Disclaimer: See the prologue
Extraneous: Ditto

Author's notes: Well, this is the final flashback for now! This helps to explain why Krichevskoy and Saito were referring to the "battle right before the reception."

Chapter 7: The Wedding of an Overlord
When we last left our story:

Saito had just finished explaining how he arrived in the Netherworld, and his subsequent encounters with both Priere and Marjoly. He also gave an explanation as to how he first met both the Overlord and the Seraph. Finally, he gave a brief description of his first encounter with the Dark Assembly, and the battle that followed. We then headed back to the present day, where Saito answered questions from both Priere and Marjoly. Now it is time for the final event: the wedding between Nicholai Krichevskoy and Rena Solvaris.

Present Day: Sacred Altar

Saito looked around the room once more. Seeing no other raised hands, he continued with his story.

"Well, the preparations were nearly finished, and I had been training the defense forces for the past three weeks. Then, the wedding day arrived, and ALL of our lives would never be the same…"

Flashback Begins

Overlord's Castle: True Netherworld

Well, it appears that the day has finally arrived, Saito thought to himself as he got up and stretched. I don't know exactly WHAT is going to happen, but I know that it won't be easy on any of us. He walked over to the closet, opened it, and then withdrew the single black tunic that he had been saving. He slipped into it, and then he sighed aloud. "I just hope that everything turns out to be fine in the end." After he had finished belting on his sword and hanging his pendant around his neck, he headed out into the main corridor. Almost immediately, his footsteps carried him towards the throne room. He stopped outside of the door, and fell silent.

Inside the Throne Room

Nicholai Krichevskoy was nervously pacing back-and-forth across the throne room. WHY did I have to plan an outdoor wedding? Maybe it's because EVERYONE wants to attend, Overlord? Hmm... Very good point, Saito. "You can come in now. I'm just a little nervous." Saito smiled and stepped into the throne room. "You aren't the only one who is nervous. I'm just wondering when my father is going to arrive with the army." The Overlord smiled at his young companion. "You don't need to worry about that right now. Let's just get through the ceremony first, and THEN worry about the army. OK?" "That's fine with me." With that being said, the Overlord and the weredragon left the throne room, and headed in the direction of the Caverns of Light. They talked about the defensive arrangements along the way, and Saito was finally able to relax.

In the skies over Priere Castle: Alternate Netherworld

Kaido looked around, a sneer suddenly crossing his face. This isn't the True Netherworld! Now the big question is this: how in the hell do we find our way there? He turned to look over at Shadow. "Find some sort of portal or Dimensional Gate that will take us to the True Netherworld. We need to arrive before this damn wedding starts. That way, we can eliminate everyone in one swift stroke." Shadow nodded, and then motioned to two of his scouts. The younger draconics nodded, and then spiraled down towards Priere Castle. They both landed, and then the first scout cautiously entered...in order to find that the citadel had been emptied. They relayed the news back to Shadow, and then they proceeded to inspect the entrance to the Cave of Ordeals. "Uh, boss? I think we found what you were looking for." "Excellent! They will have no idea what hit them when I'm finished!" Kaido laughed aloud, and then turned to the rest of the army. "Okay, people. We move out now. When we all arrive, you know the drill." Every single one of the four thousand draconics in the army nodded. They then proceeded into the cave, not knowing that the Overlord had already been warned of their coming.

Caverns of Light: True Netherworld

"Sir, we just received a message from one of those who stayed behind at Priere Castle. The draconic army has just entered the Cave of Ordeals, and they should be here in a little over two hours." The Overlord nodded grimly, and then relayed the message to Saito. The weredragon grinned. "It looks like he will arrive in time for the reception. Why don't we make sure that it's one he will NEVER forget?" Krichevskoy suddenly cracked a smile. "I LIKE the way your mind works, Saito. I was about to suggest that myself!" Looking at his watch, he started suddenly. "My stars! It's almost time to begin the ceremony!" He looked over at Saito, and issued one last order. "Make sure that the weapons are distributed immediately after the ceremony is complete." "Yes, sir." Krichevskoy then asked the young Kaiser a seemingly irrelevant question. "Do you think I look okay in this?" The young man smiled at the Overlord. Krichevskoy had found his old ceremonial dress uniform, and was wearing it fairly well. The black and gold was an interesting contrast, and Saito couldn't help but grin. "You look fine, Nicholai. Let's get moving, shall we?" The Overlord nodded at his best man (NOW you know why he wanted Saito to personally respond!), and they walked out onto the altar.

