Chapter 9

Written By Illuminet

Disclaimer: Refer to the first chapter to see it.

"..."-Indicate Speech

'...'-Indicate Thought

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Netherworld, Overlord's Territory, Outskirts of town

"So this is the Lord of Terror's power...yes...true to its reputation."

Laharl said, a smirk plastering itself on his lips.

"Why did you give in to Baal, Laharl? It was the Lord of Terror himself who killed Flonne. I don't understand..."

Aramis told him in disbelief. Laharl only chuckled.

"Why not? It was as he said. I no longer feel the weight of my guilt for her death. In fact, I'm glad the stupid Love Freak is gone. All she ever did was hold me back."

Laharl said in a cool, casual manner. Etna glared at him.

"How dare you say that as if she meant nothing. You loved her, and now your just going to discard her memory as if it was yesterday's garbage to begin with?"

Etna spoke with a forced effort. It was the last thing she wanted to do, admitting that he loved another. Her anger got the better of her, though, so she spoke her mind.

"Like I really care about what a pathetic Overlord like yourself thinks of me, Etna. What happened to you? You used to be so full of ambition like normal Demons should be, but look at you now. That should go for all the Demons. This trial of peace has made all the races weak. But I will have none of it. Under my rule as the greatest tyrant, such weaknesses will not be allowed. Those who oppose me shall die horrible deaths."

Laharl stated darkly, his deep voice laced with arrogance. Etna narrowed her eyes.

"I will stop you Laharl and return you to how you once were."

Etna said firmly as she aimed the Longinus in Laharl's direction. Laharl's smirk turned to a malicious grin that bared some of his fangs.

"You? Stop me? Don't be so sure about yourself, Etna. You won't attack me, because despite what you may believe, I know of your feelings for me. Your simply saying things you can't possibly hope to accomplish."

Laharl said to her with an all-knowing voice. Etna gritted her teeth together in frustration because she knew he was right. He could twist her love for him into the greatest nightmare if he so pleased.

"She may be hindered by you. But I shall not."

A familiar voice sounded all around them and soon a Demon dressed in deep violet clothing teleported near Etna. Etna recognized him instantly.

"Mid-Boss? Why are you here?"

Etna asked in disbelief. Laharl only grinned wider.

"I was wondering when you were finally going to come out of hiding, Mid-Boss. I'd call you Vyers out of respect for the elderly but you and I both know our relationship goes on a much deeper scale than that. Right, old man?"

Laharl said in his all-knowing tone of voice. Vyers chuckled as all eyes went on him. Laharl used the most common title he'd given to his own father when he said that to Vyers.

"So, I can't mask my true presence from you anymore can I, my son?"

He asked. His form began to shift into a Demon Etna and many of the other Demons had not seen in a long time. All bowed down in respect to the former Overlord, Krichevskoy.

"Heh, its always been a dream of mine to face you, old man. Looks like I'll finally get that chance."

Laharl spoke with increased delight. His excitement was building at this opportunity. Krichevskoy chuckled as if Laharl was the weaker of he two. This angered Laharl, but only momentarily.

"Your forgetting something, my son. Despite your new found powers, you lack the true experience to use them properly. Even under the Lord of Terror's influence controlling you, your physical body will need time to fully adjust to the power it was bestowed with. Such is the case with all the others who became the Lords of Terror."

Krichevskoy explained. He then turned to Etna.

"Overlord Etna, please lend me the Longinus."

Krchevskoy said as he bowed low in front of her and held out his right hand, and awaiting for her to give him the weapon. Etna stared down at him in disbelief.

"Your highness, there's no need to for you to do that"

Etna said to him. Krichevskoy shook his head.

"Your wrong. It's you who's the Overlord now, Etna, not me."

Krichevskoy told her. Etna nodded in understanding and placed the spear in his waiting hand. Krichevskoy stood up and turned Laharl.

"So, now your ready, old man?"

Laharl asked. A black mist gathered in Laharl's right palm and began extending outwards. It transformed into a jagged bladed scythe. The black blade gleamed like obsidian. The metal shaft of the weapon was covered in course strips of white cloth tied around it. The cloth covered most of the rune symbols that engraved the entire shaft's surface. Laharl brought the black scythe over his shoulder.

"Come on."

