Hell's Breaking Point
Chapter XIII – The Swordswoman Is Who?
Disclaimer: I do not own Slayers, …..whoop diddy…
Xellos was assigned a peculiar errand by the Lord Of Nightmare. At first, it was just a simple taunting game but as time goes by, the errand became more extreme until... (Mostly L/G and Z/A) - Takes place after Next and before Try.
Japanese Words:
Oka-sama : Mother aka L.O.N.
Oni-san : Big brother
Yare yare : Oh boy...(something like that)
Mazoku : Evil race/Monster
Juu Ou : Beastmaster
Minna : Everyone
'…….' Is for Phibby's thoughts
…… Is for Gourry's thoughts
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The disastrous night finally ended, but it left a big scar on the city of Seyruun which will take a long time to heal. The sun made its appearance as morning came. For Lina Inverse, last night had been the most dreaded night of her life and perhaps it would continue to this day too.
"What?" her voice boomed in the palace.
Amelia cringed, "I-I'm sorry, Lina-san but I have to stay…I want to go with you and Zelgadis-san so that we can save Gourry-san together but…I have my responsibilities here too…" she trailed off as sadness filled her eyes, "The people of Seyruun need me. Besides I have to explain to them that technically it wasn't Gourry-san who did all of those horrible things last night,"
Thousands of emotion flickered in the sorceress' eyes but the princess didn't notice it, Gourry…… Lina mentally shook her head. Now was not the time to pity herself. Now is the time to come up with a Mazoku proof plan to save Gourry and destroy Hellmaster once and for all. The chimera stood in silent as no words come to mind.
Lina nodded her head as her face softened, "I understand. But, if you've finished your job here in Seyruun, find us as soon as possible. We…I can't do this if none of you guys were with me," Lina said softly as she embraced the princess in a gentle hug.
"L-Lina-san…" Amelia was touched by her words and she tightened the embrace, "I promise that once I've finished my duties here in Seyruun, I'll find you and Zelgadis-san. I mean, it's not hard to find the infamous dra-mata, bandit killer, Lina Inverse," For once the sorceress didn't mind being called the dra-mata as she and Amelia exchanged giggles.
The chimera smiled at the touching scene.
"Hang in there Amelia," Lina knew that last night must have been hard on the princess. She'll need all the emotional support she can get or else she'll be just like her; emotionally torn…And she didn't want that to happen to her 'little sister'.
"You too, Lina-san," Amelia replied in a soft tone as she broke the hug. The sorceress just smiled at her before nodding slightly.
Zelgadis walked up to the two of them; giving an affection pat on Amelia's head, "You'll do just fine here, as the princess of Seyruun…" he smiled at her.
"Thank you, Zelgadis-san," A sweet smile appeared on her face.
"Alright then. It's time to go Zel," the sorceress spoke as her demeanor turned to her normal self.
"Where?" Zelgadis asked and was surprised when a sweat trickled down the sorceress' cheek.
"I-I'll explain it on the way. See ya, Amelia," Lina flashed a strain smile at her before walking towards the palace's entrance.
"Uh, wait for me outside," Zelgadis hollered at her. Amelia looked at him in confusion as his face started to grow red. Throwing a nervous glance behind him, he sighed in relief as the sorceress was already out of his sight. Ignoring his thumping heart, he placed both hands on the princess' shoulders and brushed his lips gently on her forehead.
"Good luck Amelia,"
Amelia was shocked as her face grew warm but before she could react to his bold gesture, the chimera had already walked out of the palace.
"Zelgadis…." Amelia breathed out as one hand touched her forehead, savoring the feeling.
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"What took you so long?" Lina had asked once the chimera had caught up with her.
"Just saying goodbyes," he simply replied with a small smile although his face still held hints of red. Lina just shrugged in respond.
As they walked through the city of Seyruun in daylight, they could clearly see the destruction work of Phibrizzo. True that it wasn't the whole city that was destroyed but a part of Seyruun was still a large piece of land. You could say that Seyruun had lost that large amount of lives that night.
"Seyruun looks even worse in daylight," Lina spoke as she and Zelgadis watched their surrounding. Tons of buildings were destroyed making them feel as if they were walking through some ruin. Pieces of planks and stones scattered everywhere. They also saw the people of Seyruun crowding the place as they helped each other, either helping to rebuilt the city once again or look for their love ones who may still be trapped under all those rubbles.
"It makes me feel like I should help them or something," she continued. Truth is, Lina felt guilty right now. She kept thinking that all of these were her fault. She clenched her fists.
Still looking forward, the chimera spoke, "You can help them. By destroying Phibrizzo, which brings me to my earlier question; where exactly are we going?" he instantly arched an eyebrow when he heard her took a gulp, "Lina..?"
"Okay, you know that Gourry is an unbelievably unmatched swordsman and the last time we fought him, we barely made it if it wasn't for my Ragna Blade," she spoke in low tone.
Zelgadis nodded his head.
"So now that Hellmaster possessed him, who knows how much stronger he had become," she continued.
