the head "Never mind that. What's more important, how do we kill him? The last time not even the Ragna blade was enough to stop him…" Zel nodded, a bitter look crossed his face "That only leaves, the Giga slave…". Taki looked around in confusion "The Giga slave? What's that?". An eerie silence fell over the group. "It's the most powerful spell known to man" Lina explained, her face was dead serious "If it should go out of control, it could destroy the entire universe, and literally return it to a sea of chaos".
Taki swallowed deep "does such a spell exists?". Lina grave expression didn't change. "But can you really control such a spell?" Taki was starting to panic "Isn't there a safer method?". Zel looked away "It's seem like it's the only option…"
"Wait a minute there, Zel" Lina interrupted him "There may be another solution". Everyone turned their eyes in the same direction as Lina. Sylphiel looked away from Amelia "Why is everybody looking at me?" she asked nervously.
Eruk backed away, it was clear to him that his opponent was starting to gain the upper hand. While he tried to contain his rage, Damien used his powers to their fullest. He grimaced in pain as Damien's dagger connected with his body again. He had taken several hits, but none of them was to serious. For a brief second his thoughts went back to the time he spent with Gen in New Sairaag. Almost from the first day of his training, he was taught how to read his opponents and move away from the blow before it was made. During his travels he had tried his best to develop that skill, it was simply his way to make up for not wearing armor. He snapped out of his thoughts as Damien made another swing at him. "Got you again" he smirked. Eruk frowned, as Damien's dagger pierced his left leg.
He dropped to his knees, he could feel how blood had started flowing down his leg. This wasn't just a little scratch, but a wound that could mean the difference between death or victory. Damien slowly advanced on him. "I had hoped that you had been more of a challenge" he looked down on his foe "it's not everyday to get to fight yourself after all". Slowly he raised his daggers above his head, ready to deliver the final blow. With all of his remaining strength, Eruk jumped up and planted his blades in Damien's stomach. The assassin looked down, a surprised look on his face. A smile crossed his face before he released the magical energy he had build up in his weapons. Damien was thrown back against a wall. It crumbled under the force, and buried Damiens body under the debris.
Eruk fell over. He was completely drained. He looked down on his leg. Slowly he cut his pants open to examine the damage. He held his breath while he pulled the fabric away. The pain was almost unbearable. He was hit just below the knee, the dagger had gone directly through the bone. He swallowed hard, and started chanting a healing spell. He relaxed when the white light started to ease his pain. Even though he was drained from the battle he tried to focus more energy into the spell. He closed his eyes. He felt how his flesh started to react to the spell. A loud explosion followed by a sharp pain in his right shoulder caused his eyes to snap open. He stared down at his wounded shoulder in disbelief.
One of Damien's daggers was plunged deeply into his flesh. "Never let your guard down!" Damien hissed. He was standing on top of the debris from the collapsed wall. Eruk could only stare as Damien moved closer. He could barely recognize his opponent. Damien's face was twisted in anger and pain. His body had grown, becoming a horribly deformed humanoid shape. Eruk backed away. This was what he had feared for so long. Damien had completely lost control of his powers. He was now nothing more than a shell filled with hatred." I hope that this is the right moment…" he thought as he reached into his cape. A weak smile crossed his face as his hand closed around a round object.
"NO! I won't do it, miss Lina!" Sylphiel shouted. She looked around. Everyone had gathered around her. "Look here Sylphiel" Lina tried to reason with the shrinemaiden "It's either this or the Giga slave". Sylphiel shook her head forcefully "I won't do it" she repeated "I won't use the dragon slave while he's still in there!". Tears was already running down her cheek. "Lina, are you sure about this?" Zelgadis asked. Lina shrugged "I think so. When we fought Hellmaster Phibrizzo, he told us himself that even he might not be able to withstand a double dragon slave attack". Sylphiel opened her mouth to say something, but no sound left her lips. "Miss Lina?" A voice interrupted them from behind. Everyone turned to look. Amelia was slowly raising herself to a sitting position. "Why are you and miss Sylphiel fighting?". Everyone looked at each other, none of them felt like telling the Seyruun princess of the plan, seeing as it definitely went against her code of justice.
