A/N: I'm Ba-ck. Lol. Anywho, there is a lot of this that is already written. I've been going through and reread the whole thing and did a final tweak/revision. Sorry I've been holding out so long. There are only about 2,500 words left that I had already written for the slayers arc. The some of the return arc is already written, some 30,000 words. I wrote the beginning and after Slayers arc before the arc itself. I decided I shouldn't be jumping like that and removed the return arc a long time ago. Most of you probably haven't read it. I then wrote a decent chunk of the slayers arc and began posting it. I imagine it will take 10-15,000 words to flush out the slayers arc halfway decently. So here is chapter 4. Don't hold your breath for 5. Might end up on a release period like Materia-Blade with "Her War". I'm A.D.D like all hell and spend more time mulling on a story than writing it.

Eezoon

Chapter 4 – TRICK! The return of the Trickster Priest

Ranma and company made it Sairaag with a few more battles. They saved another town and the demons that showed up when evoking Eezoon's power were curiously weaker. Ami said the mazoku were probably saving their power. All the girls learned a lot of magic from Lina during their travels.

"So… where is this Syphiel you told us all about?" Usagi asked. She was a cleric that knew a lot of white magic Usagi was dying to use. While she could use normal magic attacks, she preferred her own type.

Lina put her hands on her hips and looked down at the town with a frown on her face. It seemed that some of the buildings were recently burned down, and the debris had yet to be cleared.

They began walking toward the part of town that had the least amount of damage. The people looked worn down and broken. She looked at a vender and saw few vegetables, highly over priced.

"Why don't we get something to eat first? I haven't had a well cooked meal in a while."

The other girls nodded in ascent. Lina picked the nearest restaurant, although it looked a like it wasn't kept too well recently. She walked in and she could feel the aura of depression. The waitresses only gave cursory smiles that didn't reach their eyes.

"Welcome. Let me seat you…"

As they all took their seats and the waitress passed out menus, Lina asked, "Do you know a Sylphiel? She's a cleric."

The girl actually gave a glimmer of a genuine smile. "She has been a godsend, but it hasn't been enough. Our fields are still getting burned by the Trolls and undead that appear and we have little food coming from our farms. Our animals are being killed, and we have to guard our farms. We've been losing people in the sporadic battles. I'm not sure this town will last much longer. I'm thinking about moving to Saillune. They've been fairing better with their magic."

Lina frowned. "Do you know where we could find her?"

The girl nodded. "She's staying in the inn at the center of town."

Lina and Filia's eyes boggled at the price for the food. "I don't think we can afford this….. It is a small fortune…."

Ranma tapped his chin thoughtfully, before holding his closed hand out over table. Lina put her hand under his to take what he was handing out. A glow shined out from his hand before he dropped a large ruby into Lina's hand. Her eyes shined with greed, before quickly suppressing it. He could always make more.

They ate in silence for a while until Ranma spoke. "I feel something wrong here. Something wrong with that great tree."

Lina nodded, "I should have expected you to notice something like that. See that huge crater on one side of town? The beast Zannifar is locked in that tree, as it absorbs its evil. He made that. The size of the tree is testimony to the demons strength. It has strength on par with a demon Lord, although nothing in the books tell its origin. I have fought it before with the gang. We had to reseal it after Copy Rezo freed it."

The gang walked into the inn and Lina walked up to the desk. Ranma picked a wall to lean against. "Could you tell us which room Sylphiel is in?"

The guy eyed them warily. "Who asks?" Apparently the war was breeding distrust. " Her old friend Lina. You remember the girl that sealed Zannifar a over a year ago?"

The guys eyes widened. "Oh, please forgive me, Lina-san. I'll go get her."

Lina looked took the time to look around the inn. It was the most well kept building in town, if her judgments are correct. But now that she thought about it, there were significantly less people in town than the last time, even after all those that died with the Copy Rezo incident.

"So you sealed it?" Ranma asked.