The chimera turned to look at her, "So what's your plan?"
"Well, defeating him with our magic will be excruciatingly hard since he'll just absorb our spells with the Hikari No Ken. So what's left is the physical attack…." She can't even comprehend what she had just said. Defeating a Mazoku with physical attacks? That's suicide but….
It seems the chimera too had the same thought as he voiced it, "You're kidding right…? And besides fighting against Hellmaster means that we're fighting against Gourry also! I'll bet that even if we were able to wound him, Phibrizzo will just find another host to possess," the chimera stopped walking as he spoke the words that the sorceress wasn't ready to hear.
"We're gambling with Gourry's life!"
Lina's head drooped, "…..I.."
"Ah, but you're mistaken…"
Both Lina and Zelgadis stopped their tracks at the familiar voice. Lina instantly growled when a figure emerged from one of the destroyed building.
"Xellos!" she hissed as she made her way towards the grinning priest, ready to throttle him.
"Tsk, tsk Lina-san. If you resort to violence, I won't tell you a secret information," Lina showed no sign of stopping, "..about Hellmaster Phibrizzo," he added.
That did the trick.
"Even if you know something I doubt that you'll tell us," Zelgadis glared at him as he folded his arms.
"Oh, Zelgadis-san. Have you no faith in me?"
"I never had faith in you," was the reply.
Xellos made a mocking pout, "I see. Well if you don't need me, I'll just be on my way," he turned to face the opposite side.
"Wait!" His lips curved into a grin at her voice.
"…tell me," Lina's voice was faint but it was clear in his ears, showing how desperate she was to save her beloved protector.
Xellos quickly turned back to face them with a wide smile, "Well if you're that desperate," One violet eye cracked open, "Like I've just said, you're mistaken Zelgadis-san,"
"What do you mean?"
"Gourry-san's body is the last physical form that Hellmaster will ever have. That means that in order for you to destroy him, you'll have to destroy Gourry-san,"
"You're lying! There must be another way!" Lina's reaction was instant. Zelgadis just stood in silent, still trying to process the logic from Xellos' statement. Xellos said nothing for a while which just added to Lina's fear.
"…there is," A small hope glimmered in the sorceress' eyes at his words, "But you'll have to find the answer to that from the person you're currently trying to seek, Lina-san," he ended.
…the person I'm currently seeking..? …! …oh, hell! Lina thought in distress as Xellos' sentences finally sank in.
"How did you know that?" she asked in a harsh tone. The chimera watched her in confusion because well, he was confused…and because there was fear written all over her face.
"That is a secret," Xellos smiled at her as he wiggled his finger before turning to the other direction, ready to walk away.
"Xellos?" he stopped walking for a moment but never turned to face her, "Why are you telling us this? Why are you betraying your own kind?" She needed to know his reason for his action, frightened that there's a catch behind it.
Still having his back in front of them, he spoke, "Hellmaster is no longer one of our kind, no longer a Mazoku. To be a part of a human, a part of our ultimate prey, has made him, how you humans say…lower that dirt. The Mazoku will never accept him now even though he still has our ambition; bringing the world into chaos. He's the embarrassment to the Mazoku and for that he has to be destroy….one way or another," the tone he used somehow brought fears in their hearts and both of them couldn't help but took a nervous gulp. He turned his head a bit and they saw a small grin on his face, "And we're giving you to be the first person to do that," And with that he disappeared into thin air.
"I guess humans are that despicable to them as they are to us…"
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"Amelia! Amelia!" Prince Phil's voice boomed inside the palace.
Amelia's body shivered at her father's loud voice. Since this morning, she has been evading her father, too afraid to confront him. She still hasn't found the right words to break the news. What should she tell him? A Mazoku that they had failed to kill had possessed her companion was the one who had destroyed a part of the city just to lure Lina out? What to do? What to do?
A sudden pressure on her shoulder shook her out of her reverie as she let out a frightened yelp.
"Amelia! Where have you been! I've been searching for you all morning!" her father spoke as he withdrew his hand from her shoulder.
"D-daddy..? I-I…uh,"
"Amelia, I have to ask you something! Last night, most of the soldiers that I had sent to arrest the assailant had died from battle, so we couldn't receive any valuable information from them but…." His eyes' turned serious, "..those who had managed to survive had told me that the person who was responsible for the attack…had long golden hair and was wielding that light sword…"
Amelia averted her gaze from him.
"Why won't you say anything…..It's…it's Gourry-dono, isn't it..?"
Amelia kept quiet.
"Say something! It's him, isn't it?" he spoke in a harsher tone as he grabbed her shoulders.
"Yes! Yes! …it's Gourry-san…" Amelia suddenly blurted out, her face close to tears. Phil just looked at her in dumbstruck. When he had heard the news, he couldn't believe it. Gourry, who was a nice, polite lad, was killing innocent lives and destroying the city. Who can believe that! The young lad who had saved him when he carelessly tried to attack Copy Rezo and who had always sided with justice was murdering people? He thought that it was a bad joke but now, coming out of her precious daughter's mouth….