"Amelia listen carefully now…" Filia knelt down next to her and started explaining the plan. It just had to be done. Lina nodded, it probably was best if she knew the plan as well. "WHAT!?" Amelia shouted as Filia ended her explanation "you are going to do that? But Eruk…?". Zelgadis stood up "It was his own request. Wouldn't it be unjust not to honor it?". Amelia thought deeply for a moment, "I guess so…" she finally admitted.
They all jumped as an explosion rocked the ground. "Sylphiel, you must decide now!" Lina shouted. The shrinemaiden continued to stare at the ground without a sound. "I see…" Lina stood up "I had hoped that I could avoid this…"
She raised her hands and started chanting
"Darkness beyond blackest pitch
Deeper than the deepest night
Lord of darkness who shines like gold upon the sea of chaos…"
The nightmare energies started to gather in the sorceress's hands. "You can't!" Nimph shouted "you'll kill the master!". She had been sitting a little distance away. She had been torn between her on desire to go back inside and help Eruk and his orders about staying with Lina and Sylphiel. She had finally decided on following his orders, when everyone around her started talking of destroying the mansion.
She flew over to Sylphiel "please stop her" she pleaded. "Sylphiel, listen to me" Zelgadis was sitting next to her "at first I must admit that I didn't think much of him. I mean, the guy couldn't even take care of a couple of bandits". Sylphiel turned to look at him "why are you telling me all this?" she asked. Zel took a deep breath "I'm telling you this because that guy has surprised me more than once. But honestly Sylphiel, if you believe he can survive a Giga slave, I'm afraid that you are hoping for the impossible". Sylphiel nodded slowly. "What I'm trying to say is, cast a dragon slave. I would be surprised if he don't has something planned." Having said his piece, Zelgadis stood up and walked up to Gourry.
Lina had almost finished the chant, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "I'll do it miss Lina" Sylphiel whispered. Lina smiled a little, and let the energies fizzle.
The two girls stood next to each other "Are you ready Sylphiel?" Lina asked "Do your best, I'm sure that's what he wants as well". Sylphiel took a deep breath while Lina cast her magic amplification spell. She had lost everything, her father, her home, even the survivors from the old Sairaag hated her. Now she was about to unleash her most powerful spell at the only one she had left. She exchanged one final look with Lina before they started chanting.
Eruk cried out in pain as he was thrown up against the wall. He could hear several bones breaking as he slumped to the floor. The taste of iron filled his mouth as he coughed up blood. "How foolish of you" The demonic Damien laughed "putting on a necklace that prevents you from using your magic". Eruk raised his head Miss Lina, please hurry! His mind cried.
"Let the fools who stand before me be destroyed by the power that you and I posses.
DRAGON SLAVE!!!"
Both spells fired off at the same time, and flew as one towards the mansion. "Master, please be safe!" Nimph shouted just before they hit.
The explosion that followed was tremendous. Even the combined power of Zel, Filia and Amelia's protection barriers almost couldn't protect them from the power of the spell. They were thrown to the ground, but was relatively unharmed. Taki was holding a hand to her forehead. She had been hit by a falling piece of debris, and was bleeding slightly. But other than that, none of them had been hurt. "Is it bad?" Sylphiel asked. She had kept her eyes closed since she fired the spell. "I'm afraid it looks pretty bad" Lina admitted as the smoke cleared. The only thing left where the mansion had been, was a large crater.
"Oh no…" Sylphiel whispered. "Master?" Nimph looked around, hoping to find some trace of him. "We won didn't we?" Gourry asked, there was no trace of happiness in his voice. Lina nodded "yeah, we won…".
Suddenly Nimph jumped up "Master!?" she cried, before she flew towards the ruins. "Hey fairy, where are you going?" Lina shouted. "I know he's out there somewhere" she shouted back "I can feel him!". One by one everyone started following the fairy. "Ok, spread out and look for him" Lina ordered, "even though I can't see how he could have survived that…" she added very quietly.
