Dak found himself in darkness; he couldn't see anything new was just a void.

"What is this place?" he said.

The darkness then disappeared, and replacing it was a void that was as red as blood.

"Don't tell me that I'm… dead. No, I can't be…"

"Hey, you…" said a demonic voice behind him. "Good to see ya."

He turned his head and saw a demonic black figure towering over him and immediately screamed.

"What the heck are you!" he yelled at the top of his voice.

The creature laughed. "I can't believe you said that to me. Either your closest companion for a while now."

"I'm pretty sure I would remember a guy like you."

"Oh well, doesn't make any difference. I've got a chance to manifest in the physical world, so I'm taking it… your body belongs to me!"

He then grabbed him in his giant hand, but Dak somehow appeared directly behind him.

"Tell me what's going on right now!" Dak demanded.

"You should be glad it's a pretty sweet deal for you," said the creature turned around to face him. "I mean, really… you want to win this? Then all you have to do is leave it to me."

"You shut up! I'll beat this guy with nothing but my own power!" Dak spat stubbornly.

"With yapping, and let me take control of your body already," said the creature, successfully grabbing him this time. "Just relax and let go of your consciousness. A half-point like you doesn't stand a chance in this fight."

"That's not up to you now, is it?" Dak growled, using all his strength to try himself loose. "You know what? It's kinda perfect that you're looming over my head like that." He then successfully squeezed out his grip and somersaulted onto his arm. Dak then began running up it avoiding the spikes that he produced. "Because if you're up there, I can use user climb up straight to the sky!"

The creature laughed. "Some places can't be reached or climbed to." He then slammed his hand right down on top of him. "You should just give up."

Dak then heard those words before, but just like before, he refused to believe them, and suddenly, he found a new power causing through his body.

"Give up," he said as he squeezed through between his fingers, as the right side of his body became completely black. "There was a time in my life when I might have given up, but that's all behind me now!"

He then somehow managed to merge with the creature, strengthening his body but keeping it completely under his control.

Back in reality, everyone could sense this new demonic power emanating from Dak as his body transformed. His right arm was now completely black, what appeared to be a black wing had sprouted on the right side of his back, a dark horn was sprouted from the right side of his head, producing fangs and the right side of his face and his right eye was blood red.

"My magic…" he said and looked straight at Ladros. "…is never giving up!"

"What?" said Ladros, shocked by this sudden change of events. 'How is he back on his feet?'

'This feeling, it's not magic,' said Adelaide as she looked at Dak. "What's with him?"

"Something isn't right here," said Zell.

Ladros laughed. "So you have this big dramatic transformation? Do you expect me to be impressed by that or something?"

He then fired a fire blast directly at Dak, but he quickly cut through it with his blade. Ladros then launched himself at him, but Dak certainly took to the sky.

"You're mine!" Ladros yelled and fired several fire-based laser attacks.

Dak proved to be rather agile, avoiding every single one of them. He then swung his sword so hard that he weaponised the air. A split second later, Ladros felt a cut across his cheek, and Dak was now chasing after him.

Ladros hit the ground hard and began pelting him with lasers, forcing Dak to cut off his pursuit to avoid them. Using this distraction to his advantage, Ladros chased after him once again, though it was difficult keeping up with him.

"I see a little quick on your feet now," Ladros observed. "But how long will this new trick of yours hold out?"

Dak then suddenly performed a U-turn heading straight towards him; Ladros was ready and unleashed a powerful magical blast of flames. Dak, however, began cutting right through it with his blade and then threw his sword at him.

Ladros quickly dodged it. "You think I was going to fall for that twice?"

However, when he looked back, Dak was gone; he had used unbelievable speed to retrieve his sword while he wasn't looking. When Dak reclaimed his sword, he quickly struck Ladros across the chest with it.

'Damn, he's not messing around,' said Ladros. 'How did he get so strong?'

