The two espers and young human didn't know what to do. They continued to stare in shock for a few moments, not moving. But as they did, Lich did something even more horrible, making Bahamut glad that Palad was looking away. He opened his huge mouth…and carried Jadea on his one claw over to it… He placed him inside, and brought his jaw down…

Bahamut blocked what happened next out of his memory for years, the symbol of the most sickening savagry he had ever seen in his life. All he remembered was the heartless monster working its huge, drooling jaws and hearing the crunch of bones and the smacking of flesh. He was paralyzed as he looked at it, his eyes frozen in terror. As for Palad, he cried out in terror and anguish, hearing what was going on.

"Make him go away!" He screamed.

Lich swallowed, and rubbed his bloody mouth. "Sorry, kid… I'm here for real. But don't worry, you'll never feel a thing. You're so little and can pop you right into my mouth."

At that point…all the kindness…all the restraint…all the temperance that Bahamut ever had…all of his juvenile innocence…suddenly vanished. For the first time, he saw the true face of the evil in the dark world, but didn't react with fear. Instead…he reacted with rage. Though he had already sworn the vow to Jadea, he vowed even more strongly to himself right at that second…that he would never let Lich, or Griever, get away with this.

"You monster!" Bahamut roared in a tone of rage. "You'll never touch him!"

Lich merely snickered, showing his bloody teeth. "Who's going to stop me, you oversized gecko? You?"

"No…I will!"

Both Bahamut and Lich turned their heads to the sound of this. What they saw was the red form of Wyvern, wings unfurled, feet planted, and having a dark and menacing look across his face. His hands were balled into fists, and he looked reveling in his power. He snickered darkly at the Earth Fiend.

"Heh…I'm much stronger than last time, Tiny…" He spat in insult at the creature. "And I feel like testing out my newfound power on you."

Lich merely grinned. Rather than attack, as Bahamut expected, the hideous creature merely crossed his arms. "Alright, half-pint. Give me your best shock. Make me regret devouring that old bony piece of meat or any of the other little runts like that one that I've eaten."

Wyvern grinned wider. "Don't worry. I will."

Bahamut, however, began to sweat. This wasn't good. He could tell already that Wyvern's own power was insignificant compared to Lich. Even the Earth Fiend was still far superior to them. He thought they should use their new power to escape while they can, and see if they could double or triple it before trying to fight Lich. But it was too late. Wyvern was already ready.

The red esper opened his mouth, and began to concentrate. Slowly, red light began to well in his throat. His neck began to bulge. All the time, he smiled and glared at his opponent. Lich merely crossed his arms and grinned. Palad, still leaking tears, looked up and watched what was happening. The grass around Wyvern's area began to wave, and the air became more charged. Bahamut blinked and stared, for he saw that Wyvern's power was actually growing! The red light grew brighter and brighter in his throat, until he looked like he had a fire down in it. At last, Wyvern, giving out a mighty laugh, cried out at the monster.

"Pyrin!"

Instantly, a flaming orb exploded out of Wyvern's head, causing the esper to snap his head back. The flaming ball raged straight for Lich. Bahamut gasped in amazement, and looked to the orb to see what it would do. However, his fear soon increased when he saw Lich wasn't reacting much. Instead, he stuck out a single hand, and caught the flaming orb right in it.

Immediately, the ball of fire exploded, and Bahamut, Wyvern, and Palad all turned their heads aside as the minor explosion went off. For a moment, in the darkness, it blinded all of them, for their eyes had been adjusting to the darkness for some time. Bahamut, while shielding himself, gaped in amazement. Was that one of their weak powers? The ability to generate fires by themselves? Big fires? Bahamut continued to look away until the blast diminished, and then looked back to the destruction zone, seeing what had happened.

Much to his horror, Lich hadn't moved an inch. He was still perfectly planted on the ground. However, his face was no longer cocky and confident. Instead, it was frozen in overwhelmed shock. Bahamut found out why when he looked to his palm. While his arm and hand hadn't moved an inch, the flesh had been seared right off of his palm, leaving blackened, exposed meat and white bone from underneath.

Both Bahamut and Wyvern were shocked. Though they had done a rather good hit of damage to the creature, both of them didn't expect anything but ash to still be standing. Lich, in turn, slowly brought his hand back and turned the palm to himself. As he did, he bristled and turned purple with growing rage and anger. His red eyes blazed like the sun, and his teeth gnashed together so hard that his gums began to bleed. He was vehemently enraged, and Bahamut began to feel his own confidence shatter as the Earth Fiend increased his own fury. At last, he clenched his hand into a fist, blood flowing out of it as he did so, and glared with a murderous intent at Wyvern.

