Chapter 8

Written By Illuminet

Disclaimer: Refer to the first chapter to view it.

"..."-Indicate Speech

'...'-Indicate Thought

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Netherworld, Overlord Volcano, Town Outer Limits

'It really is him. He looks exactly like the Demon in my nightmare...'

Laharl thought as he kept approaching. His strides were neutral, as he didn't walk as if he were fully confident, nor did his steps falter to show if he was afraid. He simply walked.

"Surprisingly, the only real resemblance I see between you and Krichevskoy is the hair style. You must get the rest of your looks from your mother I suppose."

Baal said as he turned fully to see Laharl making his way closer to him. Laharl stopped near Etna, however.

'My nightmare...it must have been a premonition. I can't let him have her, so...'

Laharl thought, his head hung low. He turned towards Etna, walked up to her and pushed the white flower in her hands. He then brought his head lower towards hers, right by her ear.

"Please take care of her for me, Overlord Etna..."

Laharl whispered. Etna felt her cheeks grow warm as he spoke to her in an almost husky tone. Before she could respond, he had already left and was now right in front of Baal. Laharl lifted his head to fully regard Baal, who towered over him. Baal towered his head to stare down at Laharl. A great tension was building between the two, so great it almost felt tangible.

"Baal, the Lord of Terror..."

Laharl said. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and his frown tightened slightly as well on his mouth. Before anyone knew it, Laharl jumped up to Baal's chest, using his feet to rebound off the massive Demon and back flip high in the air. Laharl dove down at Baal from the air, his body twirling around as his fist became engulfed in flames. Baal didn't even attempt to block as the attack hit him in the top of his head, causing an explosion of a tornado of flames to arise on impact. Laharl lept out of the raging inferno he caused, and landed safely onto the ground, but his body still remained tense. Baal's large fist struck out from the flames to Laharl, but the former Overlord was too swift and dodged the blow. Baal jumped out of the dying flames after Laharl, catching the younger Demon in the face with a strike of his palm. Laharl went flying back from the attack, but performed a back flip to upright himself and land on the ground safely. Baal already went into another attack as he spun at Laharl, quickly sending a backhand at Laharl's direction. Although Laharl defended against the blow by bringing up his arms, the force behind Baal's attack made him go airborne. Baal used his opposite arm to perform an uppercut to strike at Laharl again. Laharl and the fist made contact, but not in the way Baal had expected. While his fist was still upraised, he saw Laharl standing on his fist with his arms aimed directly up in the air. Red spheres of energy began to gather in the sky. Laharl made a downward throw of his arms, sending the projectiles on a collision course with Baal's chest. A large explosion ensued, uplifting dust and debris, and Laharl barely had time to evade it.

"Yes...you are truly his son."

Baal said as he walked forward from the screen of smoke, clapping. Laharl's attacks were powerful but still did not enough to harm Baal critically.

"No amount of information can even truly describe your incredible powers..."

Laharl said. Baal smirked.

"I'm honored by your words. But now I must ask you why...?"

Baal began. Laharl eyed the Lord of Terror suspiciously.

"...why do you hold back? I can sense a deep power emanating from you that almost completely matches my own. Why don't you use it?"

Baal continued. All eyes went on Laharl, who simply clenched his teeth together.

"I don't know how to use it. The power that you speak of, I don't know..."

Laharl began, but Baal would not let him finish, only scowled at his direction. He was in front of Laharl in an instant.

"Fool!"

Laharl's head reeled back as Baal used an uppercut to his chin, making Laharl go airborne.

"You came to face me with out full knowledge of it?"

Baal continued to speak. He grabbed Laharl roughly by the head and rammed him into the ground. He repeated the pounding four more times.

"Show it to me! Release it now!"

Baal ordered. Laharl growled in a low tone.

"I said I don't know how..."

Laharl began, but was interrupted as Baal lifted him from the ground and threw the younger Demon behind him and into a rock. Laharl grunted as his face made impact with the rock. Baal came forward with a straight punch that made Laharl shatter the rock as he was struck to the ground. Laharl got up slowly. He tried to stand up, but could only get to a kneeling position.

"I've seen enough."

Michaelangelo said and charged at Baal's back. He struck as hard as he could with a swipe of his lightning fist, but Baal did not react at all.

"We better help him before it's too late."