"…why?"
"A high level Mazoku had possessed him…and…"
"When? He looked normal last night," his voice lost the harshness.
"I don't know…We only found out about it when we encountered him last night?"
"So many people had died…but," Amelia couldn't bare to look at him right now, "..it..it's not really Gourry-dono who had done all those injustice actions, isn't it? An evil Mazoku had taken over his actions…" Phil lifted his daughter's chin up so that they were face to face and gave her a warm smile, "So, Gourry-dono is not guilty,"
Amelia's face lit up and quickly she hugged him, grateful to have such an understanding father.
"But.." Oh no, another 'but', "…the people won't take this as easy as I had. They have never met the nice lad. It's going to be tough to convince them," Phil could feel Amelia nodded against his chest, "But.." What? More 'but', "..if justice is on Gourry-dono's side, then everything will turned out find in the end,"
Amelia lifted her face to look at her father, "That's right, daddy! With the power of love and justice, we will return Seyruun to its former state and destroy the evil Mazoku!" she exclaimed in full energy as her father nodded eagerly at her.
"Right then! Lets go help our people who is in need of help, Amelia!"
"Right daddy! For justice!" And with that, the father and daughter ventured out of the palace to carry out their duties as the prince and princess of Seyruun but importantly as allies of justice, hand in hand.
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"Are you going to tell me now?" Zelgadis had asked for the fifth time as his level of annoyance increased. They had already left Seyruun city and was walking through a vast field towards to only Lina knew where….All Zelgadis knew that they were heading north.
"FINE!" Lina yelled at the persistent chimera. It's not like she's afraid to tell him….Why would she be afraid? …All she has to do is give him the name of the person that 'she was currently seeking'…..Just a name….Her name….Just thinking about it make her want to pee in her pants…
"Well?"
"M-might as well explain to you first why I'm looking for this person," she stuttered at the first part.
"Shouldn't you be telling the person's name first before you.."
"Like I said before," Zelgadis glared at her for ignoring him, "..battling Hellmaster with magic will be a challenge but we should have a chance if we fight him physically," Lina spoke.
"But, you do know that, I am no match for Gourry's sword ability…and as for you…" the chimera stopped himself as he cleared his throat nervously. Apparently, Lina knew what he was trying to say.
"Hei! I may not be a master swordswoman but my sword skills are above average!" she yelled at him, angry for being looked down.
"So that means whoever you're seeking is a master swordsman then," the chimera went back to the precious topic, partially frightened by the fuming sorceress, "..a swordsman who is in league with Gourry," he finished, wondering if it was possible for anyone to have the sword talent like Gourry's…
Maybe even 'over league' with Gourry… "Uh-huh," was Lina's respond and silent ensued. Both of them continued walking to who knows where except for Lina.
Zelgadis' eyes narrowed at her but he didn't say anything…for a few seconds that is, "Well? The name please!" His annoyance came crashing back.
Her face turned pale, "….L-L-L-L-L…" she mumbled incoherently.
"Lina!"
"It's Luna, okay!" she yelled back.
"Now was that so hard!" he responded back with the same heat, "Luna, eh?" the chimera pondered at the name, "Sounds like a woman's name…" he trailed off.
"It is….She's my big sister.." she spoke in a tone that made people think that it was a bad thing…
"WHAT!" Zelgadis yelled in disbelief.
A hysterical looked crossed her face, "We're going to hell in Zefielia to ask her to help us then ask her about that 'other way' Xellos told us about and then we kill Gourry and save Phibrizzo and then I die! Ahahaha! I'll die!" she was spouting nonsense as she laughed insanely…
The chimera overcame his shock about the swordswoman's real identity but now he was hell in shock with the sorceress' sudden twist of personality, ….kill Gourry and save Phibrizzo…? ….hell in Zefielia….? Why do I have a feeling that I don't want to know about this big sister of hers…. He solemnly thought…. Well, at least now I know where we're going, to Zefielia, which I presume, Lina's hometown.
The sorceress was still acting crazy when a familiar, horrible sound echoed in their surrounding.
"Ohohohohoho!"
Lina's eyes widen and if possible her face turned even paler, Oh no! Oh hell no! Nonononononononooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
To Be Continue:
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Author's Note:
Well there you go! Oh and for your question, Gerao-A. Amelia lied to Hellmaster so that they will have more time to prepare and strategize for the battle.
Lina: Ahahahahaaahaha! First Luna! And now Na-
Zel: Lina, do you know who's the person behind all that horrible laughing?
..what? Her laugh isn't that bad….I think…
Amelia: Hmmm, somehow I'm feeling nostalgic all of a sudden….That laughter…its familiar…
Gourry: Hei, Amelia! Aren't you supposed to be in Seyruun?
Amelia: What about you Gourry-san?
Gourry: Oh, right! I'll go back to slaughtering innocent lives then….. (leaves)
………
Zel: Someone should keep an eye on him….