"You BASTARD!" He screamed in anger. "No one has ever hurt me!" As he fumed in insane anger, the monster threw both of his fists at Wyvern's direction, and then screamed out his own attack. "Terra-ject!"

Wyvern blinked in stunned amazement, and maybe fear, and hesitated too long. Abruptly, the earth cracked at his feet. Before the esper could react, a tall column of rock and earth erupted straight out and smashed itself right into Wyvern's jaw. The blow sounded like thunder as it connected, and Wyvern, his eyes instantly dazzled, and dripping blood from his mouth as he flew back, was flung in a backward arch through the air, After sailing backward a good hundred feet, he connected to the ground, and instantly went limp. He lay flat on the ground and moved no more.

"I'll rip your heart out and devour it first!" The monster sneered. With that, he put his hands at his sides and opened them. Immediately, Bahamut saw the long claws from before extend, and gleam razor sharp in whatever dim light was in the area. After that, he suddenly crouched, and then leapt into the air. He left a crater on the ground in his wake as he shot high into it, and Bahamut realized in an instant that he was planning on smashing down on Wyvern. The blow would more than likely be fatal if it hit. Filling with fear, Bahamut instantly extended his wings and went into action.

Forgetting about Palad for a moment, the esper shot over to Wyvern as fast as he could. It didn't take long at all, given his additional power. He kneeled down next to him, grasped him by the shoulders, and struggled to get him up. "Move, Wyvern!" He screamed at him. "Get up!"

"Uh…" His brother answered, blood leaking from his lip. "A'hm…the strongest… Damn sucker punch…"

Bahamut began to sweat, and looked back up to the sky. He heard a hideous laugh as he did so. The monster was already on his way down, claws extended to impale his brother. The esper realized he had to act. But how? He wasn't any more of a match for Lich than Wyvern was. His Pyrin wouldn't leave any more of a scratch on Lich than Wyvern's had. That was…unless… Suddenly, a memory entered into Bahamut's mind…a memory about what happened that one day that they were playing…and how just a simple blow from Wyvern had ended up being so painful and debilitating for the blue esper.

Immediately, Bahamut planted his own legs and extended his own wings. He called to mind his new powers, and quickly began to concentrate them. Soon, he felt the heat swelling within his own belly. He felt the wind began to whip around his feet. He felt the charge in the air and the heat increase in his stomach. Then, as if the words were screaming like an undeniable pain he could no longer hold in, he opened his mouth and bellowedthe words. Having had no practice with this attack before, he struggled to aim right and prayed it would hit.

"Pyrin!"

Bahamut felt his head snapped back as the fiery orb shot out of his mouth. Just as he had hoped, Lich was so intent on finishing this fight that he didn't withdraw his arms to guard himself. The orb soared through the sky, and finally embedded itself right smack dab in the middle of its intended target…Lich's left eye.

Another blinding explosion went off for a moment, and as the heat and air of it rushed over Bahamut he turned his head away. Meanwhile, Lich's own head was snapped backward and his body thrown a little back, making him land right on the ground in front of Bahamut and Wyvern rather than on it. However, he landed on his feet, and instantly reached both of his arms to the smoldering crater in his head. Then, he bellowed the worst sound yet.

"ARRRRRRRRRRGH!"

Bahamut didn't waste a second. In a flash, he darted back over to Palad and scooped the youth up in his arms. He whirled around soon afterward, and shot back over to Wyvern. He still looked dazzled, but it didn't matter to the esper. He shot into the air and grabbed him with his rear claws. With his new power, he was more than able to carry them both as well as move fast. That he did. As fast and as hard as he could, he began to shoot into the sky and put as much distance between himself and Lich as possible. Even as he did, he heard the thing cry out below him.

"YOU BASTARD! YOU SON OF A BITCH! THIS ISN'T OVER! I'LL FIND YOU! I'LL BITE YOUR DAMN HEAD OFF! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!"

Bahamut didn't linger for the threats. He began to shoot into the sky as hard and as fast as possible, praying the whole time that Lich was in too much pain and anguish to follow them right away. As he shot up and away, Wyvern began to come too. Still, it took a while before he risked letting him go. He flew hard and fast, sweating and panting, getting as distant as he could from that monster and from the horrible sight that had taken place at Jadea's. He rushed as quickly as possible for ten whole minutes, panting and heaving and sweating the whole time. When that happened, he suddenly heard a voice from below.

"Hey! Bahamut! I think we're clear! Let me go already!"