"Well, with the help of the mystic sword that was made to absorb his evil. Copy Rezo was trying to outdo the person he was cloned from - he was the great mage that found that part of Shabranigdo was sealed in his eyes - and summoned Zannifar into himself for power. He flipped out and tried to kill us. I think the evil corrupted his thought process a little, but he wasn't brought in to the world in the best way…"

Ranma nodded thoughtfully. "How would you unseal him now?"

Lina shook her head. "It should be impossible since with his rebirth, the underground temple that held the ceremony for his awakening was where the crater was."

"Lina!" Sylphiel ran to Lina and hugged her tight. "Thank god you here… its too much…. I can't do it by myself….." Lina quickly recovered from the unexpected hug and tears and ran her hands through the clerics hair while making shushing noises.

"Shhh, it's okay. I'm here now. What's wrong?"

After a few hiccups and sniffling, Sylphiel replied, "They attack the city everyday, trying to burn it down and take it over. Sometimes I couldn't save people… they died or were hauled off, crying for me to help them the whole time." She wept loudly when she finished.

Ranma watched on with eyes shining like cold steel. "We need to beat these guys, and soon."

Lina shook her head. "I wish it was that easy…."

The newly created priestesses shifted around uneasily. They had witness death on their way here at those few towns they past through that got attacked. Not to mention Krimzon. Death to them as Senshi was always a cold and bloodless death, but now death as so much more vile and bloody to them.

That night they gathered around a table in the clerics room and they had a map laid before them.

"Let me introduce you," Lina began, "This is Eezoon-sama, God and Goddess. He's somewhat of a generally powerful being, like Cephied, but from another world. Beyond the ones that we know of."

She waved her hands over the other assorted girls. "These are his priestesses, including myself." Sylphiel quirked an eyebrow at the thought of Lina being a 'priestess'.

"And this is Filia, a gold dragon and priestess of the Fire Dragon that still knows some of the 'holy magic' that was thought entirely lost in the War of the Resurrection of the Demon King a thousand years ago. Although, I still think some is lost, even after seeing her in action. Some of her magic is powerful enough to injure anything below a Mazoku general or Priest, and kill anything below a high brass demon."

Filia looked at her lap sadly. "When the elders died, what was left was lost."

Sylphiel took a close look at Ranma. "He's a god?" Ranma looked into her eyes and let her see into his being, she gasped and looked away. "Forgive me for questioning, Eezoon-sama."

Ranma liked the title at first, but he didn't think he was better than anyone else in principle, just ability. It started annoying him after a while, but only Lina would not use an honorific. That was the way she was.

"He is the God we summoned from a another world. A world even beyond the Sea of Chaos," Filia elaborated.

"Now that introductions are over, time for a battle plan," Lina began. She frowned, "I've never dealt with a straight out war, more like individual battles where we played hero's."

"Are there a lot of other magic users like you and Sylphiel?" Ami asked.

Lina swayed her head side to side weighing her numbers. "In this area of the world, which I hope is the only place this war is occurring, there is an extraordinary amount of magic. When we broke the god-sealing field the Mazoku put on this area of the world when we killed Hellmaster Phibrizzo, A Demon Lord of Shabranigdo, we were able to leave this continent. However, the people outside were lucky to be able to cast that lighting spell I taught you."

The girls eyes widened. "I thought this world was like a novel where magic was rampant."

Lina shook her head. "Most people off of this continent probably haven't even seen a troll. They might have seen a lower dragon that was more like a giant stupid lizard."

Ami scrunched her pert lips thoughtfully. "Sounds like they intentionally isolated you off. If magic was discovered or founded in this area, and it was sealed off in an early war between good and evil, that keeps your threat localized. After conquering this continent, it would be child's play to take over the rest of the world."

Lina and Sylphiel's eyes widened. "I-I never thought about that before," Lina said after a pause. "It's probably the fact that elves, dragons, mazoku and humans fought in the battle. Probably all the mages and sorcerers were involved, and became trapped here afterwards."

Ranma interrupted, "How bad are things here to handle? Do you think you need many more magic users to defend this town?"

Sylphiel shrugged, "The fact that I can keep them from completely obliterating the city shows that it would only take a few more… if they were as good as me."

Lina looked deeply at Sylphiel. "How could you fend them off? You weren't very good at offensive spells last time I seen you."

