Exhausted as I was from using both of my dragon techniques in succession, still no one was safe. The shattered pieces of the fragment each became a copy of the Shadow Lord, all of which merged into one. I could feel every fiber in my body shaking in fear. This monstrosity that stood before me, that put the true meaning of fear back into my soul, was truly the Shadow Lord. I saw that I was not alone in my feelings of such power, but none of us were about to give up without a fight.

"My power has been restored..." he said. "it is now time to take my vengence upon those who live in this world today, starting with San d'Oria." From the mist of the dark clouds he created a massive sword that somehow gleamed in the darkness. While my brother spoke of justice, this evil spoke of only vengence and death.

"We'll stop you here and now, Shadow Lord!" Kirith and Hogosha said, beginning their assault. Kirith's arrows all hit the Shadow Lord directly, and Leviathan's water spells made contact with the him as well. However, he seemed to only absorb them all.

"What pathetic Guardians the Star Sibyl chose." The Shadow Lord said, knocking both Kirith and Hogosha into a wall, rendering them both unconcious.

"You will regret your actions, dark one!" Kalnor said, charging the Shadow Lord. With one swing, the Shadow Lord tore through Kalnor's armor and sent him flying back into the wall near Kirith and Hogosha. Even if he wasn't unconcious from the force of the blow, he wouldn't have the strength to fight.

Nighthawk attempted to bind the Shadow Lord with magic from his songs, but nothing worked, not even Konami's songs did anything. The Shadow Lord swung his fist at them, knocking them into Kirith and Hogosha on the wall. "Isn't there anyone here strong enough to be a challenge to my power!" The Shadow Lord asked, thinking there wouldn't be an answer.

"I am strong enough to defeat you, demon." My father said just before whispering to me, "Kazu, take the others and get away from here. In order to defeat the Shadow Lord, I must die taking him with me."

"No, father! You can't!" I told him, but he pushed me back.

"Go now or you all will die with me, and this world cannot afford to lose it's heroes." He said, then walked towards the Shadow Lord. "I will rid this world of your kind, so prepare to die!" He said to the Shadow Lord, charging at him.

However, the Shadow Lord broke my father's sword, and grabbed him with one hand. "Useless Seijuro..." he began. "once you were the strongest Samurai in the entire world, and one of the most respected of the Royal Knights. Yet, you gave it all away for the one you loved, and went into hiding with her to raise a family. Why do you continue fighting? Why do you not bow to my will!"

"Because I believe in hope," my father said. "hope for a better world, a safer world for the innocent people of this land to live in. Those I save today shall become the heroes of the new world, and your kind shall be forever banished. Hope exists for peace in Vana'diel!"

"I shall give you your peace, insolent fool!" The Shadow Lord yelled, tightening his fist on my father's body.

Outside of San d'Oria, I saw a massive burst of light, followed by a stream of light going into the sky. "Father!" I yelled, running back to San d'Oria. Inside it's walls, I saw my father's lifeless body, and scattered pieces of the Shadow Lord. "No..." I said "no... it's not fair... why did he have to die!"

"He died in vain," a voice said, coming from the shards of the Shadow Lord. "because I still live." He put himself back together, and recreated his sword. "That wasn't bad for a second-rate alchemist, but not good enough to kill me."

"I will not let his death be in vain," I said. "I will help to take his place, to protect the innocent of this world from the fangs of the wicked. It's all I can do to repay him for his kindness."

I could feel the energy of my friends pulsing through me, cheering me on, giving me strength enough to fight once more. I had a reason to live, and a reason to protect the weak from the abuse of the strong. With those two in mind, I charged into battle against the true Shadow Lord. With the power of Crimson Light, Mikan, and all of my friends, I defeated the Shadow Lord in battle. The darkness around him dispelled, leaving only the Galka Talekeeper, Raogrimm. He told me of the events that happened thirty years ago, and that he didn't have the right to ask of his forgiveness.

"Touching story," the Archduke of Jeuno, Kam'lanuat, said. "you have actually served your purpose, suprising enough for a Galka."

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"The Shadow Lord you just defeated was merely a diversion, used to drain the power from the great seal of Vana'diel," Kam'lanaut spoke. "and it worked according to plan. Now my brother and I, the last of the Zilart, can enter the realm of the gods!"

Using the power from crystals, Kam'lanaut summoned forth five warriors, one for every race of Vana'diel. "Warriors of the Crystal," he said. "purge this land of that which plauges it!"

"Go..." Raogrimm said to me. "I still have the ability to call on the darkness one more time. I can hold them off just long enough for you to escape with your friends. Now, quickly- leave San d'Oria!"

I nodded, and left San d'Oria. Those who had already regained conciousness helped me carry out everyone else, and from a distance we saw the final battle of Raogrimm, and the destruction of the Kingdom of San d'Oria.