Bahamut didn't look down, but recognized Wyvern's voice. "We're not clear…not from that monster…" He spoke in a panicked voice. "Not until I put at least a hundred miles between me and him."

"Bahamut! We're back at the village, for crying out loud!"

Bahamut gasped a bit longer, but then finally looked down. He was shocked at what he saw, and let go of Wyvern in his surprise. The red esper quickly unfurled his own wings and flew up to his side. Where before Bahamut had flown at what he considered a snail's pace, he was now shooting by as fast as one of those Pyrin attacks. With his newfound power, Bahamut realized that he had closed the distance that had taken two hours in only ten minutes. Indeed, Griever's statue shone out in the single fire far below. It was Palad's village.

Bahamut also began to realize just how tired he was. He panted and sweat, and looked up to Wyvern. His wings ached, and his brow was still pouring liquid as his heart pounded. He blinked, and then spoke to Wyvern again. "You alright?"

Wyvern frowned and rubbed his lip. "I'm a bit puffy in here, but that's cake compared to what I'll do to him next time."

Bahamut didn't want to think of next time right now. He looked down to Palad instead. "Are you alright too?"

Palad quivered in Bahamut's grasp, still looking nervous and scared. "Y-y-yes…" He managed to stammer. Bahamut realized that the poor child looked traumatized. He didn't blame him. That was the most horrible thing he had ever witnessed. "But…Jadea…" The boy began to say. But before he could finish, he began to shake like a leaf and started to cry. He pressed his head in Bahamut's chest, and the esper sighed and hugged him tightly. In reality, the esper wished that Crusader was there to hug him as well. He needed it too. But he was the "big brother" here. And he remembered the responsibility that Jadea had given him. He had to be strong. He had to, not only for Palad but for the whole race. So he supported the small human and hugged him tightly as he cried. Wyvern merely stood on the sidelines for a while, keeping his own head bowed. But at last, he rose his own head and nodded.

"Don't worry, Palad. Next time I meet Lich…I promise you the only thing that's going to be left is a pile of bones."

Bahamut hesitated a moment, but then spoke as well. "Palad…your family will be fine. Everyone's going to be fine. I promised it before, and I promise it now. I won't let that happen again."

Palad sniffled a bit longer, but gradually grew stronger. At length, he was able to push his head away, and look up to Bahamut. Then, slowly, he managed to nod to him. After he had done so, he exhaled, and forced himself to be strong. This wasn't the first time he had seen death, after all. But it was the first time he had seen it so terrible… However, he would be strong for now. He would perservere. He'd be brave, just like Bahamut and Wyvern. At last stable, Bahamut turned from him and looked up to Wyvern.

"Alright…let's go home. We've got to tell the others a lot."

Soon, the three of them were taking off again for the exit of the dark world. Dawn was coming soon, they knew, and were eager to be getting back as soon as possible. In the clouds of this world, it was too hard to see if dawn was coming until it was too late. They wanted to rush back as fast as they could. Luckily, that wasn't a problem. Palad had to be held by Bahamut this time as the two powered up espers shot through the sky like bolts of lightning. The journey that had taken a few hours last time was crossed within a fraction of that time, only a mere half hour at full speed. There were no more sights of Lich or anything else, thankfully. Bahamut knew he'd have a lot of work ahead of him before he could be a match for that monster, him or Wyvern, together or separate.

Yet soon, the two espers arrived at the hole in the sky again. They once again rose, and in much shorter time were soon through the portal. Again, black and wind swirled around them, but it only took a short period before they emerged back into the basin of mountains. Ultima Nexus, Bahamut decided, had never looked so good. At least they had a safe haven, if nothing else. Here they could practice and train and build themselves up without fear. What more, as both espers came into Ultima Nexus and the more pleasant atmosphere, they saw that the sky was only now starting to turn a light shade of dark blue. They still had plenty of time. Most of the stars and the moon were still out.

The two of them quickly ascended the cliffs and tore onto the other side. Abruptly, they had to slow themselves down, or they'd be on the other end of Ultima Nexus within seconds. However, they didn't realize their mistake until they were already almost down the mountain on the other side. They quickly dropped speed afterward though, and rushed toward one of the more open plains, where they had been yesterday. No one was out this time. Typically, all of the other espers had gone to bed long ago, and wouldn't be up again for hours. But it didn't matter. They knew they had left, and would keep a secret. The two espers touched down, and promptly let Palad down as well. He rushed a short distance from them, leaving the two espers to stand and look at each other.

"Alright…" Wyvern spoke at last. "What now?"