She shook her head ruefully. "I've gotten much better. Let's just say I've gotten a lot of practice," She finished with a grim expression.

"I think we'll leave a girl or two with you to help defend."

"Really? How good are they?"

Lina answered, "We use 'holy magic' like hers too, but ours is different. His power is a part of us and we can evoke it without out a thought, just intention. Filia only has access to cast spells that use the Fire Dragon as a source. "

"We need to travel to Saillune and Dragons Peak to gather people," Filia said. "What's going on with your sister Lina?"

Lina's face lost all color at the mention of her sister. "I, uh… she's guarding our hometown… believe me the town in safe hands."

Rei looked at Filia questioningly. "What's up with her sister?"

"She's a knight of Cephied, rumored to be the most powerful sorceress on the planet. However, last time she dumped off world saving onto Lina."

"Knight?" Ranma was curious.

"Like the Mazoku Lords have a priest and a general, Dragons have a Knight and priests or priestesses. Or at least that is what we derived. Supposedly in the Flare Dragon's death, he left his soul in his Knight. He formed the remnants of his astral body into 4 Dragon Kings. A Dragon God or King and his Knight are soul bonded." Filia took a moment to let the sink in as she flicked her hair back over her shoulder. "As a result it seems she has an even higher magic capacity than Lina here. And Lina's is one of the largest human ones I have ever seen. However that is not her strength, it is her ability to channel ridiculous amounts of black magic from mazoku. Normal magic she is pretty strong at, but she is average at astral spiritual magic."

Filia looked Lina directly in the eye. "Actually every time you've done that you're capacity has been stretched to greater levels." Filia shook her head, "Considering you have the ability to channel from the source of Creation."

Ranma voice cut through the air, "Lina's capacity is very massive. Usagi's is the only one whose is greater, but it is like she descended from some god or something. She has traces of…" Ranma paused to find the right words, "something bigger. She has a little extra than the normal human soul. Just like you dragons obviously," Ranma looked right at Filia. Filia could feel him looking through her and into her. "Have it somewhat stronger."

Late in the night a man was feeling around the tree and looking up to its branches. He came to stop at a large sword that was implanted in the tree.

"This is it…. With this I can…"

"Do nothing." Ranma finished. "What were you trying to do before I arrived?"

The figure raised his index finger and looked at him mischievously around it. "That's… a secret." This person's infuriating manner pissed him off.

The figure turned with his index finger leading and a concentrated beam of yellow light came from him and sliced the tree almost easily.

He dropped his hand to his side as he cocked his head sideways to observe his work. "That should to it."

Ranma took a step forward and the figure reached for the sword. "Ah, ah, ah! You wouldn't want to be cut now, would you?"

Ranma took another step anyway and the sword was ripped out of the tree quickly and raked his chest. Ranma jumped back quickly. He was used to being immune to physical attacks, but that definitely felt like it raked across his soul and dragged a piece with it. It really fuckin' hurt.

Usagi's eyes opened, and lacked any sort of drowsiness. In her sleep she felt the waters just out of her reach become choppy. She lifted to her feet like they were on a lever. A white pulse was projected from her as she flooded with power. With a thought she was clothed in Eezoon's type of chinese clothes, but they were solid white. She jumped through the roof and sped towards where she knew Eezoon was. As she ran she realized the others where following her as well as they speed toward the great tree.

The tree began falling towards the city while Ranma stood it off with the Mazoku. They stood warily facing each other. Ranma slowly reached up to his ear and took pulled his earring. It morphed into a long staff. It was a simple staff; long and slender silver, topped with ring with a 3-D yin-yang ball hovering around inside of a simple oval ring. He brought it to bear.

"Haaaa!" He swiped at the figure and he met it with the sword. It absorbed the super powered swing without budging the man. Ranma began blurring at the figure and he met or dodged every attack. This was no ordinary enemy. Their fight was intercepted at a loud groaning noise as it began falling…towards the town. With a flurry of feathers Ranma's angel burst forth and sped toward the tree hands first, leaving a blue-white trail. Its hands impacted the tree and a blue ring pulsed forth from the point of impact with the force. The tree was pushed back away from the city and landed with a thunderous crash. It was that moment that all the girls landed in a circle around the figure.