Ladros quickly flew backwards to put some distance between them and then fired more fire blasts. Sadly for him, Dak was just too fast and was able to dodge them, but he quickly grasped Dak's face the moment he was within reach.

"This next attack can't possibly miss," Ladros smiled evilly.

However, Dak grasped his arm firmly and spun him around with all his strength, spun him around, sending him crashing down towards the ground. Ladros was able to stop his dissent in time before he hit the ground beneath, but he quickly had to get out of the way because a second later, Dak would have skewered him.

What he was up high into the air quickly fired lasers down upon Dak, but he was just too fast and came dashing towards him.

In Dak's mind, he wasn't entirely certain what was going on; it felt as if he was stuck in some sort of dark frozen lake. He was still very much aware of what was going on, though is like his body was moving with a mind of its own acting on pure instinct.

'What's happening,' he said. 'My body is chilled to the bone like I'm floating in a freezing lake, and my mind feels clearer than ever, and my physical strength is overflowing.'

Dak cut through Ladros' lasers and swung his sword at him, grazing him.

The Queen of Witches was observing everything within her palace.

"I thought for certain he would lose consciousness," she said curiously. "But he's still maintaining control. Not only does the Demon-Slayer Sword conduct Anti-Magic energy in massive amounts, it absorbs the magic of all those that touch it. Therefore no one should be able to wield this blade, but you are without magic, and so its power causes through you. You've been dictating its ebb and flow from the beginning without even realising it.

"When I used my blood to heal you, it increased the rate of that power's movement, and in doing so, I intentionally removed any limitations upon the sword's capabilities. Now your magic power will burst forth in a massive wave, and you will become the best of this torrent of an Anti-Magic."

Ladros was actually scared now, and he was desperately trying to get away from Dak, who was hunting him down. However, no matter how quickly he flew or how many fancy manoeuvres he did, Dak seemed to be able to catch up with him.

Ladros then quickly spun around, unleashing a barrage of flaming lasers at Dak, but he quickly and easily avoided it. One of them did strike Dak, but he reacted quickly enough and blocked it with his sword.

Ladros put everything he had to overpower him and unleashed a blast so powerful that it went straight through mountains and set the forest on fire. However, Dak remained completely unharmed and continued his pursuit of Ladros.

Within moments he was in striking distance, and Ladros quickly dodged his swings; he then tried to release of close-range fire blast. Sadly for him, Dak was able to dodge it and cut through the spell with his blade. He released another fire blast, but Dak merely dived right into it, and soon he was face-to-face with him. Dak then punched him hard in the face sending him flying.

Ladros quickly recovered and tried to grab him with his magic and succeeded. With a laugh of triumph, he sent him slamming down into the ground with as much power behind the throw as possible. Dak, however, managed to recover and began walking through the forest, which was now covered in flames with his eyes blood red.

Ladros was completely exhausted, and even after throwing everything he had at Dak, he was still standing, and he wasn't even exhausted.

"What… are … you?" Ladros panted.

The Queen continued to watch the confrontation with the utmost curiosity.

"I suspected that you were from a certain bloodline," she said. "But I was wrong."

Ladros just couldn't understand well this power came from. 'Just what is this awful feeling?'

"Due to your body's mutation, the mana did not dwell within you, so simply put, you're defective," said the Queen. "But because of that defect, you're able to hold the sword."

"How the hell is this happening!" Ladros yelled furiously.

"You aren't anything special, not in the slightest, and that is why precisely what makes you extraordinary," said the Queen.

"I want you out of my sight!" Ladros roared and unleashed his full power.

He sent a blazing dragon down upon Dak, hoping it had enough strength to wipe him from the field. Dak, however, just charged at the beast and cut through it with his blade like it was nothing.

"Now that you're in this form of magic is powerless against you, finish him," said the Queen.

Dak was now moving even faster as he cut right through the dragon and headed straight for Ladros.

