Vyser: Okay, exams are over and summer has started!

Zeek: Hooray for us! Now you can update more frequently!

Vyser: That's right Zeek, it appears that a majority of the reviewers wanted to see who the cloaked person is.

Zeek: I've got a pretty good idea who it is. Anyway, Vyser doesn't own Tales of Symphonia or the characters that the reviewers came up with.

Vyser: I've got a message for DualZero, I don't know if you got the message I sent, but can you give me your character's description. Thanks. Anyway, on with the chapter!

Chapter 20: The Puppet of the Master

"Chaos, I request that you stay here," Said the Master, as Chaos looked a little disappointed. "Its time, we'll head to the teleporters. Chaos take care of my crystal statues for me."

As the Master and the cloaked person left the room with the door closed behind them, Chaos kicked the throne. After a few seconds, a small compartment opens on the opposite side of the side Chaos kicked. When he looked inside, there were bottles that looked to have soda in them.

"I wondered where the master hid his drinks," Said Chaos as he grabbed a bottle, but had a hard time trying to get the cap off. "I could never get these things!"

Chaos then noticed the crystal statues of Kratos and Andrain, Kratos had his mouth open and Chaos took advantage of this and walked towards the statues. Chaos used Kratos' mouth to get the bottle cap off. He first raised the bottle and then put the liquid into his mouth. Instead of a sugary taste, it was horrid. Chaos spat the liquid onto the two statues and turned around gagging.

"What the heck is this?" Yelled Chaos as he read the label on the bottle. "It says, de-crystallization potion. Uh oh."

The two statues began to crack as Chaos turned to see what was happening to the crystal statues.

"This is just not my day," Said Chaos as he slapped his forehead.

Meanwhile, we find Zeek holding off Sera barely keeping up his strength. Sera jumps backward and charges at Zeek with her sword out.

"This is my only chance," Thought Zeek as he charged at Sera.

When the two shot their attacks, their blades went into the air which surprised both of them. Zeek then quickly got behind Sera and wrapped his arms around her stomach also catching her arms. A few seconds after Zeek did this, Sera calmed down and Zeek saw the dark spirit on Sera's Cruxis Crystal shatter into dust. Sera's wings also disappeared as Zeek place Sera on the ground.

"Not an experience that I want to have again," Thought Zeek as he went to retrieve his dagger and Sera's sword.

While this was going on, Drag was watching the entire thing through the blue crystal he had from Seadro. Drag's right hand was bloody; he chuckled as he stood in a circle with seven lines connecting in the middle. Around the outside circle was another circle; in between the two circles were weird markings. The six lines that connected to the center and the inner circle. But when the line reached the inner circle there was one of the crystals that were once the dragoons, except for the one that Drag was looking away from. Behind Drag, there was his pet dragon lying down dead with its stomach being punctured from Drag. Drag wiped away one tear at his eyes with his non-bloody hand.

"I'm sorry my friend, when this is over I'll release a few more dragons into the world," Said Drag as he pressed something on his wrist. "Now, its time for my plan to take action. I'll set the teleportation to activate in five minutes more then enough time to start and finish the ritual."

After setting the time, Drag slammed his two hands onto the ground and the huge circle he was in began to glow.

"Oh all mighty Crosc Dragon, I offer you seven hearts of dragons," Chanted Drag as he kneeled. "In return, give me the power I need to vanquish my enemies!"

A huge multicolored aura then engulfs Drag. His screaming and chanting are the only things that make sure that he is still alive.

Five minutes later, a teleportation circle appears in front of the groups. Everyone enters the circle and then is transported to the hallway before Drag's chamber. Zeek had Sera in his arms, grunting just a little.

"Zeek what happened?" Asked Lloyd as Zeek laid Sera down near Lloyd.

"The dragoon was strong," Said Zeek. "I'll tell you the rest later."

"Now we must face Drag," Said Sane.

"I wonder, why he pitted us against the dragoons?" Asked Genis.

"Maybe it was to weaken us," Replied Elemmírë.

"But the Dragoons were weak," Said Zelos as he threw back some of his hair.

"Speak for your self," Said Sheena as Jet was still kind of sore of what Mime did to him.

"Well, the only way to find out is to face Drag," Replied Suzu.

"Someone will have to stay out here with Sera though," Pointed out Colette.

"I volunteer!" Yelled Zelos as he raised his hand and everyone sighed.