"Now, I teach you how to meditate." Bahamut answered. "Then we both work our tails off beefing ourselves up."

"What about the others?" Palad asked.

"We'll tell them when they wake up." Bahamut answered. "That is, assuming that we can get them to go willingly into the dark world."

"Tell us what?"

The trio froze at hearing that, and turned their attention to who had spoken. Standing at a distance, against one of the rocks in Ultima Nexus, stood Odin. Even with the horns on his helmet, his black attire and cape had almost entirely obscured him from view. He stared at them coldly with his own burning gaze, and slowly leaned off of the rock. He then began to march toward the three of them.

"Oh…I didn't know you were up, Odin." Bahamut nervously replied.

"I've been waiting for you to come back." Odin answered. "I assumed that whatever you found would be of rather good interest. And seeing from how fast you came tearing down the mountain ridge, I'd say you found something rather good."

All three of them became a little nervous. Whether they were planning on telling Odin or not, the esper was dark and forboding, and he didn't communicate any good sense of confidence through his presence. "You saw that?" Bahamut asked nervously.

"Tell me." Odin flatly stated, nearly commanding. "What did you learn down there?"

"Bastards…filthy bastards…they took my eye… I'll kill them…"

"Relax, fool. You're so mad you'll lose your other eye when you go to fight them. The only way I can see that you lost the first one is because you were being stupid. Use your tiny brain for once."

"Feh…can't even handle a pair of espers and a human child? You're losing your touch, Lich…assuming you ever had one."

"Shut up, Kary! Don't enrage me like this!"

"You be silent, Fiend of Earth…don't waste your Z Transformation on a petty argument, or you'll wish that the esper took more than your eye. Because of your stupidity they're now leaving to become stronger."

"Heh…nothing stronger than me, master."

"Good. You'll have a chance to match that boasting soon. I'm bringing them back here, and not giving them the chance to get stronger."

"Eh? You don't fear their strength, do you Griever?"

SMACK.

"Insult me like that again and I will take your other eye. And address me as master, freak. This is an act of courtesy to you, before you have any more flesh stripped off your bones. You should be rejoicing me for giving you a second chance."

"How do we lure them back, master?"

"Strong as their mental power is, mine is stronger. It doesn't matter if they're in another world. I can reach them no matter what. And I want to send them a little message. Meanwhile, you two…"

"Two! Master, let me destroy them!"

"SILENCE! You've had your chance, Lich. You're lucky to be getting another. And do not fail me again. As I said, you and Kary are to go to one particular human village. I'd like to pay a visit to this…Palad's…friends and relatives…"

When Bahamut had concluded, Odin looked remarkably unchanged. Rather, he still maintained his cold look, stared at the ground, and thought over all that he had heard. The news had barely seemed to phase him at all, which was a shock to both Bahamut and Wyvern. Still, he stood in silence a while, arms crossed and thinking, while the trio stood and waited. The sun was moving up higher and higher during all this. The stars had all vanished, the atmosphere turned lighter, and the moon was quickly fading away. Crusader should be coming back soon, Bahamut realized. Odin, at last, snorted and gave a short nod.

"Well…that explains why Crusader doesn't want us going down to that world, especially if this Griever character is even stronger than her." Odin looked up and gazed at both espers. He hesitated a moment, but then shrugged. "Very well. You've convinced me. Being the warrior esper, I've wanted to try out my skills for some time now. From now on, take me with you when you head back to the dark world."

Bahamut swallowed a bit uneasily at that. Wyvern rolled his eyes and groaned. At length, the blue esper formed an uneasy grin. "Thanks just the same, Odin, but I think you should develop some of your powers too before you go. Otherwise you'll be, quite honestly, a pushover. We're much stronger than before but we barely did anything to Lich. Besides, I'd like it better if you just tried to get the others on our side too. You may be eager for a fight, but getting the other four want to willingly break Crusader's rules and go into the dark world may be a bit harder."

Odin merely snorted. "Don't worry. I can convince the others. But you still need me. I don't think you understand the full significance of my-"

"AH!"

All three espers stopped talking and instantly turned their heads to Palad. The young man's eyes were wide with fear, and he collapsed to his knees. He grasped either side of his head and began to sweat bullets, as more tears fell from him. The other three were immediately concerned. Bahamut rushed to Palad's side in an instant, as the young man grit his teeth and made his hands into fists at the sides of his head. Wyvern rushed in close as well, and Odin reacted and moved over to stand over all three of them. Palad continued to cry out, and said nothing, just cried.

"Palad!" Bahamut exclaimed. "What's going on? What's wrong?"