Priere said as she too went into an attack. She struck Baal hard in the side, but as with Michaelangelo, he didn't react at all. Priere repeatedly struck him but it was no use. Priere backed away from him, her eyes wide in fear and surprise.

"He's beyond us...even if he's hiding his power...he's beyond us now..."

She said. Manty turned to Laharl.

"Prince, run away. there's nothing we can do!"

Manty said to Laharl. Laharl winced as he got into a standing position.

"Don't you dare say those words again."

Laharl said in a low but firm tone of voice. He pushed his aching limbs to action as he rushed at Baal, bringing his right fist back. He struck Baal hard in the stomach, sending Baal skidding back slightly. Laharl's eye closed half way in pain.

'Damn. It hurts to attack him.'

He thought to himself but pushed the thought aside soon after as he pulled his right fist back and struck with the left. Baal skidded back more. Baal lowered himself slightly to look at Laharl.

"Your trying my patience, boy. Show me or else..."

Baal began, but was interrupted as Laharl brought his hands together to strike Baal's chin, to make Baal's head reel back slightly. Baal sighed. Quicker than Laharl could react, Baal brought his head forward from it's position Laharl had hit it to and landed a direct head butt to Laharl's fore head that sent him skidding across the ground. Laharl was breathing heavily.

'Why doesn't it work...When the Seraph beat me to an inch of my life I could pull it off somehow, although everything was like a red haze and I couldn't really control my body...how does it work! For Flonne's sake I have to win!'

Laharl got up into a sitting position, his breathing still heavy.

"Leave him alone!"

Etna stated. Laharl lifted his head to see that she was between him and Baal now. Baal walked closer.

"Get out of my way, woman."

Baal ordered, his voice low and threatening. The crunching of the ground with his foot falls made a chill rum up everyone's spine.

"Krichevskoy's brat. Perhaps you need some incentive."

Baal declared. He looked down at Etna, who had the Longinus aimed at him with her right hand. His eyes shifted to her left hand at her side. Swiftly, he almost entirely grasped all of Etna's arm. Etna begins to struggle.

"Let go of me!"

She tries hard to stab him with the Longinus but it didn't do anything to make him let go. He squeezes her arm hard, on the verge of breaking it, but she soon loses hold of the flower Laharl entrusted her with. Before it can fall to the ground, Baal's right hand comes to catch it in his palm. He roughly releases Etna, making her fall to the ground. Baal then stares at the object in his right hand. He begins to laugh.

"This is what you whispered to the Overlord to take care of? A flower?"

Baal stares at Laharl, who forces himself to stand shakily on his feet.

"Give it back Baal..."

Laharl says, his voice sounding so hushed and pathetic. Baal narrowed his eyes.

"Your powerful, but truly pathetic. A Demon who can't even release his hidden powers and protects a simple flower? I will make sure your death is slow and painful, Krichevskoy's brat. Then I will conquer the Netherworld, therefore becoming the master of all four of the worlds! The Humans, the Angels, the Demons...all of you have become so weak in this trial of peace. Such a thing will not happen ever again, not under my rule of tyranny. You no longer need this flower, weakling, so allow me to remove it from your life forever."

Baal said with a satisfied smirk. Laharl growled.

"Let her go...LET HER GO!!"

He charged at Baal, his muscles aching from combat, but he refused to give in. It was a futile attempt. No matter how hard Laharl tried, Baal would not let him or anyone else near the flower. He ignored everyone else, but playfully swatted Laharl to the ground numerous times, but Laharl would keep getting up to try his futile attempts.

"Enough..."

Baal muttered. Laharl had risen again and attacked Baal, but the Lord of Terror now crushed Laharl under his palm, keeping him from moving anywhere. All Laharl could do was struggle. Baal made sure he got a good look at Laharl's terrified face.

"Yes, the very moment of fear on your face. keep that look for me."

Baal said with his smirk widening. In a few moments Laharl's worst nightmare came true. The deed was done and the white flower's life was crushed. Baal released Laharl, who simply lay there in shock, his eyes going completely blank. A white petal floated down near Laharl's left hand. Laharl instinctively went to grab it, but it was soon crushed under Baal's heel. Baal picked up Laharl and looked at his face. Baal scowled in disgust.

"Your too pathetic to kill nice, slow and painfully."