"I'll stay," Said Sage sitting next to Sera.

"I'm kind of tired too," Said Elemmírë as she sat down as well.

"Okay, we'll be back soon," Said Lloyd as everyone except Sera, Sage and Elemmírë followed Lloyd through the doors.

As soon as the group passed through the open doors, the doors quickly shut on their own. When everyone looks around the room they were in earlier. Jet notices the dead dragon lying on the floor.

"Hey guys, check this out," Said Jet as everyone turned towards the dead dragon.

"This is horrible," Said Colette as footsteps were being heard.

"That must be Drag," Said Sane as everyone took out his or her weapons.

From the other side of the room, Drag was walking strangely towards the group. His upper body was looking like it was dead; his mouth was wide open. His eyes were dulled and his arms moved like a pendulum with every step he took. When he was ten feet away from the group he stopped and the top part of his body slumped forward.

"What's wrong with him?" Asked Lloyd as Drag raised his top part of his body up.

"Well now," Said Drag with his voice sounding strange. "It looks like my dragoons did their jobs."

"If they were to weaken us, then they failed," Said Suzu before Drag broke out into laughter.

"They were supposed to fail to fight you," Said Drag as everyone was confused. "I offered their hearts to make my ritual complete."

"What ritual are you talking about?" Asked Zeek as everyone raised his or her weapons.

"Its called the Crosc Ritual," Answered Drag as a majority of the group looked shocked.

"I've never heard of it," Said Lloyd as everyone including Drag sweat-dropped.

"Lloyd, we learned a few years ago remember?" Asked Genis as Lloyd went into flashback mode.

'Flashback four years ago'

"And that class is the Crosc ritual, one of the most powerful rituals in the world," Said Raine as most of the students in class were taking notes. "Its known to make Crosc the dragon idol god, take possess of someone and…"

Lloyd's snoring interrupts class. Raine comes over to Lloyd's desk with a ruler and whacks Lloyd in the head with the ruler.

"I'm up!" Yelled Lloyd as many of the fellow students laughed a little.

'End of Flashback'

"Uh, heh heh," Said Lloyd as everyone looked embarrassed.

"I remember that you fell asleep during that class Lloyd," Said Colette.

"Then allow me to explain," Said Drag as a huge powerful aura surrounded him. "NOW WATCH AS I FUSE WITH CROSC!"

The aura soon engulfed Drag; you couldn't even see his body. The aura grew larger; the top parts of the aura grew and looked to be like seven heads. Then the aura then dispersed revealing an seven-headed dragon that looked to over 45 feet tall! Six of the heads were on the top of the body while the eighth was connected to the torso. The dragon was on all four limbs, it had one tail. The seven heads were each different. One was like Vulcan's, one was like Seadro's, one was like Dar's, and another was like Rose's, the fifth was like Vern's, the middle one was Drag's and the one on the torso was like the pet dragon's that Drag killed. Each of the heads cried a horrible roar that filled the room.

"Whoa, is that what the Crosc ritual is?" Asked Lloyd as the dragons looked directly at the group with hunger in their eyes.

"Yes, I Drag have become one with Crosc, so I'm Crosc Dragon!" Yelled all the heads of Crosc Dragon.

"We've beaten your dragoons so how is this going to be different?" Asked Jet.

"BECAUSE LITTLE MAN, YOU NEVER SAW THEIR TRUE POWER!" Yelled the Vulcan head before it breathed fire at the entire group.

The group managed to barely dodge the flames, but that's when the other heads started to pull their weight. (I'm just going to use the dragoon's names for the heads who attack now okay). Seadro shot a huge blast of water from its mouth and managed to hit Zeek and Genis dousing them with water. Rose was charging something then shot a huge ray of light from the mouth Lloyd, Colette and Suzu were able to dodge. The dragons were using their elemental attack against the group. Lloyd and Jet managed to dodge the attacks to get close enough to attack Crosc Dragon, but then, just as they were about to slash at Crosc Dragon, the torso head spotted them and used one of it's clawed feet to pin down Lloyd and Jet.

"YUM, A LITTLE SNACK," Said Crosc Dragon as Drag's head lowered to eat Lloyd and Jet.