Palad didn't answer. His face continued to look horrified, and he moved his hands to his eyes, as if desperately trying to shut them. But he only cried out more hysterically, turning his body over and beginning to writhe on it. Bahamut quickly picked him up and began to shake him while the other two crowded in. "Palad! Palad! Snap out of it!"

The young human continued to cry out for a few moments longer, unable to stop for even an instant. Yet, at last, he suddenly went limp, like someone straining under a heavy load finally relaxing. He went limp in Bahamut's grasp, and instantly the blue esper placed him back on the ground once again. The others crowded in, and Palad gasped and panted. He was covered with sweat as if he had been terrified once again. For a while, they could get nothing from him as he struggled to catch his breath. The other espers stayed close, waiting for him to do something or say something. At last, the boy blinked, and then looked back up to the espers.

"Bahamut!" He called out in anguish. "It's…it's my family! I saw them in trouble! Lich is going to them! And there's another one too! She looks like Starlet…only she's like a living fire! She's mean and evil! I know she is! She wants to kill them too!"

Bahamut looked up in a flash over to the other two espers. Both of them had stunned looks in their eyes. However, none was so strong as what Bahamut had in his mind. That monster hadn't learned his lesson. He was already going to attack again. Or worse…he was trying to draw him out. He wanted him to come and fight, so there he could finish him off. And he had help this time. Judging from what Palad had said, it sounded like the Fiend of Fire. Bahamut swallowed at that. He feared fire ever since the first time he saw it, and even the fact that he learned how to breathe it would not help his fear. This was obviously a trap…a trap for them. Griever knew about them for sure now, and wanted them to come out.

Yet at the same time, Bahamut looked and saw Palad's terrified face. The poor child…forced to endure so many tragedies. And all at the hands of that monster Griever. Now his family was in trouble, the very family that had spurned him but he felt himself eternally bonded too. Not only them, but the whole village. And at the hands of that thing called Lich…that he knew ate his victims whole. What would the Fiend of Fire do? And even if she did nothing, what would Lich do? He'd devour all of them… Bahamut already knew what he had promised. He had promised himself as much as Palad. He wouldn't let that happen again. Never again. Lich had to pay and had to pay today. Bahamut decided the matter in an instant. Foolhardy as it might be…he had to strike back.

"I'm going." Bahamut simply said. Then, without another word of hesitation, he unfurled his wings and took off into the sky. Before either of them could say a single word, Bahamut rushed off as full speed back toward the mountain range.

"Hey, wait up!" Wyvern cried out. "Save some of Tiny for me!" Immediately, he took off as well and rushed after Bahamut. Odin and Palad were left behind. The former frowned and cried out to them.

"You idiots! Crusader will be back soon!" He cried out to them. "At least let me come with you!" But it was already too late. Using their newfound power, they both were over the mountains in a flash, and were rapidly descending down the portal. Odin was left clenching his teeth in anger behind them, left behind and able to do very little, if anything, at all. Palad blinked a little, and then turned up to him.

"What now, Odin?"

Odin stood and stared for a moment, staring cold and hard out at the portal and the mountains that were in front of it. He didn't say anything for a while, just merely calculated and planned inside his mind. However, after a few short moments, he finally turned back down to Palad.

"Get to my cave and hide there." He stated. "Crusader can't see you when she gets back. I'll come with you. And once we get there…tell me as best as you can where your village is in the dark world."

Bahamut rushed as fast as possible. Now, utilizing his full speed, it didn't take him any time at all to be through the portal and back to the dark world. Using the power of gravity, he let himself drop while pushing himself, and slowly arched his flight until he was even with the tree line. The effect sent him soaring, without using much effort at all. However, he pumped himself even harder than that. As fast as he had rushed to get out of the dark world, and away from one Fiend, he was rushing back to meet one up and fight two of them. He wished only that he was even stronger, so he could get there even quicker.

However, he soon saw something out of the corner of his eye. When he turned, he saw who it was. Wyvern was just now catching up with him, his look bold and cocky, and rushing as fast as he possibly could. He turned and grinned at his brother. "Didn't think you were leaving without me, did you?"

Bahamut merely frowned coldly. "Go back, Wyvern. It's too dangerous."

"Exactly why you need me to help you out." Wyvern replied confidently.

Bahamut frowned nonetheless. "We can't beat either of these monsters in a straight on fight. We'll be struck down like we were nothing if we try. We have to use our brains if we're going to have a chance at victory."

Wyvern sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. But I'm still coming along. If I don't stand a chance against them, you definitely don't either. Maybe together we could make a difference."