The Seraph was already waiting there, prayer book in hand. "A little nervous, Nicholai?" the head angel asked with a smile. However, the Overlord's response killed the grin on Michael's face. "Yeah, I have to admit that I am a little nervous. After all, it's not every day that an army of four thousand is making their way here as we speak." Michael's voice suddenly dropped to a whisper. "When will they be arriving?" "They should be here by the time the reception starts," Saito whispered back. "Well, that's a relief." He then turned towards the main aisle and fell silent. Saito and the Overlord turned and followed the Seraph's example. The procession had started, and the wedding had finally begun. The first two women to walk down the aisle were Priere and Marjoly. The Alternate Overlord was wearing a modestly cut green dress, and she looked gorgeous. Her best friend was equally stunning in a simple blue dress. They stopped when they reached the altar, and Priere tossed a wink at Saito, causing the young weredragon to blush furiously. At that moment, Rena appeared in the aisle, and everyone rose to acknowledge the young woman who would be queen in a matter of moments.

Krichevskoy was at a loss for words, and so was everyone else. The young witch was dressed in a long white gown that shimmered as she moved. The tiny seed-pearls sewn along the hem of her gown winked brilliantly, and she wore a thin lace veil to hide her features. She stopped three-quarters of the way to the altar, and waited for her husband-to-be to descend and lead her up those final few steps. The Overlord was trying desperately to keep his hands from trembling as he came down the steps to stand before his chosen. Rena smiled beneath her veil as they began to ascend the steps once more. "Nervous, my dear?" "Yes, Rena. I am a little nervous. However, it's not the ceremony that worries me right now." Rena winced slightly, and then they reached the top of the stairs. Michael Lamington smiled, and then raised his voice for the invocation. "We are gathered here today to witness the first step towards obtaining peace amongst all the realms. Gathered here are representatives of all four major species, to bear witness to this union." Dead silence followed these words as everyone looked around, searching for the final representative. However, none of them thought to look at the altar. Saito smiled, turned slightly, and then winked at the Seraph. Michael smiled, and then he continued with the invocation. "These two here before you, Nicholai Krichevskoy and Rena Solvaris, represent two of these species. I represent the third, and the fourth is also here with us. Let the ceremony begin."

An hour and forty-five minutes later...

"Through the powers invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Nicholai, you may now kiss your bride." The Overlord lifted Rena's veil, and then smiled. "I have waited almost too long for this moment." "Both of us have, my love. Now, let's get this over with and get started with the reception." The two kissed, and everyone rose to applaud their new Queen. The Seraph looked out over the assembly once more, and intoned the final phrase. "Ladies and gentlemen. I now present you with King Nicholai Krichevskoy and his lady wife, Queen Rena." With those words, the ceremony finally came to a close, and everyone poured out of the Caverns to the reception area outside. Saito looked over the crowd, and then shook his head sadly. In fifteen minutes, everything will cease to be fun and games, and then the REAL battle will begin. He turned to look over at the Seraph. "Is everything prepared, Michael?" "Everything is ready, my young friend. All you really need to do now is issue the weapons." The weredragon nodded, and then the two of them left the altar.

Reception Area: Just outside of the Caverns of Light

Saito strode over to one of the side tables and then looked around. It was at that moment that he noticed an ominous cloud coming from the direction of the Overlord's Castle. He suddenly raised his voice and roared out to the Overlord. "I CAN SEE THEM!" Aw, shoot! thought Nicholai as he looked over at the newly appointed commander of the defense forces. "Which direction are they coming from?" "They're coming in from the north. It's typical strategy." "You know what to do, Kaiser." "YES SIR!" Saito suddenly started to roar out orders, and those who had volunteered to help defend the party all started to scramble about, swapping their neatly pressed suits for their own traditional gear, and grabbing their weapons from various locations. They all regrouped at the northernmost point of the reception area, and the spear and magic wielders instantly flattened themselves against the ground.

Traditional tactics dictated that the draconics all had to swoop down from their present height in order to attack with swords and spears. They expected an aerial assault, but what happened next shocked most of the troops. Arrows and bullets suddenly began to soar in from random compass points, and Kaido's forces were suddenly faced with an assault they could not stop. He lost twenty-five in the opening salvo, and those losses would be more than enough to turn the tide in favor of the combination forces. When His own troops began their attack dives, Saito's hand-picked team of snipers scrambled to their secondary positions in preparation for the ground battle to come.