Laharl gestured with his left hand, his tone boastful. The two combatants charged at each other. Krichevskoy thrusted forward with the Longinus while Laharl swung overhead with his black scythe from its position on his shoulder. The two blades made contact and sparks erupted violently from the friction. Both pulled back, Krichevskoy bringing the spear over his head while Laharl brought his scythe to his left side. Both swung out their weapons vertically, Krichevskoy's attack coming downward as Laharl's came upward. The blades met again in a blaze of sparks. Krichevskoy was knocked back a bit by the force and Laharl quickly capitalized on the opportunity. He slashed horizontally with a quick swing of his scythe, but to his surprise, Krichevskoy caught the shaft in his left hand and thrusted quickly at Laharl's head. It almost looked like the spear tips would make contact with his head, but laharl brought his left arm up, letting the spear impale his forearm. Laharl made no sound however to show if he was in any pain. Krichevskoy pulled Longinus's blade free from Laharl's arm, opening the wound further.

"Looks like I draw first blood."

Krichevskoy stated as Laharl's arm went limp and fell to his side. Laharl only smirked.

"I'd have to agree normally. But I can't."

Laharl said with an arrogant tone. He brought his left arm up, showing Krichevskoy the wound. The three holes left in Laharl's forearm closed up quickly as they regenerated, leaving only the blood behind.

"You see how hopeless your situation is now, old man? You can't beat me unless you can kill me, but your not powerful enough to do such a thing."

Laharl said. Despite the dire situation, Krichevskoy only chuckled, annoying Laharl.

"Your right, my son. I can't kill you, but I can do something much better than that. It was too late for Baal, but for you, it's not..."

Krichevskoy spoke in a mysterious tone. Laharl's eyebrow raised a bit.

"What are you talking about? You have some method to defeat me now, old man?"

Laharl asked, his voice sounded confident that whatever it was, it wouldn't work. Deep down, however, was a sight tinge of worry.

"You see, my son, Longinus has a special function to it that will allow me to save you. Of course, you won't have any knowledge of it no matter how well learned you are. It is something that is taught from Overlord to Overlord and is not written in any book. When the Longinus felt you were worthy to wield it, I was planning to teach you it's special function in case you might ever need it, but then you decided to name Etna your successor. Since the trial of peace began, I thought she would not need it. If I had known Baal was going to return and make you his successor, I would have taught it to her. I doesn't matter thought now that I'm here."

Krichevskoy explained to Laharl. Laharl's eyes narrowed.

"A special function, huh? I think your bluffing old man, but even if your not, I'll simply beat the information out of you."

Laharl said, his anger fading to be replaced with the usual arrogance of a Lord of Terror. With a swift motion of his left hand, Laharl flicked the blood off of it. Instead of falling to the ground however, the blood solidified and transformed into a crimson bladed scythe. The blade was much smoother looking then the jagged blade of the black scythe. The entire shaft was red and engraved with runes, with a black cloth tied around it. Without warning, Laharl charged swiftly, letting his scythes strike out like pincers. Krichevskoy jumped back to avoid the attack and swung upward with his spear to break the attack against him. The two picked up the pace and began to fight faster and harder. Krichevskoy was left mostly on the defensive because of Laharl's double attacks. Finally Laharl was able to hook the Longinus within the blades of his scythes while Krichevskoy was jumping away, and wretched the weapon free of Krichevskoy's grasp and tossed it behind him Krichevskoy reacted quickly as he crouched low, bringing his right fist back. Krichevskoy then performed a side variation to the much favored Blazing Knuckles technique of his and Laharl. Krichevskoy's body was surrounded by a tornado of flames as he came closer and closer to Laharl's destination. Laharl was prepared to just swat Krichevskoy down with his scythes but just as Krichevskoy came in reach of the weapons, Krichevskoy jumped free from his own attack. This caused the perfect distraction, because Laharl turned his head up to see his father and let down his guard as the tornado of fire stuck him head on. Krichevskoy was successfully able to obtain his weapon and faced Laharl as he just walked out of the inferno left beind by Krichevskoy's attack. Laharl was unscathed by the attack. He smirked as he brought out his left hand, letting the red scythe transform into large crimson spheres and hovered all around Laharl's location.

'So he'll use the Overlord's Wrath...'

Krchevskoy thought as he do performed the same technique. Their attacks met with a large explosion. Krichevskoy had to shield his eyes from the blinding light, but he had enough time to see Laharl's silouette charging at him with his scythe held in both hands. Krichevskoy brought the Longinus up and held it with bought hands to defend himself as Laharl swung forward with tremendous force. The Longinus's metal shaft bended from the strain and then snapped in two. Krichevskoy could hear Laharl's voice.

