Chapter 29: Return of the Devil King

"It is time, then." the voice bellowed from deep within the seemingly endless black room. "It is time to start. Orin is dead, but now Mitula lives on. Volcanon will know what we've planned."

"He knows the fate of the world. I don't understand how he didn't know what was going on before…" Verd appeared from somewhere within the darkness, his green eyes shining eerily in the dark of the room.

"You give Volcanon too much credit. They know the fate of mortals, the fate of the planet." said the voice. "They know when and where everyone's lives will end, as with the world. What they do not know is who and what will cause it, especially if a devil completes the action."

"So they only know the generalities…?" Verd said, sounding semi-surprised. "There's something I didn't know."

"In any case." bellowed the voice. "Once we are able to find the jewel, I will have my power returned. Volcanon has it, I'm sure."

"So he did indeed make the fakes?" Verd said, sounding somewhat uninterested.

"I don't know." The voice replied. "Any number of people could have done it. Maybe even Bowie himself."

"So, what now?" Verd asked, as he took a small step forward. "How does it begin?"

"We have to finish gathering the Shining Force. We've only about half. Some may have fled to East Parmecia if they caught wind of the rumors." The echoing sound of the voice shook the walls as it spoke. "And, in the mean time…"

"Yes?" Verd asked, sounding somewhat eager.

"We must get in touch with our…friends. It is time to raise some old rivals of mine." said the voice.

"Lord Zeon…who would that be?" said Verd. "Do you mean…?"

"Yes." Zeon replied. "Yes, I'll need you to help me, though. I do not know the rituals needed to call upon souls that powerful…"

"Who does…?" Verd's eyes tightened, almost as if he already knew the answer.

"If Geshp were still with us, he may have been of help, but…Warderer." Zeon's voice grew, a bit of laughter showing through. "…and Mishaela."

Verd grinned.

-----

Volcanon's shrine glowed gloriously even in the night, as the top of Mt.Volcano was blood red with the glowing light of the bubbling lava below. The shrine itself absorbed the light, and reflected it outward tenfold, radiating a deep crimson across the cliffs of the mountain.

Volcanon's statue stood within, as it always had, the egg from which he was birthed still lay shattered at the statue's enormous talons. Volcanon himself had the universe to look over, this planet took no particular significance over any others, and so, he was never truly present. His statue, though, was a medium for telepathy. His only real contact with the inhabitants of the planet came through the statue that stood in his likeness. He, of course, stretched eons across the sky, while this statue stood as a scaled representation of his true self. The glowing, fiery red eyes that peered out from within the statue proved Volcanon was aware of the happenings on the planet. If ever they turned black…it would be known worldwide that Volcanon ceased to exist, or that, even worse, he had abandoned them.

It came as no surprise when the mountain began to rumble, and as it often happened, the lava inside the crater of the volcano rose a few inches. People simply knew Volcanon was displeased with something or another that day. It didn't always concern them…but on this day, in particular, things were different.

Volcanon had only visited Earth personally three times. Once, at the time of the planet's creation. The second, at the time of the battle of the devil kings. When Darksol, Lucifer, and Zeon rose to battle on another for their place as ruler of the planet, Volcanon appeared. He arrived too late. Zeon, above all others, was victorious, and he began his reign on the planet. Volcanon, even as the grand creator, the light himself, was powerless. It was, ironically, the very power Zeon wished to gain that pulled him into oblivion. Arc Valley, the place were evil energy gathers, dragged Zeon as the ultimate representation of evil incarnate to the depths of the Earth. Zeon's moans crushed the mountains, he bellows buried him beneath Arc Valley with the very power he'd won. Zeon took the opportunity to seal Zeon's power into the Hayn; A dark stone. Unfortunately, Zeon would not remain in Arc Valley forever. Even with the power sealed in the Hayn, it would still slowly have the sealed power drained and sent to Arc Valley, where Zeon would regain his strength and return from the depths. So, in turn, Volcanon created the Yahn, the light stone, to counteract the power of the Hayn. And so, Hayn and Yahn, the Jewels of Evil and Light, were sealed above Arc Valley, where no one could rightly take them…

Not all went as planned. Zeon remerged some time later, when the jewels were removed. The Shining Force, fortunately, was able to subdue him and help Volcanon, with Mitula's help, reseal Zeon in Arc Valley, where he had remained…until now, once again, he began to regain his power slowly. Volcanon sensed the occurrence as it happened. The imbalance between the world's powers of good and evil made him aware of such.

Mitula became wounded, and so, Volcanon returned to Earth. When he felt her presence cease, he knew, this time, things would not go so well. How was it that Zeon escaped the seal? Volcanon couldn't say even that much. But he was glad he had hidden the Jewels better this time. Having replaced them with fakes after the resealing of Zeon, he himself had the Jewels. They were not completely safe even with him, and knowing Zeon, Volcanon would be the first under suspicion to have them. Volcanon hoped to change that.

