Chapter 16

Written By Illuminet

Disclaimer: Refer to the first chapter

"..."-Indicate Speech

'...'-Indicate Thought

-

Unknown...

"So tell me, Laharl...when are you going to crack? Your friends have already succumbed, and it's only a matter of time before you do as well...but I wonder how long you'll be able to keep this up."

Raol's voice entered Laharl's head as he continued to tread. Laharl prevented himself from showing any emotion.

'He's lying...but is he really? Could Etna and the others really be dead? If that was the case I could...NO! I can't risk it. If I use this technique, I may end up really killing them in an effort to get to Roal and that would mean falling into his trap. He knows I would feel immediate guilt if I ended up accidently slaying my friends just to drive him away. It's what he wants...but I can't...no, I refuse to let him have his way!'

Laharl told himself firmly.

'You care for them greatly, don't you, Laharl?'

Laharl's head lifted up swiftly to look around, although it didn't do him much good.

'That voice again...the one that reminded me of the barrier's flaw...it must be communicating through telepathy. But who is it? Or is this just some trick of Raol's...'

Laharl thought to himself.

'This is no trick. Though, if I did tell you who I was, I'm sure you'd think otherwise.'

The voice said again.

'Who are you, then? At least tell me that.'

Laharl said back. Silence was all that greeted him for a long moment.

'I'm like Raol, a wandering soul. Now before you ask why Raol could not sense me, it is because I have decided to take refuge in your body to prevent him from knowing. Consider this combination similar to the link you had with your former lover, Flonne.'

The voice explained. Laharl gulped audibly.

'YOU! You were within me while Flonne and I were...'

Laharl was silenced by the voice.

'Jumping to conclusions, Laharl. Though it is understandable since you've been in this impenetrable darkness for some time. Keep your self clear of emotions and let me explain. I've only resided in your body recently. Since Flonne's spirits decided to reside in your body for such a long period of time, her spirit left a sort of residue, for lack of better words, behind that acts as a shield against other spirits. Of course my power was easily able to break it, however. I had learned of Raol's evil intentions for you and have decided to help. But I'm also aware that if you befriended you and showed who I was, you wouldn't be very trusting at all. But stalling has no longer become an option. Prepare yourself Laharl.'

The voice said. Laharl's vision was blinded by light now. Once the he deemed it was safe did Laharl open his eyes.

"What the...I'm outside of the tower now!"

Laharl stated in surprise. He was once again on the cliff that he had stood on before he found the Demon children who ended up being possessed by different areas of Raol's spirit. This time it wasn't night time nor was it raining. It appeared to be dusk.

"This isn't real."

Laharl told himself.

"Your right, it isn't."

Laharl turned around swiftly to finally peer at the one who brought him here. Laharl eyes widened in shock.

"Your Baal! You were the wandering spirit left in the tower!"

Laharl growled, taking a defensive stance. Baal shook his massive head.

"I have come to the tower only recently to find out Raol's intentions. You probably haven't heard before, but I was not the same Demon you met back in the Netherworld. True it was my body you destroyed, but it was Raol who was in control. Anyway, why I am here should not be important. Like you, I too wish to see Raol's treacherous ambitions put to rest. All you need to do is to trust me for a brief moment, and you'll be able to save your friends and do away with Raol all in one."

Baal stated. Laharl peered closely at the glowing eyes of massive giant.

'Blue...'

Laharl thought to himself. The eyes of the Baal Laharl first met were a burning crimson but the eyes of the Demon in front of him now were gentle azure. Laharl's defensive posture lessened.

"Alright, Baal, I'm listening."

Laharl said softly.

"Good. Now here's what we must accomplish."

-

Alternate Netherworld, Tower of Laharl

"How long do you plan on standing there? Why don't you break down in tears and let me absorb you."

Raol said, his voice sounding impatient. Laharl smirked.

"Allow me to say that I have one little trick that I didn't even know I had until now."

Laharl stated confidently. A white mist started to rise from his body.

"WHAT! You...you should be dead!"

Raol's voice exploded in confusion and anger. Laharl could hear Baal chuckling.

"Speak for yourself, Raol. It's time you were taken down once and for all."

Baal's voice sounded smug. Raol growled darkly.

"You think you can take me on, Baal? Such foolish prattle."

Raol stated. Baal laughed hardily.

"Then why do you sound afraid? You, the Lord of Terror himself, are uncertain of your chances."

Baal stated.

"Heh, you think you'll be able to take me on, Baal? Your power is nothing compared to my own."

Raol argued. A battle was occurring now, one of which Laharl could not see, as it was a battle between two spirits. Luckily, Baal was proving quite the distraction, and the black mist was quickly starting to thin out. Laharl could finally see some light.

"Laharl! What happened?"

Laharl turned swiftly to see Michaelangelo. The Seraph looked rather shaken, but otherwise the rest of him looked alright.