"BLADES UP!" came the single roared command of the young mage. Every single spear wielder suddenly rose and stabbed upwards, catching the older draconic's forces by surprise. Saito smiled, and then he drew his sword as he searched the skies for one particular draconic. It didn't take him long to find the black and crimson wings of his father. He suddenly smiled wickedly, and then he roared out a challenge that would temporarily halt the fighting. "What do you think of my tactics, old man? Are you willing to let your troops be slaughtered from the ground, or are you too much of a COWARD to come and lead them yourself?" There was dead silence for several moments, and then the draconic forces began to land, away from the combined demonic and angelic forces. Saito smiled wickedly, his fangs suddenly very apparent. Well, well, well. It looks like my father is actually listening to me for once. Too bad for him, because there is now no way that he can easily escape without at least half of his troops. He then turned to the forces he had managed to gather and train. "This is it, ladies and gentlemen. It's time that we put our skills to good use, and fight them on our terms. Are you ready?" "I'm not so sure about everyone else, but I am more than willing to take these idiots out!" Priere called, twirling her baton menacingly. Marjoly looked over at the Alternate Overlord, and then raised her voice as well. "The mages and skulls are ready and waiting, and I can tell you right now that we are truly prepared." Saito nodded, and then looked over the rest of his troops. "That's two. Now what about the rest of you?" He was almost instantly barraged by everyone else's call that they were truly ready for a fight. He couldn't help but grin at what his father must be thinking.

Kaido was fuming. How is it POSSIBLE! Saito should be DEAD by now, or at least seriously injured. I told those idiots to take him out! But did they listen to me? Nooo. He suddenly heard a mental chuckle that chilled him. Don't be so surprised, Dad. You know how resilient I am. Especially important, I think you forgot where I got that resilience from... Oh really? Then please refresh my memory, BOY. Sure thing, OLD MAN. I got it from YOU! Kaido suddenly fell silent, and then he turned to Shadow. "Would you please do me a favor and eliminate that sorry bastard? He is no son of mine." Shadow grinned wickedly before he saluted his C.O. "With absolute pleasure, sir." Shadow turned and then strode to the front of the army. Drawing his own scimitar, he prepared to lead the charge. "Everybody ready?" There was silence for a moment. Then: "CHARGE!"

"Steady! Steady... NOW!" At this command, the entire front rank braced for impact. However, no one anticipated that Saito would snarl out one last command before the two forces met. "Leave Shadow and my father to me!" Immediately after, the lines finally met, and the REAL battle began. Saito moved without thinking, fighting his way towards the center, and a pair of blood-crimson wings. Shadow was quick to notice that none of his own troops wanted to face the enraged weredragon, and they were clearing out of his path faster than bats out of hell. He grinned wickedly, and then finished with his final Wind Cutter, slicing two Kitty Cats in half and nearly ripping off the arm of a nearby warrior. The darkened weredragon then turned to face his chief rival, who was striding forward with murder in his eyes.

Nicholai Krichevskoy was busy defending his wife's back when he suddenly noticed an open space appearing between the two forces. He looked over, and then his eyebrows creased with worry. I have a VERY bad feeling about this... He was quick to voice his thoughts to his wife. Rena turned right after she finished casting Terra Ice, freezing a gang of approaching draconics from the waist down. She then turned to her husband. Her own expression was a mirror of his. "I think that might be Saito over there," she said, her voice trembling nervously. It was at that moment that she noticed something eerie about the battlefield. It had suddenly fallen quiet. A little TOO quiet.

Saito's eyes had gone from crystal blue to flat black in a matter of seconds. Now, they were glittering slightly as the color darkened even deeper as his rage continued to grow. "I have been waiting FAR too long for this moment," he snarled, his fangs very clearly visible. "You aren't the only one, punk," came Shadow's return snarl. "Let's do this." With a roar, the two bitter rivals charged at one another. Saito stopped short, and then swung his sword upward. The blade intersected with Shadow's vicious downward swing, and then he wound up in order to launch another blow. Again and again, the two blades clashed against one another. The two were matching each other blow-for-blow. But then something happened. Something that no survivors would ever forget. With their blades locked together, Saito was struggling to keep Shadow's edge away from his throat. Shadow grunted, and then twisted his blade upwards. Saito's sword was ripped from his grasp, and he could only watch in horror as Shadow's follow-up blow shattered the weapon.

Saito blinked twice, tears slightly stinging his eyes. DAMN! How did he get to be so strong? Looks like I might as well finish things off MY way. He "flickered" both of his hands, transfiguring them into the black steel form that Priere had witnessed. He then drew the razor chain from his belt pouch, and wrapped it four times around his upper right arm for support. I am NOT going to lose this battle...or this weapon, he thought to himself as he looked down at the simple chain in his hands. It was the final gift from his mother before he left on his long journey. Don't fail me now...