"Damnit!" Ladros cursed as he tried to fall back. "It can't be. My magic should have made me invincible. Get back! Just stay away from me!"

"It's no use," said the Queen. "You're abundant Anti-Magic will chase down and quell his power."

On the ground, Adelaide watched as Dak chased after Ladros, cutting through his spell as he tried to fly away from him.

"A black shooting star climbing into the sky," she said as she stood mesmerised.

"No! No! No!" Ladros cried as Dak got closer and closer towards him. "It's not fair! I stepped on so many people to get where I am now! I can't lose to you!"

"You always kept your friends down, but my friends helped me be better and stronger!" Dak yelled. "Black Meteorite!"

Ladros then found himself falling from the sky completely out of magic power. Dak then spun around and landed on the ground seconds before Ladros hit the ground.

Ladros was completely out of magic power, he couldn't even move his fingers, and then the crystal embedded in his chest shattered shortly, followed by the crystal on his forehead.

'I'm completely out of magic now,' he said, struggling to even read his head. 'Why me? Why did it happen here? I think I finally reached my limit.'

He then coughed out some blood and collapsed.

Zell just sat there looking at his former pupil. "Goodbye, Ladros."

Dak then walked up to Ladros in a rather menacing way.

"Dak…" said Adelaide slowly. 'He's so strong, and the way he was fighting, he was like a different person. He looks so terrifying now, like a…'

Dak was now standing directly over Ladros, and Adelaide was just too afraid to see a single word.

Ladros looked at him. "Just kill me. Go ahead; I'm ready."

Dak just looked at him. "You must be crazy! It's better if I keep you alive so that you can help the other people you hurt, and then I'm going to make you apologise to all of them! Now pick yourself up and get going, you may be bloodier and beat up, but that doesn't mean I have to go easy on you!"

Ladros just stared at him, shocked; this was not the reaction he had expected and burst out laughing, though he quickly regretted it as he began coughing up blood.

"What the heck is your problem?" Dak asked.

"Damn, I can't catch a break," said Ladros smiling. "You're a tough guy."

"This is out of character," Dak blinked.

"Maybe, now that the Magic Stone has been destroyed, my head is starting to feel a little bit lighter," he admitted as he looked up towards the sky. "Oh, man."

"Are you sure you're okay? Because you fell from the ground pretty great height," said Dak.

Ladros wasn't listening as he looked up at Dak. 'Someone like you can head straight to the top, that's for sure. Makes me wonder, if we met sooner, maybe you and I could have made each other better too.'

Zell merely smiled as it seemed as if his old student had returned. 'Thank you, Dak.'

"Dude, are you sleeping?" Dak asked incredulously. "Keep your eyes open, so I know that you're alive."

Adelaide smiled, pleased to see that Dak was still his old self. 'I'm overthinking it; he's still Dak.'

Dak then returned back to normal. "I'm normal now. That was weird." He still wasn't too sure what had happened. 'What was all that black stuff earlier? It felt as if I was fighting something inside of a dream. I had some kind of mysterious power, so that was pretty awesome. I mean, I owned it. Is this what everyone else feels like when they use their magic abilities?'

His joy was suddenly short-lived as he immediately felt a massive amount of pain surging through his body.

"Oh gods, my whole body has started to hurt all of a sudden!" Dak cried. "It feels like my insides are bleeding like crazy too! I'm going to die? Can someone please help me?"

He looked around for anyone who could assist him, but practically everyone was unconscious, apart from Adelaide and Zell.

"Help you," said Adelaide.

"Look at us," said Zell.

"Wait, the rest of you are in bad shape too?" Dak stared and then rushed over to Mars and began slapping him across the face. "Hey, you two, you've got Recovery Magic! Come on, please tell me you haven't bit the dust?"

Mars then groaned, and Fana's body flinched.

"Oh good, you're alive," said Dak relieved. "Don't just lay there!"

"Oh dear, I hope I'm not too heavy," said Fana.