"Xellos!"

"Bing-Bong! Correct."

Lina menacingly stalked toward him, while rolling up her sleeves. Her tirade had started in a loud voice and ended in with a growl of his name, "What are you up to now, Xellos?" He hands were suddenly wrapped around his throat and he gasped. His head lulled back and forth as she shook him violently.

"That's a secret!" He gurgled out.

Ranma blinked as the menacing character suddenly became non-threatening. A gust almost bowled them over and they turned to find a filthy gray geyser spurting from the tree stump. Lina's grip slackened as she watched what happened. It formed into a 7 headed dragon before coalescing into a man shaped figure.

A tall figure covered with a red cape and purple should guards and hued hair.

"What is this?" A loud draconic voice rumbled. "This is the form of that fool human that tried to contain my power." He cocked his head to the side. "Although I must commend him for being able to control me for as long as he did…. Eventually I would have taken over his body as I eroded his soul." The statement was followed with sharp and cruel laughter.

Xellos turned toward the Rezo shaped Zanefar. "I have a proposition that you can't refuse?"

The purpled haired man with a 7 headed dragon shadow quirked an eyebrow. "Can't refuse? Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do, Ruby-eye spawn?"

"Due to circumstances, we have a new opening. Perhaps you would like to become a new Lord? How does Zanifar the Chaos Dragon sound?"

An awkward silence followed the proposition before a sharp bark of mocking laughter was the response.

"Serve that fat mutated beast? You have to be kidding!"

Suddenly Xellos's expression turned dark. "Do you know what this sword is truly is?" Every saw a glimpse of fear cross the beings face. "The humans think it absorbs evil essence. In truth it absorbs anything spiritual. This sword contains a whole pocket dimension. It is rumored it is a staff, much like the one we exist on, that protrudes from the sea of chaos. Being such, it is a world of itself. Perhaps it was a budding world that was ripped from Lord of Nightmares before it developed. That would mean it is an empty world. Nothing exists in it. No death, life, planets, or stars. It is a 'small' world but small is relative. For a reality is infinite to our minds. It's blade is a path to get inside that world. As you can imagine… it is the perfect prison."

With a flicker Xellos was behind the being and with an expression of absolute shock the being was stabbed by the sword. With a scream, Zanifar was gone. Xellos gave a little salute and turned. As he prepared to 'jump' into the astral plane, two slender arms wrapped around him. He looked over his shoulder at the owners face to see the beautiful angel from before…yet it looked much more demonic and deadly. It's canines were no longer cute, but now full fledged fangs. The eyes held the pure malevolence of an angry large feline. The hands no longer had beautifully long manicured nails, but were long and black like claws. In the moment to process this, his chest was raked by those very same nails and a pitch black miasma spewed from his chest. He pushed away and opened both of his eyes. He had apparently underestimated his enemy greatly. A look of unease passed his face as he brought the sword up to bear. He stood facing the god with his priestesses on either side of him in a semi-circle. A staff formed in the gods hands.

"Divine lightning!" A 6 inch thick bolt of electric death rocketed towards the mazoku and he deflected with his sword. He dared not to try with his staff, seeing how that was actually a part of him. The attack had distracted him as he no longer saw the girls near the god and he got hit in the side by a weird blue blast of divine origins. He flew off the huge tree trunk and into a branch of the fallen tree. He looked the direction it came from to see a blonde girl with her hands smoking.

"Shit!" Xellos swore. He hadn't been in this situation since Gaav somehow wounded him on the astral plane. That showed the difference in power considering that he wasn't even familiar with it anymore since then.

Suddenly it became unusually dark. All the stars and the moon were gone from the sky. One couldn't make out anything but dark shapes. Ranma's stance became firmer as he hesitantly called. "Girls… come closer to me."