Shadow was laughing hysterically. That idiot should have kept a tighter hold on his blade! Ah well. I'll still take satisfaction in killing him even if he is..."unarmed? I don't think so, asshole!" Shadow suddenly snapped his head up and looked straight at Saito, just in time to feel the sting of something lashing across his cheek. His hand darted upward, and came away bloody. It was then that he noticed that Saito had not only morphed his hands, but he also held a length of chain in his right hand. The mage was spinning it so fast that Shadow could barely see it, but then he snapped it right in front of his rival's nose before bringing it back and holding it before him with both hands. "THIS is a razor chain. And I am going to enjoy killing you with it." Shadow suddenly charged, swinging his sword downwards with all the force he could possibly muster. Saito raised the thin links of chain over his head, and then drew them taught just before impact.

SLICE! The razor sharp links cut through Shadow's scimitar blade as if it weren't even there. The mage then proceeded to wrap the chain around his rival's neck. He then spoke the last words that Shadow would ever hear. "NEVER mess with a razor chain!" Saito then finished drawing the links together. When it was over, his arms were crossed in before him, and his rival's body had slumped to the ground. The head remained balanced on the flat of the chain, and then Saito let it drop. Shadow's head hit the ground with a sickening thud, and Saito finally let his arms drop. He looked down for a moment, and then raised his eyes. His voice chilled every other draconic who heard him speak. "One down. And one more to go. CHARGE!"

Saito was at the front, and he lead his troops deep into the draconic lines. Allowing the razor chain to wrap around his right arm, he lashed out with his own claws, inflicting hideous wounds on every opponent he touched. Priere guarded his back, her baton deflecting thrown daggers and magic attacks. The mage stopped for a moment, and unleashed a silver fireball towards the heavens. At this signal, the sniper teams opened fire from their secondary positions. The massive amount of firepower took down another twelve draconics, and severely injured three others. Saito grinned wickedly as he continued to carve his own path. Everything was going according to plan.

Marjoly had just finished casting Dark Conjuration when she felt a tingling on the back of her neck. She immediately whirled around, bringing her quarterstaff crosswise in order to block. Kai snarled as his sword was deflected by the blonde-haired witch. He continued to hack away at her, praying that he could find a way past her defenses. He got lucky on his fifth pass, and he landed a blow just above her right wrist with the flat of his blade. She dropped her guard for approximately two seconds, and Kai slashed her across the chest. Marjoly gasped in shock and shifted the staff to one hand while she tried to staunch the flow of blood with her other arm. The weredragon smiled when he saw the perfect opportunity to attack, and he took it.

Saito was in the thick of things when he heard a sharp gasp come from behind him. He instantly spun on his heels, in order to see that Kai had plunged his sword into Marjoly's chest. With a yell of rage he grabbed the tormenting weredragon and threw him away from the young woman. She promptly collapsed, and Saito knelt by her side. "Are you alright, Marjoly?" he asked, the anxiety clear in his voice. "He nicked…my lung," the young witch groaned, and the young Kaiser immediately noticed that her voice was starting to become more of a gurgle than anything else. He picked Marjoly up and carried her back towards the reception area, where nearly a dozen angels had set up a first-aid station. Giving the unconscious witch to one of the attendants, he then proceeded to tear through the lines, searching for Kai. He found the man viciously attacking Priere, and Saito smiled wickedly. He crept up behind Kai, grabbed the man's throat with both hands, and then crushed his windpipe. He turned around again just in time to see his father rise into the air, followed shortly by the rest of those who truly followed him.

Kaido was stunned. His perfectly laid plans had fallen to pieces when his son finished off Shadow. Now over half of his army was either dead or had already surrendered. It was time to pull out, and unleash his last surprise. "All right everybody! IT IS TIME!" With that, most of the remaining draconics took flight and started to gain altitude. Then, much to the horror of most of the demons below, each one of the three hundred flying draconics shifted from human to dragon form. Saito looked up and smiled. SO. You finally decided to prove exactly what kind of bastard you are, Dad, the young mage thought as he noted the form his father had taken. Black with crimson rivulets running all over its body, the Tyrant dragon towered over almost all of the other forms. The mage raised his right hand and issued a single command.

"RISE."