"I hope you're right." Bahamut replied with a groan. "We didn't do too well last time. I only hope that Lich is slowed down somewhat by the injuries we gave him. And we have to watch out for that Terra-ject attack. And we also have to make sure that both of them don't pull out anything else that surprises us."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah…" Wyvern spoke in reply. "Let's just get there."

Lich gnawed on a femur, frowning the whole time. His left eye, now a burnt, scarred mass leading into a crater, still hurt, which only fueled his overwhelming hatred for the two espers. He no longer cared much for human flesh. He wanted their blood and meat. Kary leaned nearby on the statue of Griever. Her face was livid and pale, like she was more of the living dead than merely alive. Her teeth were filled with needle-sharp fangs, and her hair flowed behind her wild and free. She was dressed in the colors of fire with high-heeled boots. Strapped to her back was her pride and joy…the Pyrosuken, inside its flaming-colored sheath. Bored, she generated a ball of fire in her hand and began to throw it up and down in the one palm. Lich gnawed on his bone a moment longer, then suddenly threw it away so hard that it shattered against a tree.

"Where are they!" He boomed.

"Calm your temper." Kary calmly answered. "They may be fast now, but it will still take them a while to get here. It's only now dawn."

Lich hissed none the less. "They'll pay dearly for what they did to me… Left me a hideous deformed freak…"

Kary snorted and grinned. "I think they may have actually left an improvement."

Lich turned to her and sneered. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that, witch. You wouldn't be so cocky if I had my Z Transformation."

Kary merely chuckled. "If you had your Z Transformation, numbskull…I could light you up like so much dry kindling. Keep that in mind and keep your threatening isolated to Kraken."

Lich turned and sneered again. However, as he did, Kary looked up to the sky. Her grin widened a bit, as she saw two dark shapes against the gray clouds. "Well…looks like they finally decided to arrive."

Lich looked up from the clearing as well. Sure enough, he saw the two espers closing in fast. He grinned madly, showing all of his drooling, bloody teeth. The two espers, one a blue winged esper and the other a red winged esper, closed in quickly, looking like they had already spotted the two Fiends below.

Bahamut had indeed seen them already. They were in the clearing where the humans had been. At least, it was a clearing now. Ash was welled up on the sides all around it for a considerable distance, all that was left of the surrounding trees. He saw a number of blackened marks on the ground, surrounding another blackened pit that had been the fire. There were also piles of bloody bones. The esper didn't like the look of this. The only thing that remained now was the statue of Griever, and two forms in front of it. Just as Palad had described…there the two Fiends were. Lich was one, and the other had to be the Fire Fiend. Bahamut took a deep breath in, then swept his feet down. He quickly dropped, and within a few moments touched down on the ground, his feet sinking into ash. Moments later, Wyvern touched down next to him. The two espers now stood before the two Fiends.

Bahamut stared coldly at them both, while both of them stared back with menacing stares. Both of them smiled, looking rather amused at the whole arrangement. Wyvern likewise smiled at them, itching to deform Lich's face even more than before. Both sides were silent for a while, until Bahamut began to look around the area. In the end, he looked back to the two Fiends.

"Where are the humans?"

"Some of them were burned alive." Kary coolly replied, her malicious voice thick and brimming with evil. "However, Lich fed on most of them."

Bahamut's eyes widened. "What?" He exclaimed in shock. "You…you killed them all?"

"What'd you expect us to do, lizard?" Lich sneered with a grin.

Bahamut instantly flushed in anger. "I knew you were challenging us the whole time! Why didn't you wait for us to get here!"

"Tsk, tsk, blue man." Kary calmly answered. "When did we ever agree to that?"

"Don't worry." Lich spoke with an evil smile, patting his stomach. "I've got more than enough room left for the both of you. And I'll start by ripping out your eyes and eating them. No cheating this time. I have you both on a straight on fight."

Wyvern merely grinned. "I've a better idea for you, slimebag, and your little firebrand. Why don't you run home to Griever while you still can, before I give you another crater in your face to match the first one?"

"Hmph…stupid creatures." Kary spoke with a sigh, shaking her head. "Babbling things they don't even understand."

Bahamut merely sneered. "You'll pay for them, Lich. Each one of them."

"You talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?" The Earth Fiend hissed in reply.

"This is futile." Kary simply stated. "Neither of you have a chance against either of us. I thought your powers would be something considerable, but you're both as weak as infants. Lich alone could take you. I'm not even going to bother getting warmed up for this pathetic excuse for a fight. I'll simply enjoy Lich ramming your big words back down your overly long necks."