"Looks like the Longinus is broken, as it your chance to defeat me."

Laharl said with a grin. Krichevskoy only smirked as he the part of Longinus that had its blade and plunged it deep in Laharl's fore head. Laharl smirked.

"What good will that do you?"

Laharl asked as the light caused by the explosion dissipated. Krichevskoy kept his smirk on.

"Only this."

Once he said that, Krichevskoy brought the broken shaft ends together and let them fuse into one weapon again, much to Laharl's surprise. The entire weapon began to glow with a black light. Laharl let out a roar of pain as the injury in his fore head began to release a black mist into the air which began evaporating into nothingness. Laharl fell to the ground, unconscious.

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Netherworld, Overlord's Castle, Etna's Room, formally Laharl's Room

"What did you do to him out there?"

Etna asked as the sleeping Laharl was put in the coffin bed. Krichevskoy sighed.

"I've simply taken out the Lord of Terror's influence from him. It will ceast to exist, but Laharl's body will remain like this because of the Lord of Terror's power fused with his own. Now that the influence is gone, Laharl's mind will return to what it originally was. His guilt will probably be amplified considering he now has the power within him that killed his beloved. Please continue to be there for him, Overlord Etna, and let us hope that he will eventually be able to move on with his life."

Krichevskoy explained.

"How did you know there was even something influencing Laharl in the first place?"

Etna asked.

"It was something I learned while I was still just a soul. Tales of the Lord of Terror are very popular, and they have all the facts. By learning from that, I was able to gain all sorts of information about the Lords of Terror. During the beginning of recorded Demon history, when the first Overlord came to be, the older brother of that Overlord happened to be Raol. His anger at having their father choose his younger brother to become the first Overlord instead of him turned into an obsession. It was his obsession to prove worthy to his father he was the better candidate for Overlord that drove him over the edge to obtain the great power that soon would make him the first Lord of Terror. He was the first one who created the influence of the Lord of Terror. It turns the obsessions all towards tyranny."

Krichevskoy explained.

"What about Rehall and Baal? What caused them to have the obsessions necessary to be sought out as successors?"

Etna asked.

"Rehall's rise to power through his obsession is very similar to Raol's. I'm not sure if you know this or not, but on the Alternate Netherworld, the strongest and the smartest is dubbed as Overlord there. Rehall had been ousted by one of his best friends who he was always jealous of. His jealous feelings became his obsession for power. When he was able to gain that immense power through his obsession, he was sought out by Raol. Rehall narrowly won over Raol, but he was still able to triumph. After Raol named Rehall his successor, he killed himself to transfer his power to Rehall. Once Rehall became the second Lord of Terror, he ruled the Alternate Netherworld with an iron fist. Baal was amongst the many Demons being oppressed by Rehall's rule. His obsession became the freeing of his fellow Demons from Rehall. Even though his cause was just, it was still an obsession that could be used by the influence of the Lord of Terror. Baal's fate was truly a sad one. He had been a benevolent giant of a Demon who only wanted to save other Demons from Rehall's cruelty, but he became the next Lord of Terror, and the reign of oppression continued."

Krichevskoy explained, letting out a sigh. Etna turned from Krichevskoy to look at Laharl.

"And Laharl's obsession was to protect and love Flonne, despite his denial of such feelings. When the Seraph punished her, Laharl gained his immense power ande eventually was able to kill the Seraph. Then here and now, Laharl kills Baal with the power Baal wanted to witness so badly, so Baal names Laharl his successor..."

Etna said, her voice trailing off.

"Well, it's time for me to go, Overlord Etna. Farewell."

Krichevskoy said. Etna turned towards him, but he was already gone.

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Unknown...

'Laharl, my son...I can give you no physical comfort but I can tell you something that will hopefully uplift your spirits...While it is true that Baal has destroyed the white flower, the soul within is still alive, and it has chosen exists within you. Not to give you the physical love you so craved from her, but the support you'll need to let go of your guilt, or at least to lighten the burden of it. But she can only do so much for you on the inside...The rest must come from yourself and the ones outside willing to lend a helping hand. You simply have to grasp it...'

-TBC-

Note: Sorry, but this chapter is pretty short and not a very good one because I didn't have much time to work on it as I would have liked since my original computer basically decided to kick the bucket and I have to go to a friend's house to type this up. Hopefully you will all like this one chapter anyway. Once I get a new computer to work with on my own, hopefully the chapters will come out better again. So until then, see ya.