At this, a myriad of angels and winged demons in his army spread their wings and suddenly took to the skies. His eyes narrowed as he issued one mental command to the flying squadrons. Take out as many as you possibly can. Whatever you do, DON'T allow them to form into any sort of pattern. His order, however, was in vain. Kaido had already directed most of the other draconics into a circular pattern that Saito recognized too well. I am TRULY sorry, my boy. You left me with no choice but to wipe out everyone that you care about down there. DRACONIC APOCALYPSE! As Kaido called the attack, every other draconic unleashed their breath weapons towards the central point of the circle. Here, the blasts merged and waited for the final addition: the blast from a Tyrant Dragon. Kaido released his own breath attack and watched gleefully as it merged with all of the others. The massive energy beam then began it's descent, and Saito knew that he had only moments to act.

Saito allowed his head to drop, and it was at that moment that Nicholai heard his mental sigh. I never wanted anyone to be hurt. All I wanted was peace, but my father has brought death and destruction. I CANNOT and WILL NOT allow him to harm anyone else! "DID YOU HEAR ME, FATHER! I CANNOT AND WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO HARM ANYONE ELSE! EVEN IF IT KILLS ME, I WILL SEE YOU DEFEATED!" The Overlord's eyes widened as he realized that he could suddenly see Saito's aura. The brilliant energy surrounding the young weredragon began to swirl as he raised his voice in an ancient chant:

"Powers unknown and powers-that-be,
Wild magics I summon thee.
Powers-that-be, powers that I know well,
Wild magics unite and dispel!"

The blast that emerged from his aura took the form of a white globe that shot skyward, and then fractured. The energy suddenly spread out and fell back to earth, forming a glimmering shield. The wedding guests, and even the draconics, looked on in amazement. The barrier flickered with every color imaginable, and no one could figure out how such a young man had been able to erect such a powerful barrier. Kaido looked on in shock and anger as the apocalyptic blast met the shield and then shattered in every direction. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE! Another twenty draconics switched from their dragon forms to their Warrior forms(Warrior transformations are performed through the use of the Force gene, as Saito demonstrated back in the Dark Assembly) and then dropped to the ground before the Overlord. The youngest laid her sword at Krichevskoy's feet. She then lifted her head and looked into his eyes. Her own were nearly as auburn as the mage's hair, and her hair was raven black. "If we had known that he was the diralec, the legendary Blood Shadow, then we would not have come here. Please, forgive me." The Overlord smiled gently at the younger woman. "It's all right. Even I have made stupid mistakes in the past."

Kaido also neglected to notice that Priere and the winged demons had taken down an additional thirty draconics, while the angelic forces had taken down twenty-five. However, there were severe losses inflicted upon the demonic forces, and Priere had to launch a Requiem Aeternam and two more Spirit Wind attacks in order to keep her forces from being overwhelmed. If you have any final ideas, NOW would be a good time to use them, Saito! I hear you, Priere. I was just about to launch anyway. LAUNCH! What do you mean by that?

Saito smiled before he cast his thoughts out to his father. It looks like you left me with no choice, father. I would have LOVED to crush you using my Kaiser form. However, I think I'll resort to my final for this one. ARE YOU READY? With that, he reached into the pouch on his left hip, and drew out four small triangles. He then held up his right hand, and formed an all too-familiar fist. He then began the simple incantation. "Infinity." He placed the first triangle, a brilliant gold one, in the upper portion of the design. "Transcendence." Next was the glittering ice blue triangle, which was placed in the lower left hand portion. After that was a glistening ruby red triangle, which filled in the lower right hand portion, leaving the center triangle for last. "Radiance." The final triangle, however, was the most important of all. It filled in the center of the design, uniting the final three pieces. This final triangle was flat black, with absolutely no shine. "Failure." It was immediately after this that he spoke the final word of release, the word that would begin his ultimate transformation. "ASCENSION!"

The first thing that Rena and the rest of the guests noticed was the sudden increase in size. In a single moment, Saito had gone from being 5'7" to the towering height of 60' tall. His body had changed, and there were now fairly thick black and gold scales all over his body. However, the one feature that had changed the most was the mage's face. It had become much more elongated, and his nose and ears had disappeared. It was fairly flat in appearance, but that was not what surprised the Overlord's guests. Rather, it was the coloring of it. The head was completely black, with the exception of a single gold stripe that ran down the center of his face. This stripe was wide enough so that both of his eyes were inside of it. His eyes had reverted to their original ice blue, and they were glittering brilliantly. The Infinity dragon turned towards the Overlord, and then he grinned. His long tail thumped the ground once, sending out a mid-sized shockwave. Saito then spread his wings, and everyone momentarily forgot to breathe. His wings were ebony on the outside, but the underside of each wing was covered in brilliant gold scales.