Lich turned his head and brightened at this. "Really? Heh…I'll take back some of the things I said about you, Kary."

"Save it, toad." Kary replied with a sneer. "I'm only doing it because these two are an absolute joke. The only thing I find funnier is that you actually lost to them."

Lich bristled with fury again. "I did not lose! They ran away!" The Earth Fiend wheeled toward both of them. Sneering, and nearly foaming at his sharp teeth, he stomped forward and put himself at a distance from Kary. The Fire Fiend calmly continued to lean against the statue. He glared at both of them, and Bahamut began to grow nervous. "You humiliated me before Griever! I'm going to take it out on your rotting corpses!"

Bahamut immediately braced himself. Wyvern quickly did the same, with a much more dangerous look. "Follow my lead, Wyvern." Bahamut coldly commanded. "We have to take him together. It's the only chance we'll get at beating him."

Wyvern snorted. "Fine. Let's just make it quick."

Bahamut swallowed. Quick was definitely not what he was thinking of. In fact, he was starting to realize the stupidity of coming here. He knew that the people would be dead by the time he got back. And now they were stuck here too, with not just one but two fiends. One of them alone was more than enough for them both. How were they supposed to take two of them? He merely drew in a deep breath, exhaled…and then took off toward Lich. Wyvern did so soon afterward, and both of them matched speed as they raced toward the Earth Fiend.

Lich merely grinned and stood still the entire time as they came. As he neared, Bahamut reared back his claw and prepared to let Lich have it full force. Wyvern did the same, and when they reached him they put all their power from their charge into it to hit him as hard as possible. Lich merely raised both of his arms straight in a guard fashion, and their fists smashed into his forearms ineffectually. The Earth Fiend didn't budge an inch. Immediately, both Bahamut and Wyvern broke off, shooting about twenty feet away from him to either side. Now, both on opposite sides, they charged forward again, this time bringing up their claw foots for the Earth Fiend's side. Lich, never even looking at them, merely smiled and brought his hands out to block them both at once again. Quickly, both shot up and hauled off to hit Lich in the head. Once again, he merely raised his hands and stopped them both with his forearms. Infuriated, both of them moved to an opposite angle, one behind and one in front, and hauled off with three hard blows to the Earth Fiend. None of them left any effect at all on the creature, who blocked them just as easily as before.

Getting furious, Bahamut opened his huge mouth and forward to bite down on the monster. Wyvern did the same. Lich laughed out loud, turned where he was, then shot out both fists like meteorites from the sky. Both smashed into either face of the espers, and sent them both flying off in either direction. They tumbled for a moment, but landed on their feet at the end. They both braced themselves, opened their mouths next, and began to summon Pyrins at once. Lich continued to grin, just standing there. Bahamut hoped, for a moment, that the blockhead would be stupid enough to try and block both again. However, when they both fired at once, he quickly saw that wasn't the case. The Earth Fiend merely squatted and leapt into the air. Both Pyrins collided and exploded in a blinding flash. Both Bahamut and Wyvern turned their heads away…giving Lich enough time to hold out either hand to both of them and call on his Terra-ject attack. Moments later, columns of rock exploded out of the ground and smashed hard into both of their stomachs. Both of them shot off the ground for a moment, then collapsed again. They coughedtogether, and both spat up blood on the ground.

Bahamut, teeth clenched, looked back up to Lich, who still was smiling without a scratch on him. Wyvern also raised up, and snarled at the monster. Finally, he looked to Bahamut and snapped out at him. "The only thing we're doing together is getting beaten together! I'm taking him now!" With that, the red esper shot forward for the Earth Fiend.

"Wyvern! No!" Bahamut called. Instantly, he tore out after him.

Wyvern soon reached Lich, and swung his fists at him. Lich merely blocked both punches, then ducked slightly to avoid Wyvern's tail sweeping at his head. Bahamut reached his other side at that point, and both espers kicked him at once, both from different angles and heights. Lich blocked both, then proceeded to kick Wyvern in the stomach and send him flying out of the way, and uppercutted Bahamut to send the flying creature into the air unintentionally. Lich then turned full attention to Wyvern, who had been sent flying back and was now holding his chest and coughing.

"You want me, little nothing?" Lich bellowed. "Here I come!"

Lich, despite his size, shot forward with remarkable speed and was soon upon Wyvern. While the red esper kept coughing, Lich smashed him in the face with a meaty fist, sending his head snapping into one direction. Lich then hauled off and struck him in the stomach…once…twice…and on the third time made a cracking noise. Wyvern gagged, all the air knocked out of his body. After that, the Earth Fiend seized him by the head, and with a malicious grin drove him headfirst through a few tree trunks. Each time, he broke his skull right through the tree, knocking the huge plant over. Wyvern cried out less and less each time, and a bloody wound burst out on the crown of his head which became bloodier with each blow. Lich grinned at him maliciously after this was done, holding the near lifeless body in one fist, throttling him.