"Hey, over here!" Taki suddenly shouted. "Isn't that a piece of his cape?" she pointed down. Under a large piece of debris, a black piece of cloth could be seen. "Gourry, Zel you go over there, Filia you take the other side. Amelia, you help Taki, and Sylphiel you help me!" Lina was quickly ordering everyone in position. "Ready, and lift!". With their combined strength they managed to move the broken wall away.
"Master!" Nimph squealed in delight. Eruk slowly opened his eyes. "Eruk dear!" Sylphiel shouted, and tried to hug him. He cried out in pain at the very moment she touched him. She quickly let go of him. "Sorry" he whispered while giving her a weak smile. "Man, you really are a mess" Lina looked him over "but I'm amazed that you survived…". Sylphiel bent down and started casting a recovery spell. "Are you ok, master?" Nimph landed next to him. Slowly he turned his head "I'm alive, but nothing more" he admitted. While Sylphiel started her healing spell, Lina waved the others away. "Let's give them some privacy" she said with a smug look on her face.
Just as Eruk started to relaxed, another explosion rocked the area. From a pile of debris something large jumped out. "I haven't finished with you yet!" Damien shouted as he dragged himself forward. He was severely damaged from the dragon slave attack, but he was determined to get rid of Eruk, once and for all. "You, get away from him" He pointed at Sylphiel. "Do as he says" Eruk whispered. Sylphiel just closed her eyes, and continued with the spell. Damien started to run forward. On the way he picked up a large piece of wood. Eruk couldn't determine what it had been used for before the explosion, but what was more important was, that it had been broken, leaving one end sharp as a spear. He was heading directly for Sylphiel.
"Look out" Lina shouted. Using the last reserve in his body, Eruk lifted himself up. His body made an obstacle that forced the spear to the side as it hit. Sylphiel slowly opened her eyes, Eruk was standing in front of her with the piece of wood impaled through his body. He stared into Damien's eyes "Don't you ever touch Sylphiel!" he growled. He drew both of his arms back, and then forward with all his might. Damien howled as the wristblades passed through his body. "Miss Lina finish him" Eruk gasped. With a nod Lina took a step forward.
Lord of the dreams that terrify
Sword of cold and darkness
Free yourself from the heavens bond
Become one with my power, one with my body
And let us walk the path of destruction together
Power that can smash even the soul of the gods
RAGNA BLADE!!!
The dark blade formed in the sorceress's hands. Just before she struck, Eruk pulled his arms away. Damien was left without any kind of defense as the spell struck. He cried a demonic scream one last time before his body was disintegrated. Eruk slowly pulled the piece of wood out of his stomach before the collapsed on the ground.
Sylphiel looked at him with frightened eyes "no" she whispered. "Sylphiel! What are you waiting for?" Taki shouted "Heal him!". Sylphiel turned away from the others "I can't" she whispered "It's to late". Taki fell to the ground and started crying, as did Nimph.
"There is one final option" Sylphiel jumped, someone was standing behind her. She turned her head "Mr. Xellos?". The Mazuko priest knelt down next to Sylphiel "Normally I wouldn't do this" he said, "But even I owes him a favor for helping me out back there". He looked at the shrinemaiden "Cast your healing spell" he ordered. The expression on his face left no room for arguments. As Sylphiel started her canting again, Xellos placed a hand on her shoulder. She held back a cry of surprise as several waves of black magic started flowing through her body. The blinding white light the healing spell created started flashing between white and black. Lina and the others held their breath as Eruk's body started healing little by little. "It's working?" Taki asked hopefully. "Looks that way" Lina watched the spell in amazement. She had never seen magic like this before, but it really seemed to work.
Little by little his wounds was healing.. "What kind of magic is that?" Lina asked. "Even though we don't use it much, our race still has some healing spell, you know" Xellos removed his hand from Sylphiels shoulder "I have healed his astral body. Now the rest is up to the human". With those words Xellos vanished into the astral plane.
Authors notes:
The final battle everyone! Looks like they won.
Will Eruk recover? The answer to that can only be found in the next, and last chapter of Slayers: Between light and darkness.
And to anyone who might wonder, yes I did make up that part about mazuko healing spells. I have no idea if that kind of spells exists or not. But I figure if anyone knows, Xellos does. But as usual, he ain't one to tell all of his secrets.