Suddenly a glowing started like a ripple on water in the air before Xellos. The ripple expanded and formed a tall figure, pushing six and a half feet. For some inexplicable reason the figure was entirely visible, despite that nothing else was. Long purple hair with cut so that when hanging it could make a line; there was no taper. She was slender, almost freakishly so, giving the impression of a spider. The face was very angular with a sharp nose and thin lips. Her eyes were like a wolf's. A tight black vinyl corset covered her midsection holding and emphasizing a decent 'D' cup worth of breasts. She wore casual yet expensive looking black slacks with simple red slippers. Her arms had silver braces cast with an elegant artwork of various vicious beasts. Xellos's eyes actually widened for the first time Lina had ever seen; at most they usually open.

"Hello, young God. I am known as Xellas Metallium, the Beast Master. Who are you?" She asked in a calm and alluring voice that belied its disarming tones. It made everyone's hair stand on end and awakened the instinct to fight or flight. It made its listeners want to attack in blind fury at the false voice.

"I am Eezoon, Deus of Balance."

The woman raised an eyebrow. She clucked her tongue, "Tsk. I see my servant misjudged you as a potential obstacle." She looked at him sharply, as if reading him and she continued the gaze to sweep over the gathered girls. "I see. I'm sorry, but I cannot allow you to interfere right now. I am truly sorry." Something intangible screamed blasphemy at the false politeness of this person. She was a mockery of good and kind, although her sultry tones and manner created a believable parody of such.

"Xellos. Go." It came out like a polite suggestion, but to everyone it sounded like it was not a suggestion. It was a command to be followed under penalty of things worst than death.

Xellos unsteadily got to his feet and 'jumped' away into the astral plane. Ranma's angel made a move, but a voice cut through the air and froze everyone in an unspeakable fear. "Ah, Ah, Ah," was accompanied by a wagging finger, "I didn't say you could follow him."

Ranma frowned and shook of the psychic attack, his power on the mortal coil was sharply increased and a shockwave of wind pulsed outward from him, kicking up dust. The girls felt the waters on the edge of their consciousness become more than restless; it became stormy. They grasped on to the power and it flushed through them in a torrent. Their glow cut through the darkness. The demon lord raised an eyebrow. "Oh, that is quite the aura you girls can manage. Though I have never seen such a bond since the days of Cepheid. His knights were quite the power. They managed to take out some generals and priests of Demon lords at the time." She looked up at the sky and then directly back at Ranma. "I think it is time for me to leave."

Blasts of varying type crashed around the woman, the explosions blocking all view of her. Ranma heard a whisper in his ear and a hand was on his chin almost in a teasingly affectionate manner. Another hand had a nail poised to his throat like a knife. "Do you know why they call me beast master?" She was somewhat intrigued by his lack of shock. She felt a something poking her in her stomach. She looked down to see his staff in her midsection. "Oh," was her curious response. Apparently this one is a warrior. That was as far as she got before light blasted forth from the end of the staff, blinding everything. A shadow vaulted through the air in an amazing feat of acrobatics to land in the middle of the spread out group. The light cleared showing a smoking demon lord, that had an infuriating grin of amusement. "They call me beast master because I can control all the creatures that crawl on the ground, swim in the seas and fly in the air." A humming sound approached the tree and its source was made out in the light of the glowing girls. Crows swooped in and began pecking furiously. Ranma's sight of the girls was blocked by the thick gathering of birds. The blood curdling screams of the girls went through the air. Ranma's expression turned into the one he only used once before - killing Saffron. The demon lord faded away amidst the chaos , her grin lingering like the Cheshire cat.

The birds that tried to peck at Ranma got fried like flies in a fly in a bug zapper as bolts of power stuck any that came close. With an angry roar, a ball of light and electricity exploded out from Ranma, killing all of the scavengers in its path. When it was done they all laid on the tree stump like a black smoldering carpet. The shrieks still didn't stop as the bloodied girls writhed amongst the dead crows. Ranma's fangs appeared to grow more feral as he growled in angry remembrance of his own experience with cats. With a thought the death turned in to dust and blew away leaving only Ranma and the girls. His righteous anger made his soul thrash and it showed as it washed over the girls. He expression softened and the angry glow around the girls did as well. Skin and muscle mended and eyes reformed in the light. The girls calmed in the glow and just fell to tears.