"I don't know when they'll come or how many he'll send…" Volcanon's voice carried across countless mountains and crevices as he spoke.

He stood perched, his true form, atop the very tip of Mt. Volcano, looking down at a small, colorful, floating speck near his shrine.

"But he'll get the Jewels if it's the last thing he does. Not even I'm powerful enough to fight the greater devils…" Volcanon bowed his head in shame. "If it is true…that his only current minion is more powerful than even Oddeye was…there is no way I can protect the Jewels…"

The small speck of a figure before him said nothing.

"And, Bowie is with him now. He's got something planned…and it's so clever. He's gathering all of your old comrades. I cannot even foresee the devastation such a powerful force can cause to this planet, even before Zeon rises. And…they'll come for you as well."

"I know…" Peter perched himself atop the shrine in order to concentrate on Volcanon better. "They've taken Luke…he'd been diplomatically visiting Pacalon. But…the entire of North Parmecia is shrouded in darkness now that Mitula is gone. I can't imagine Zeon's palm not having reached everyone there."

"Then there are only a few members left. What can be done?" Volcanon said in a low tone. "I'm powerless…"

"There's not much to do. I've heard of a force from the east coming to Parmecia recently. A messenger sent word that they'd quelled a nomadic army and stopped their raid on Nazca on Grans." Peter said with some enthusiasm. "Maybe…maybe it's the remainder of the force. Maybe they know how to keep themselves from being possessed and are coming to see you!"

"I can't say." Volcanon looked out toward the east; toward Grans. "If they're already on Parmecia and they are a force with popularity of any kind, Zeon is just as aware of them as we are."

"Should I try to find them?" Peter tilted his head inquisitively.

"…yes. That would be wise." Volcanon said, not taking his gaze from the eastern horizon.

-----

"Hold it….hold it tighter!" Keith sputtered as he tried to push Orin forward.

Vahn sat at Orin's side, a torn cloth pressed hard against the wound in is chest. Orin's breaths were long and weak.

"How are we supposed to carry him?" Ikara leaned over Orin, her eyes still tearing. "You can't move him! He'll die!"

"Can't leave him here…" Trevor held his shoulder, now tightly rapped in a thick white cloth he'd drawn from his satchel. "There's got to be someplace nearby…"

"I…bring him back to the ship!" Iris offered, as he tried to make the situation sound less grave. "I'm sure a few herbs and rest…"

"We have to find proper shelter…and a priest…" Sye said calmly. "He won't survive even a few hours without proper healing."

"…and I've done all I can…" Vahn said, his head down.

Vahn had drained his power completely, and even collapsed, out cold for a few minutes from the strain. All he'd managed to do was close the back end of Orin's wound, but the gash was still horribly deep, having even broken the ribcage directly in the center of Orin's chest. Mending it and keeping Orin alive was no longer up to them, really.

"We have to carry him." Keith said, his eyes wide. "There's no time…"

"We don't know where a village is! We can't carry him for hours looking for one!" Ikara was almost hysterical, as she fell back into the grass, her hands in her hair. "Can't just…drag him everywhere…we…I don't know…what…"

Vahn looked at her blankly. She wasn't thinking clearly at this point.

"HEY!" Trevor gasped, as a distant beating sound came out from the distant darkness.

There, on the very hill on which the devils had appeared, a large figure galloped forward toward them.

"Simon! HEY!" Trevor waved his good arm frantically as the centaur moved in closer, and finally reached them.

Simon looked at them all sternly.

"What…did I miss something…?" Simon said without much surprise in his voice.

"You're right on time…Orin is…well…" Trevor moved aside, revealing Orin's motionless body.

"There's a city southeast. It may take me an hour or two to get back…"

"Just take him, we'll follow you…" Iris spoke up. "He'll die soon if we don't find someone…"

Simon said nothing. He moved forward and stood next to Orin, and Keith and Vahn promptly lifted him onto the centaur's back.

"I'll find a priest. I'll come and meet you after I've found help for him. Then I'll lead you to the city." Simon said, looking at no one in particular.

"He'll owe you his life…" Trevor started.

"…if he survives." Sye finished.

Trevor looked to the ground, and then back at Simon, who grunted deeply, and galloped off in the very direction he'd come.

"Not much to do now…we have to follow." said Trevor.

"We have to bring food and our supplies first." said Keith.

"I'll grab what I can." Jo said quietly as she took off for the ship.

"Let's go." Vahn said, as he held his hand out to Ikara, and lifted her from the ground.

Sye followed them slowly, Iris close by, but Trevor remained behind.

"What is it about him." Trevor said aloud. "That makes us that deeply worried?"

"He's has a goal." Tess said as she appeared from the shadows behind him. "Unlike any of us…except maybe Vahn, he's the only one reaching for something."

"Seems I've gotten myself into more than a bargained for, though." Trevor said with a grin. "A lot more."

Tess was still wiping the tears from her eyes, her voice cracking slightly as she spoke.

"You've got nothing to worry about, once your comrade returns, you're free as a bird." said Tess.