"No, in fact, the pressure feels kinda comforting," Mars admitted.

Dak stared at Mars. "He's way different now."

"Mars, stop it," said Fana blushing.

"Hello!" Dak waved and then looked at everyone. "Well, it's gonna take a whole lot of trips back and forth, but I think the only thing for me to do is to carry everyone back to safety!"

"That's not necessary," said the Queen of Witches' voice.

Ravers then flew out of the trees and circled around, blocking the sun. Once they parted, floating before Dak was the Queen of Witches.

"It's you," Dak stared.

Vanessa then regained consciousness and sat up. "The Queen's here?"

Dak then approached her. "I took care of the Eye of the Midnight Sun and all those Diamond Army soldiers. So that automakers even are you fixing my arms, right?"

"And you did it without me having to involve myself in the least," said the Queen of Witches, sounding somewhat impressed. "Imperfect though you may be, I must say you've done quite well."

"It's no big deal," said Dak. "And while I've got you here, I kinda hate to ask this, but do you think you can heal everyone real quick too?"

The Queen just floated there in silence, which in itself was not a very good sign.

"Ah, that's also unnecessary," she said as she raised her hand.

Blood then appeared out of nowhere and began to cover the area.

Adelaide stared. "What did she—"

The blood then shot out from beneath her consuming.

"Adelaide…" Vanessa cried and watched as the blood began to do the same to everyone else, including her.

The guises of blood then began to form into crucifixes, and everyone apart from Dak was attached to them.

"Blood Creation Magic: Flesh blood Execution Ground!" said the Queen of Witches.

Both Domina and Mariella sans powerful magic emanating from where Dak and the others were. Domina then suddenly began to hurt herself as she was overcome by fear.

"They're going to be okay; I just know it," Mariella assured her.

"You're right," Domina nodded.

Zell tried to free himself, but he was still weakened from earlier. Though even if he was at full strength, he doubted that he would be able to break free from these bonds; the Queen was just that powerful.

'Her power is horrifying,' said Zell.

Dak was the only one not captured, and he was looking at everyone in horror. "You sure about of nowhere, and then you do the—"

Before he could say another word, he found himself unable in unbelievable pain.

"Yes, my magic allows me to manipulate blood as I choose," said the Queen of Witches. She then began moving her hands, and Dak was following the movements like a puppet on a string. "But since I used that healing spell on you, I maintain total control over your blood as well. I am the Queen here; why should I fulfil the requests of a pathetic worm such as yourself? The only one who must obey is you. Blood Magic: Puppets Blood!"

She then forced Dak to pull out his Demons-Slayer Sword from his grimoire.

"Let him go!" Adelaide and Vanessa pleaded.

"That aside, your death would prove inconvenient for me," the Queen admitted. "You alone will receive healing. Blood Recovery Magic: Curse Breaking Blood Filled Cocoon!"

She then raised her finger, and streams of blood shot out of it and circled around Dak creating the cocoon that healed him earlier.

"Stay by me, and you may wreak the habit you like," said the Queen as the blood began to heal Dak's wounds.

'Casting such advanced spells one after the other,' Adelaide stared. 'This is not like the spirit's power; just being close to it gives me chills. She's worse than I thought.'

"As for that sword, if I cannot wield it myself, then I simply need to be the master of the one who can," said the Queen. "And you've just demonstrated how you use it so that as long as you live, you're going to carry this weapon as though it was mine."

She then forced Dak to transform once again into that demonic form.

"No!" Vanessa cried. "What's happening? All this time, she was only after the Anti-Magic Sword?"

Dak had now transformed into that demonic form he used to beat Ladros, but his eyes were completely dull. His body still moved on its own, but there was no trace that he was conscious.

"And now for your first order," said the Queen of Witches. "I want you to kill every one of these weaklings with your own hands. Do a perfect job and leave no one alive."

"Dak… no," Adelaide pleaded.

Dak just grasped his sword, ready to strike them down.