Everyone heard a sudden rumble, and they all flinched. Then, Krichevskoy recognized what he was hearing from the young dragon. He looked over at his wife, grinning. "Don't worry, Rena. Saito isn't going to do anything to us." "Then why is he making that noise?" Why, you ask? I'm just sitting here, laughing at those poor idiots who decided to side with my father. Master Nicholai, relay the retreat order to Priere and the rest of the demons. Michael, tell all of your angels to land immediately. I don't want to take out anyone on our side when I unleash my final two attacks. Both the Seraph and the Overlord complied, and then Saito beat his massive wings once, in order to lift himself off of the ground. He turned to face his father, and the grin on his face suddenly morphed into the draconic equivalent of a sneer. Well old man, it looks like only one of us is going to survive this battle. You got that much right, kid. Good luck. You're going to need it! Likewise, father. May the best dragon win!

With those words, Saito began to charge a massive blast. Kaido noticed this, and he began to charge a blast of his own. Everyone! Hit him with everything when I give the command! It's too late now, Dad. THIS...ENDS...NOW! SOUL REND! The massive blast suddenly erupted from Saito's jaws, and he quickly swept it across the sky. The pure white beam touched every single one of the two hundred and twenty-five remaining dragons, and Kaido suddenly felt sick to his stomach. WHERE in the hell did he generate that kind of power! It's impossible! Unless... No. That can't be it! What is it, Boss? What are you talking about? My son...is...an Ultima Kaiser. I know that it's a little hard to believe, but it's the truth. And now it is time that I prove it to ALL of you. He began to charge another blast, but this one was a brilliant ice blue. When he had finished charging he roared out one single rhetorical question as he unleashed his final attack. When will you fools ever learn to NEVER CROSS MY PATH AGAIN! FINAL DESTINY!

The blast erupted from the dragon's mouth and slammed into the Tyrant Dragon first. It then passed through the Tyrant, and slammed into every other dragon in the air. The blast literally shredded Kaido, leaving nothing behind except for a mist of blood. The same thing happened to the remaining two hundred and twenty-five dragons who had defied the newly christened diralec.

All below were forced to turn away from the gruesome spectacle. Even Priere, who supposedly had and iron stomach, was forced to turn away and cover her mouth in order to keep from being violently sick. Nicholai looked over at Michael, and then he slowly shook his head. "It had to be done. He left young master Saito with no other choice." The Seraph nodded in agreement. "If not for his actions, there would be a lot more dead on this battlefield. Who knows? WE might even be the ones lying in the dirt right now." The head angel shook his head sadly. "It was a terrible waste of life. There MUST have been a better solution." "I'm afraid that you are wrong in that regard, Master Lamington." Both the Seraph and the Overlord turned around, and were surprised to see that Saito was back in his human form. "Knowing how my father thinks, and also recognizing that those with him in that last moment were those who would have died rather than settle peacefully, I had no choice but to kill them. Those that surrendered or were unable to continue were actually the smarter ones." He sighed aloud, and then ran his right hand through his hair. Rena looked at him thoughtfully, but then she noticed something that made her stop cold. "Is it just me, or does your hair look a little redder than usual?" Saito stopped to think, and then he looked at his right hand. His palm had come away red. "Son of a...!" With that last remark, Saito slumped to the ground.

Rena rushed over to him, and then she took a closer look at his hair. "It looks like a blade clipped his scalp. I'm surprised that he didn't notice it until now." The Overlord chuckled aloud. "I'm not surprised at all. Besides, he should be up and about in a few minutes anyway. Just give him a little time, and you'll see that I'm right." "If you insist, dear," Rena responded as she wrapped Saito's scalp with a clean bandage. She finished the dressing and stepped back to admire her handiwork. Then she heard Saito groan. "Why did you have to wrap it so tightly? I don't really want a migraine." Rena planted her hand on slender hips, and gave him an incredulous look. "You are impossible, you know that?" "Of course I know that, Queen Rena. How do you think I have managed to survive high school?" Rena shook her head. "Very good point. Besides, I think my husband is about to give the guests an explanation." Saito grinned wickedly as he leaned on the Queen's shoulder. "Do you think that you could help me get to the stage? I have a funny feeling that I am going to be asked to explain a few things." The new queen nodded, and then helped him to the stage.