"No, not this time." said Trevor, still grinning. "Goddess Mitula appears in front of you and saves your hide, then tells you to deliver a message to the Earth's creator. Would you think that to be unimportant enough for me to bolt off once Simon comes back?"

"She told us, not you. You're were just there for the transport, after all…" said Tess.

"For Moun, not south Parmecia." Trevor corrected. "Besides…this is deeper than anything I've ever been involved in. I'd follow something this epic to the ends of the earth."

"I guess that makes us privileged to have you in our company." Tess laughed.

"Damn right." Trevor's smile widened. "But…if he doesn't make it."

Tess said nothing.

"Something changed in him, even I seen it." said Trevor. "I'm not sure if it was good or bad, but I'll tell you something…"

Trevor turned to face her.

"There's not a man alive more brave than that. To take a sword…" he stopped himself, realizing her eyes were still tearing. "…better get back. We need to clear out of the old husk quick."

"Yeah." she said, turning and walking away.

Trevor stayed just a bit longer, admiring the night sky.

"Better be alive when I get there." he whispered. "There's still a long way to go."

-----

There was a cold draft that crept into the room that night. It was as if the many faces of the dead stood right outside and breathed the cold breath until this small cottage in the forest. The roof had collapsed, the windows and doors broken and cracked. Inside, no one would suspect anything living. Really, it was just a manmade structure reduced to its original unimportant, unkempt place in nature. Inside, though, something really did live.

Under a poorly made trapdoor in the cottage's wooden floor, a winding staircase led it's way down into a well made out cavern of sorts. The walls adorned with torches and various paintings, some of which were damaged by the water that seeped through the very walls of the cavern.

The figure of a rather tall woman could be made out from any area of the dim cavern, but nothing more than a silhouette was truly recognizable. She stood quite still over an amity cauldron, ingredients to the side. She planned to make dinner, rather than something abnormal this time. She was quite hungry actually, and she was actually unsure if the entire skinned rabbit that hung by it's back legs from a rope nearby would truly suffice for the entire of the night.

Thoughts straying to how to prepare such a meal, the very earth shook. She turned, only dimly aware of the certain unease in the air. She scanned the room, and in what seemed like the opposite of a blinding flash, but rather a slow moving black vortex, a new figure appeared in the room. This, now, surprised the old witch.

"What in hell?" she took a step back and lifted her right hand slowly. "Who are you, then?"

"Pardon my intrusion, milady." Verd's crisp voice echoed through the cavern.

His green eyes peered out from the darkness of his hood.

"You must be Mishaela, correct?" he said coolly.

"You're not a human…" she hissed. "Though, much like them are you to wonder in here like an idiot."

"I've not been around quite long enough to be mistaken for a mortal too many times." Verd said. "But I'd say it's quite a guise if I need to travel without suspicion. How could you tell I wasn't human?"

"You reek of…devil…" she said, her arm still raised, as though she'd fire liquid acid from his fingertips at his slightest movement. "I'm sure you know everything I want to ask, so answer me those few questions…"

"Gladly. I'm Verdelet, from Grans Island." said Verd.

"Arc Valley…" Mishaela's eyes widened. "Then…"

"Yes." Verd laughed a bit. "Yes, Zeon."

"So, he wants to kill me now, eh?" said Mishaela. "Twice I avoided death by Max and the little children that followed him, Zeon can't do any better than them."

"Oh really?" Verd asked with a smile.

"No. I'm just too damn good at surviving." she said, returning with a very similar grin.

"Well, fortunately for you, will won't have to find out if that's true or not." said Verd.

"Really, now? Shame…" she licked her lips.

"Quite. Zeon would actually ask of your aid." said Verd. "Care to accept?"

"I wouldn't serve Zeon. Ever. It's his fault Darksol wasn't revived the first time. The disgusted blind boy of his tried to be a hero…" Mishaela stopped short.

At her neck, without her even really noticing at first, the dark sword glowed a dim blue an purple, with Verd standing poised with it in his hand.

"I'd watch what was said about Lord Oddeye. He's quite the hero back were I come from." Verd's voice was still cool and composed, but his eyes burned.

"You're a poor negotiator, Verdelet." Mishaela growled.

"Zeon doesn't want you to serve him. He wants you to aid him." Verd said, pulling his blade away slowly.

"And then difference is…?" Mishaela moved back, and bore into Verd as best she could.

It didn't seem to have any affect.

"There's something in it for you." Verd smiled again. "Something I'm sure will change your mind."

"Try me." Mishaela turned her back to him. "Zeon doesn't interest me at all."

"Ah, milady, I understand why you'd dislike Zeon. I understand why he doesn't interest you. On the other hand, I know exactly what you want." Verd stepped back slowly and sheathed his sword.

Mishaela's eyes tightened, as she wasn't sure what Verd would say, but when she heard simply the parting of Verd's lips to speak, she knew.

"Darksol." he said, and the name slid from his lips in a most perfect way.