"Pyrin!"

Lich turned his head slightly to the left, then with a cackle leapt into the air. However…he left Wyvern behind. Bahamut watched in shock and terror as his brother was powerless to move out of the way of the blast. It connected with his limp body and exploded, and Wyvern, somewhere in the midst of semi-consciousness, cried out in agony as the Pyrin seared his flesh and caused him to writhe.

"Terra-ject!"

Bahamut gasped at the sound of that, and quickly looked down to the ground. But it was too late. Immediately, the columns of the ground began to rip out of it, and thundered right for him. Bahamut tried to summon a Pyrin to counter, but it was already too late. The columns of rock pummeled him, beating his torso again and again with powerful blows. One bashed into his throat and crushed his windpipe. Bahamut gagged blood afterward…until one more rock column smashed itself into his head. When that happened, all of Bahamut's world went dizzy and swirled. Unable to stay in the air, Bahamut's wings went limp and he began to fall…

But Lich was not through with the creature who partially blinded him. He was still in the air, and he caught Bahamut as he was going down. He opened his mouth full of fierce, jagged teeth, and sank his fangs deep into Bahamut's bad shoulder. The esper cried out in anguish as blood began to fountain from the wound and his wing muscles became injured, keeping him from flying anymore even if he had enough energy too. Moaning in agony, he fell to the ground once again. Lich road him the whole way, positioning himself over the small of Bahamut's back. When he landed on the ground, Lich's full weight was smashed onto it. Bahamut cried out again, throwing up blood as he was embedded partially in the ground. Lich laughed in delight.

Neither esper could fight anymore. Within seconds, it had all been ended. It hadn't even taken a full minute to beat them both. Bahamut, in his faint traces of consciousness, began to groan at himself for being stupid enough to actually think he could take Lich. He knew the whole time the monster was stronger than him, and he had come back to fight him anyway. His intentions being good meant nothing. If he didn't have the power to finish him, he was nothing. He learned that in the worst way possible now. But there was nothing more he could do but lay in a bloody, broken heap. Lich could take his time eating him and killing him. Bahamut felt a great depression well up in him. He had failed. They had failed. Jadea had counted on them…Palad had counted on them…humanity had counted on them…yet it was all already over within instants.

Lich walked off of Bahamut, flexed his huge muscles, and laughed in triumph. "He-he-he! I win! Ha-ha! You little bastards! You thought you could so easily beat me, didn't you? I am the almighty Fiend of Earth! I command all of its powers! You never had a prayer against me! You should have stayed home with mommy and never set foot on this world again, especially after daring to take out my eye!"

"That was rather pathetic…" Kary mused. "I really don't see why Griever wanted me to come…or how you actually had trouble with them the first time. Anyway, let's hurry this up. Finish them both off."

Lich turned to Kary, and grinned even wider and more sinisterly. "With pleasure." He seethed. After that, he turned back to Bahamut. He glared down at him with his one good red eye left, and pointed a claw at him menacingly. "You die first, you leather bat. Let's see how you like it when I tear out your eye."

Bahamut merely stared back defiantly, the last thing he could do. The least thing that could happen was that he died with some semblence of honor. He determined not to cry out in pain or anguish, and prayed that Odin, the esper they had thankfully told everything too, would one day be strong enough to come and beat these two and the other Fiends, and get the Crystal back while they were at it. But he didn't see how… It would take decades to get strong enough even to beat Lich… Yet it wasn't his concern anymore. Nothing would be in a few moments…as Lich lowered his talon to Bahamut's eye.

"I'd get away from him if I were you."

Hearing that, Lich hesitated, and looked up to the sound of the voice. Kary, Bahamut, and Wyvern also looked to the source, though the latter two were too drained to get up and do anything at that moment. They all soon saw the cold persona who had spoken in that cold tone. He stood calmly in the middle of the clearing, next to a huge blue/gray horse. His black cape was swept around him, and he glared out at his opposition with two red eyes. His body was laced with muscle, and his entire body seemed primed for combat with the Fiends ever since the day he was born.

Odin was here.

To be continued...

BTW, you may have noticed unusual names for magical attacks. I created a fake language based off of Greek roots for that purpose. "Pyr Fire", "Terra Earth", "Ject To Throw".