Baal said. He then showed Laharl to the rest of the combatants.

"Behold the face of a truly broken Demon."

Baal declared. Etna cringed as she saw the lifelessness of Laharl's eyes. No light of any kind shined in the dark crimson depths any longer.

'Laharl...'

Etna could barely keep herself from looking at him for much longer. Baal reeled his arm back.

"Heh, there is no use for you, Krichevskoy's brat. Be gone."

Baal said before hurling Laharl at the broken down Battle Space Cruisers where he disappeared amongst all the scrap metal.

"And now the finale."

Baal declared. With a wave of his hand, all of the battle ships exploded in a wave of flame and metal.

"Overlord Etna..."

Etna heard a familiar voice and looked towards the flames to see Aramis standing there, his body bruised and cut, but he was still alive.

"Aramis...we failed...Baal is still just toying with us..."

Etna said as her head lowered again. She hated the word failed. She hated that all the efforts made by them ended up in vain. Aramis painfully made his way over to her and tried to comfort her as best he could.

"And so I will be the one out of three successors to finally gain control of all the worlds."

Baal said as he turned away from the flames, laughing loudly in triumph as he began walking away, planning to head to the Overlord's Castle. He stopped, however, to give the massive fire a small glance. His eye intently watched the flickering flames.

'I sense it...'

Baal thought to himself. Perhaps in their moods, no one there could sense a power beginning to emanate from within the flames. Soon a feral growl echoed across the night, but was soon a cry of pain as bright light nearly blinded everyone. Once the light stopped, so did the screaming. A figure approached from the flames.

'Could it be...'

Etna thought, trying not to get her hopes up. Now the Silhouette was visible and there was no mistake on who it was. Laharl. Baal turned fully around to face him.

"Was that all it took? One small sacrifice?"

Baal asked of Laharl. Laharl didn't answer, only began walking towards Baal, his head lowered. His left hand, which was clenched into a fist, was bleeding. Laharl lifted it horizontally by his side, opening it. Four pieces of metal fell from his hand. Etna instantly recognized the fragments.

'That was Flonne's pendant...'

She looked at Laharl with surprise. Now that Baal crushed the flower, and Laharl himself broke the pendant, Laharl had nothing tangible to remind him of Flonne. Laharl raised his head.

"Flonne...give her back..."

Laharl's voice was dry and rough sounding. It almost sounded as if he was hissing.

"GIVE HER BACK!!!!"

Laharl all but screamed. His crimson eyes were ablaze with hatred and anger. Soon his entire eyes were glowing red similarly to Baal's himself. Without warning, Laharl was already in the air, grasping Baal on either side of the face. Laharl slammed his head into Baal's with a sickening crunch. Laharl jumped off him as Baal staggered back, grunting in pain as his hand was covering his face. Baal began to chuckle lowly.

"Heh...the pain...make me feel more...!"

Baal removed his hand. To everyone's shock, save Laharl who was too wrapped up in his anger, Baal had a large crack in his forehead that was oozing out blood down his face. The ever present smirk graced his stone lips. Baal swiftly came at Laharl, striking out with his fist, but Laharl was somehow able to halt the attack with his body. Laharl struck Baal's fore arm, causing another hole in Baal's body that began bleeding. Baal took no notice, his smile showing that he seemed to be enjoying the pain. Baal spun around to deliver a back hand to the side of Laharl's head. Baal then grabbed Laharl easily and jumped in the air, dive bombing back to the ground as he slammed Laharl head first into it. Before Laharl could fully recover, Baal grabbed him around the leg with one arm, tearing him out of the ground and tossing him over the shoulder and into a rock. Laharl broke right through it and landed roughly on the ground. He growled as he got up. Baal continued making his way over to the younger Demon. Laharl got to his feet quickly and continued to fight. He rushed over to Baal with incredible speed, jumping up to deliver a devastating knee blow to Baal's chest, causing the rock skin to crack and bleed again. Baal kneeled over slightly. Laharl wasted no time in delivering an uppercut to the Lord of Terror's chin. Baal's head reeled back, and Laharl continued his onslaught by striking into his chest with his fists. Baal looked as if he could not take much more punishment, yet Laharl continued beating him down.

'This is just like with the Seraph...'

Etna thought as she saw Laharl continue to strike at Baal. Soon Laharl stopped. Baal fell to his arms and knees. his breathing becoming shallow. Laharl growled.