"What's going on here? What was the black mist?"

This time it was Priere who spoke, Etna close beside her.

"Raol was doing that. It will take to much time to explain the rest. Hurry and get out of here."

Laharl told them.

"But..."

Etna protested. Laharl looked sternly in her direction.

"Please, Etna, just do what I say for now."

He said in all seriousness. Without further questioning, the other three left towards the balcony, flying away. Laharl smiled slightly.

'Thanks for listening...'

He thought to himself.

"Damn you, boy...you have this very annoying amount of luck at your side...but no more, Baal has given up on you and I can get your friends back just as easily, once I subdue you."

Raol bellowed in a deep tone. The mist began generating again, but this time, Laharl could make out the crimson eyes of his foe. It was the only thing visible amongst the encroaching darkness. Laharl didn't falter. Instead, the faintest of grins shown on his face, letting a top fang protrude from his mouth.

"You don't think I'm unaware as to why you were dragging my friends into this, do you?"

Laharl asked softly. Raol remained silent.

"Because if that's the case. Your wrong. Dead wrong."

Raol continued to remain silent, while Laharl's grin only expanded, letting another fang pop out. His eyes began to glow a dim crimson.

"There were going to be your scapegoat. Because just as you want my body for the powers you lost, so too can I take over your powers from your spirit form. Either way, one of us will get the full extent of the powers of the Lord of Terror. But my advantage come now because I'm in a body now, and your just a spirit. All I need to do is absorb you."

Laharl explained.

"Keep on dreaming, boy. I've more than powerful enough not to fear you or your useless information."

Raol said in deep voice. But Laharl caught the slight fear in his tone.

"The why resort to bringing them here? You know what I think? I think you brought them here because you knew if I tried to absorb you, I'd risk doing the same thing to any of my comrades due to my high powers granted from you originally. Now that they've escaped, I can do what I please. Farewell, Raol..."

Laharl said in a low voice. His body started to glow with a red hue.

"No...STOP!"

Raol roared frantically as the black mist began swirling around Laharl like a tornado, as Raol's powers began entering his body.

"You've threatened me long enough, Raol. Payback is long overdue."

Laharl muttered as he kept focusing on absorbing the power Raol had worked so hard to collect. Laharl couldn't care less, though. Raol put him through to many obstacles to be let off lightly, and Laharl would do his part to ensure the Demon never rose up again. A rumbling began to rattle the foundation of the ancient tower. The surge of power now stopped flowing. Laharl opened his eyes, looking down at his hands.

"So this is it. The complete and total power of the Lord of Terror..."

Laharl muttered to himself.

"It wasn't suppose to be this way...it wasn't suppose.."

Raol was just a small puff of black smoke now, and he too disappeared, leaving no trace. Laharl looked at the spot where the original Lord of Terror once was. He bowed his head respectively.

'Raol...I was a lot like you once. A demon full of ambition and using any means to obtain what he needed to survive. It's unfortunate you couldn't open your eyes to the changes around you and accept those changes. Had I not met the many people out there who stood beside me, even with my great power, I would have been empty and alone. And I would have been destroyed. Maybe by myself or somebody else. You may be forgotten as time goes on, by I won't forget what we Demons may have originally stood for. We who were revered as the powerful and prideful bunch in the universe...Our power was a symbol of our greatness, and it still is even today, but now it will simply be used for another cause, that's all.'

Laharl looked to the ceiling.

"Farewell."

He said.

"The tower has taken it's toll...it will collapse soon."

Baal's voice came to Laharl's ears.

"I see. I don't know where you are, but before we both leave, let me thank you for helping me out. It was your voice that helped me remember about the seal's core as well, wasn't it?"

Laharl asked.

"Sometimes you let your emotions cloud your better judgement, Laharl. I'm glad things worked out in the end. Good bye for now...we may meet again in the next life."

Baal stated. Laharl nodded.

"Maybe...if you see my old man, tell him I said hi and thank him for me too while your at it."

Laharl said.

"Consider it done."

Baal's voice said, though it came out faintly. Laharl also departed towards the balcony of the tower, where he spread his wings and took to the sky just before the tower collapsed on itself.

"Damn...so much for making it my home."

Laharl muttered as he hovered in the air.

:TBC:

Note: This chapter was a bit rushed since I don't have a lot of time to work on it. Still, hopefully it was decent. To Nessmk, you wanted to know if I take requests, right? You want me to make another Ryu/Lin centered BOF:DQ story. I have no problems doing another one if you want, but you have to understand that with school and all starting up, I can't contribute a whole lot of time to my writings, and The White Flower will take top priority as well, when I have free time. So all I can ask is for your patience in the matter. Since you asked, I will do my best to deliver another story like my previous Ryu/Lin fic, but it probably won't show for quite some time. I hope that this will be okay in the long run. Anyway, back to this chapter, sorry for the rush, and I'll try and get the next chapter up when I can.