Everyone tried to get to their friends but Vern's head blew them back, just as Drag's head was about to eat Lloyd and Jet, an orb of white and purple light slam into the huge dragon's torso sending Crosc Dragon. When everyone turns to see where the blast came from, they see a cloaked person and a person with golden hair and his right hand extended with one finger pointed at where Crosc Dragon was. The two people were standing on a ledge that was way off above the ground. Then the two people jumped, the cloaked person then had a pair of light blue wings while the golden hair guy had two different wings, one was an angel wing with white feathers on his right side, and on his left side was a black demon wing. When both of the people landed on the ground safely, their wings disappeared. Lloyd and Jet were up, no one could determine whether this two were on their side or not. Crosc Dragon was up too and all of his heads seemed worried.

"So you must be Lloyd, I've heard so much about you," Sighed the golden hair guy. "Disappointing really, I expected someone of a higher status. Unless of course you're not really Lloyd."

"Give me your name, and I'll give you mine," Said Lloyd as everyone in his group sighed.

"Please stop using that line," Begged Genis as Crosc Dragon stood near the group.

"Master Exodus, what brings you here?" Asked Drag's head with a little fear in his voice.

"Drag, Drag, Drag, you think your little plan to take me down was really going to work?" Asked Exodus. Exodus Dreamos looked to be at the age of 25 (but he's not), he had gold hair that was like a mini mullet. His clothes looked like it was two different colored suits cut and half and put back together, on the right side was white and yellow, on the left side of his suit was black and blue. Exodus had a calm face. "If you wanted the chance to take over, then you should have the courage to face me one on one right now."

In an instant, Exodus was gone. He quickly appeared right in front of Drag's head and had his hands in front of him with his fingers branched out and both of his wings out.

"Master Exodus, I beg of you mercy!" Pleaded all of the heads of Crosc Dragon as Exodus smile.

"You must atone! Paradise Obliteration!" Yelled Exodus as his right hand glowed white and his left hand glowed black. Exodus then clapped his two hands together, then a huge wave of power was shot at Crosc Dragon. The power wave engulfed him for several minutes. Everyone was watching his massive amount of power being used. When the wave died down, a smaller version of Drag fell to the ground as well as a dark spirit that must have been on Drag this whole time. Exodus then floated down to the ground with his arms crossed as if what he just did was nothing big to him. Everyone had his or her mouth dropped at what had just happened.

"Why did you do that he begged for mercy?" Asked Lloyd as Exodus walked towards the dark spirit.

"Uh, Lloyd, I don't think its wise to mess with this guy," Said Zeek.

"He was a traitor, but then again, anyone having a dark spirit on them is possessed by another soul," Said Exodus as he picked up the dark spirit. "Now, the question is what to do with you."

"Exodus, you said I could have my revenge on the way here," Said the Cloaked person as he approached Exodus from behind. "Allow me to deal with these fools."

"Well," Started Exodus before there was a ringing sound some where. "One moment."

Suddenly, a screen appeared in front of Exodus. On the screen was Chaos who was worried.

"What is it now Chaos?" Asked Exodus as Chaos whispered. "What! And I really liked those crystal statues. I'll be back soon."

"Is there a problem Exodus?" Asked the cloaked person.

"It appears that my statues are gone," Said Exodus as he made his wings appear. "So I leave you to deal with these fool and to retrieve the summon spirits. Just one thing, don't forget to gain these fools' strong spirits."

Exodus then floated up into the air, then all of a sudden disappeared.

"Now, I have a chance to reclaim some long lost revenge," Said the cloaked person as he began to walk towards the group.

"What have we ever done to you?" Asked Genis.

"Why Genis, I can't believe after everything you forgot," Said the Cloaked person.

"Who exactly are you?" Asked Sheena as the cloaked person stopped walking.

The cloaked person laughed a small laugh then threw off his cloak. As his cloak was flying through the air his long blonde hair fell over the left part of his face. His white clothes were flowing through the breeze that crept through the windows. Everyone was surprise at who this person was.

"It can't…it can't be," Stuttered Lloyd as everyone was speechless. "Mithos."

Vyser: Whoa, well now I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

Exodus: Yes, they will enjoy the next chapter too.

Vyser: Man, Mithos coming back, you must extremely powerful to revive the dead.

Exodus: Yes I am.

Zeek: So, what am I supposed to do now?

Exodus: Become my slave or die.

Zeek: Uh, reviewers please review.

Vyser: Tell if you like Exodus.

Exodus: They will like me, or they will repent.