"Give...her...back..."

He said lowly. Baal still a little taller than Laharl when he was knelt on the ground as he was. Laharl brought his hands up to either side of Baal's head. He then viciously plunged his fingers right into Baal's head. Baal's mouth went agape with surprise as his blood flowed freely from the fatal wounds. Laharl removed his fingers swiftly and moved away as Baal fell face first to the ground. Laharl began staggering back, his breathing becoming unsteady as his eyes began to revert to normal. Everyone who witnessed Laharl's victory were in awe. Laharl turned his back to Baal's body.

"I failed..."

Laharl said. Etna made her way closer to him.

"I couldn't protect her..."

Laharl continued. His knees gave in and he fell to the ground.

"Your highness."

Etna knelt down when he did, putting a hand to his shoulder. Laharl growled and swung his arm out, slapping her arm away and making Etna fall on her rear in surprise.

"Don't touch me!"

He warned her. In most circumstances, Etna could brush incidents such as this one off easily. But what Laharl just did made her feel hurt and rejected.

"How sickeningly touchy..."

A voice said from behind Laharl. Laharl lifted his head in surprise as a massive shadow loomed over him. he got up and swiftly turned around, only to have himself rendered immobile as Baal's massive hands held him down. The Lord of Terror was smiling, despite his fatal injury.

"Amazing what a little will power can do now and then..."

Baal said. Laharl tried hard to escape, but Baal's grip held strong.

"You should be dead!"

Etna stated in disbelief. Baal ignored her, lowering his head and letting his eyes bore down into Laharl's.

"Laharl...you've proven worthy...now let me grant you my own power to add to yours...let me allow you release from your pain...and turn your obsession for that flower elsewhere..."

Baal said. His entire body began to glow red as his body temperature began rising. Laharl screamed as his body was becoming overtaken by heat. Baal simply began laughing brokenly, his eyes looking joyful.

"You...will become my...successor...just like I succeeded Rehall....and he succeeded Raol...now submit...!"

A massive explosion of light blinded everyone's view. All that could be heard was Laharl's screaming and Baal's laughter. After what felt like an eternity, everything returned to normal.

"Hey Etna, you okay?"

Etna opened her eyes to see Priere standing over her. Priere brought out her hand and Etna took it gratefully as she was helped back up to her feet.

"What happened to Laharl?"

Etna asked. Priere turned to the direction of rubble that once was Baal's body.

"I guess he's under all that..."

Before Priere could finish, a darkly tanned hand emerged from the rubble. The thick golden bracelet on the wrist proved that it was Laharl. Another hand surfaced. Laharl began arising. His back faced everyone else, but it was not hard to tell some of the differences in Laharl's physical appearance. His hair was dark black, darker than his now black cape which no longer looked so thin and short that it could pass off as a scarf. He turned to them. His skin was dark, but his crimson eyes still looked lifeless. His shorts and shoes were now black, and now had a red trim rather than the usual white. His cape was inlaid crimson. His physique changed only slightly, the muscles of his body looking somehow more defined than they used too. Laharl lifted his head to peer at the Red Moon, then began looking at everything as if it was the first time he'd seen it. His head lowered so that his nose and mouth were no longer visible in the upturned collar of his black and red cape. Laharl's shoulders began to shake slightly. The shaking became greater as a small sound came from his mouth. He brought his right hand to cover his eyes, looking as if he might have been crying. Suddenly he lifted his head, the small sounds from his mouth erupting into waves of laughter. It was almost like the laugh Etna remembered as Laharl's trademark laugh. But it was more egnimatic sounding, more darker somehow. Almost insane. Laharl's laughing subsided after awhile as he moved his hand slightly from his face showing one crimson eye that was no longer looked lifeless. It glowed eerily.

"I am Laharl...the Lord of Terror."

=TBC=

Note: Not much I can really say except that this chapter got posted pretty fast. I made a slight miscalculation on this chapter though. I said in a previous chapter that Baal's past would be revealed in more detail when he and Laharl met, but I was wrong. Don't worry though, it'll come in the next chapter in some form or another even if Baal himself is dead now. This story still has some ways to go though before being complete, so don't think it ends just with Baal's defeat, okay? Anyway, hopefully I can get the next chapter up soon, I hope...