"Quiet down, everyone. I know that you want some answers, and I will do the best that I can. First, are there any questions about what you all just witnessed?" Nearly every hand shot up, and Nicholai sighed to himself. This may take awhile. "I've got a major question for you. What in the hell is that kid?" called out a Majin by the name of Saul. If you don't mind, Nicholai, I want to answer this one myself. Be my guest, Saito. The weredragon looked over at the queen before suddenly standing upright. He walked over to the podium, and a hush fell over the crowd. Saito allowed his eyes to wander until he spotted the Majin. "For your information, I am a four-part hybrid of human, vampire, angel, and dragon." Dead silence followed this statement, but it was soon lost in the clamor that followed. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" yelled Tobias. The weredragon looked over at the Overlord, rolled his eyes, and sighed. "My full title is Saito Alexander Daniel Michael Nathaniel Alan Jeffrey Onago. As for your second question, allow me to say this much: if I had not been here in the first place, ALL of you would be dead! Are there any other questions?" His eyes scanned the crowd, until they settled on a fairly young knight. "Yes?" She looked around nervously, and then asked her question in a trembling voice. "What are you going to do now that the attack is over?" Saito smiled and then looked over at the Overlord. "I plan on enjoying the reception, and then having a fairly long rest. Besides, it's not like the world is ending before your eyes. You should enjoy life. And speaking of enjoying things, let's get this reception started!" Saito turned off the microphone and stepped away from the podium. However, his voice still traveled the entire length and breadth of the reception area. "Ladies and gentlemen, angels, demons, and draconics: allow me to introduce you all to King Nicholai Krichevskoy and his wife, Queen Rena." As the two stepped up to the podium, thunderous applause was heard from the crowd. Saito looked over at the two of them and grinned. Let's get this party started!

Ten minutes later:

"But this is my first time at a wedding! I don't know what I'm supposed to do!" "Well, at the very least, you have to dance with both Priere and Marjoly." NOW you tell me, Nicholai. The Overlord laughed out loud, and then reached over to pat Saito on the shoulder. "It's not all that bad." "You mean for me. I'm not so sure whether Marjoly would say the same thing." The young Kaiser looked worriedly over at the first-aid station. Marjoly's wounds had been bandaged, and she had managed to slip back into her bridesmaid outfit. She tried to stand, and Saito instantly rushed over to support her. Nicholai chuckled to himself as he turned to his bride. "He's so protective of others. I would be fairly surprised if he left here alone." Rena giggled and then lightly punched him on the arm. "Nicholai! What are you suggesting?" Krichevskoy laughed aloud before turning back towards the dance floor. He wasn't surprised to see that Saito had refused to leave Marjoly's side until he was certain that she could stand on her own.

Later that night:

Saito sighed aloud as he headed back to the Overlord's Castle. The food had been great, but the young mage still felt that he had overspent himself during the battle. He stumbled on the path, and Priere quickly steadied him. "You look like you need to rest," she said. Her blood-red eyes betrayed how worried she was. "Just help me get to the hospital. I have an awful feeling that I am going to be out for quite some time," Saito replied. The Alternate Overlord nodded, and then helped him through the gates of the castle. At that point Saito collapsed onto the floor, and he knew no more.

A month-and-a-half later:
Netherworld Hospital: Overlord's Castle

"Why does this keep happening to me?" Saito groaned as he opened his eyes. "Maybe it's because you are ignorant of your own injuries so often." The mage turned his head to the left and smiled at Priere. "My first concern is for the safety of others. I don't really care if it kills me or not." The Alternate Overlord's eyes creased slightly. "You may not care, but the rest of us do." She walked over and enfolded the young mage in a hug. "Welcome back to the land of the living. You've been out for nearly a month-and-a-half." Saito relaxed slightly, but then he panicked. "What in the name of heaven and hell am I still doing here! I need to get home!" He struggled to sit up, but he was quickly restrained. "Take it easy, young man. Your mother knows that you are okay. As a matter-of-fact, she arrived here nearly two weeks ago, along with a few other draconics. I think I'll go tell them the good news." Priere stood up, and then blushed. "Thank you for saving all of us. I don't think you know how much most of us appreciate the lesson in tactics you taught us, OR the value of a well-planned strategy." With that, she turned and headed out the door.

Waiting Room: Netherworld Hospital

Priere walked in with a smile on her face and a slight spring in her step. "I have some good news for everyone!" Serena raised her head and looked at the Alternate Overlord. "Is my son alive?" she asked, her voice trembling. Priere's eyes glittered brilliantly as she replied. "Even better. He's actually awake, and he really wants to see you." Saito's mother stood up and gently shook out her thin gown. She then turned to the two other draconics who had accompanied her. "Come on. Let's see if he has truly finished recovering." The three draconics entered the room, in order to find that Saito was sitting up in bed, propped up with several pillows. His eyes lit up when he saw his mother enter the room, and then they widened when he saw the two people who had come with her. He was fairly quick to bow his head in respect. "Master Alexander! Oricaltos Nathaniel! My humblest apologies that I am unable to greet both of you properly." The older draconics looked at each other, and then they both smiled. The Oricaltos was the first to speak. "First off, I would like to thank you for what you did on that day. You saved all of us a lot of trouble." Saito was a little puzzled. "What do you mean by that?" "Well… Your old man was planning on eliminating anyone who stood in his way. He gathered everyone that hated you, and told them his idea. He finished by promising to eliminate ME if he survived. For that, you have my deepest thanks, Saito Onago." Alexander nodded in agreement, and then he spoke. "I was watching everything from the Hall. I have to say that you handled Shadow even better than I originally anticipated you would. I was also QUITE impressed with how quickly you utilized your final form. Everything has been recorded in the chronicles, and your name will be one that will truly outlast the histories."

Saito raised an eyebrow. "I never knew that my actions would actually have THAT much of an impact. All I was trying to do was save a few lives." The Oricaltos grinned. "Well, if you had not been there to help with tactics, then there would have been a whole lot less life to save." The older man then turned and looked over at the door. He then raised a quizzical eyebrow, causing Saito to chuckle lightly. "The young mage then called out from his semi-prone position. "It's all right, Nicholai. You can come in and have a seat." The Overlord bowed before he entered the room. His red eyes looked slightly worried. Are you sure about this? Trust me, old friend. They mean you no harm. "Overlord, I would like to introduce you to my combat instructor and the leader of all draconics. Master Alexander, Oricaltos Nathaniel, I would like to introduce you both to Nicholai Krichevskoy, the current Overlord of the Netherworld." The Oricaltos bowed his head in respect to the other monarch, and Nicholai merely shook his head. "There is no need to do that here in my house. I treat people based on their personality, not by their social status." At this statement, the Oricaltos could not keep the grin from his face as he extended his right hand. "It is truly a pleasure to finally meet the man who will help to bring peace to this world." Nicholai shook the man's hand, and then he noticed that Alexander was looking over his shoulder at someone. He smiled, realizing that it could only be one person who had that effect on people. He turned towards the doorway, smiling. "You can come in now, Rena. He is awake, and fairly well healed."

Rena Solvaris rushed into the room and promptly threw her arms around Saito. She hugged him tightly, and then looked over at Alexander. She blushed slightly before remembering to curtsy. "Master Alexander, it is truly a pleasure to see you once again." "Likewise, young lady. When I first heard about the wedding, I couldn't believe my ears. Then, I saw what happened before the reception, and I suddenly realized that what I had been hearing was true." Rena smiled gently at her former mentor before turning to look down at the bedridden draconic. "Are you sure that you have recovered completely, Saito?" The young man nodded, and was about to speak when the Oricaltos raised his hand. Saito immediately fell silent, and al eyes turned to the draconic leader. "I wish to thank you, and ALL of those who helped to care for this young man in the past few months. I never realized how strong his spirit was, until I witnessed what he pulled-off at the reception." Saito flushed slightly, and the Oricaltos grinned before turning to Saito's mother. "Lady Serena, may you please send in the Alternate Overlord and the witch of Beauty Castle?" Serena smiled slightly, bowed, and then exited the room. Shortly after her departure, Priere and Marjoly walked into the room. However, they brought another guest with them: a fairly surprised Seraph. Michael slowly shook his head before smiling at the Oricaltos. "Nathaniel, it is good to see that you are alive and well." "I have to say the same thing about you, Michael. I was starting to wonder whether you would remember or not." "Remember? How could I ever FORGET that day? As a matter-of-fact, I still have the scars that I received." Saito looked at the two, a puzzled look on his face. "What are you two talking about?" "Nothing," both responded simultaneously. They looked over at one another, and then started laughing. The Oricaltos shook his head, and then he spoke once more. "I called all of you here for a reason. The Master Gatekeeper has decided to retire from his post, and I would like all of you to attend the ceremony that will install young master Saito in his place."

Saito's eyes suddenly grew wide with astonishment. "You want me to be the Gatekeeper? Why not select someone else?" "That's because there IS nobody else to choose from. YOU are the last of the Kaisers, Saito. Nobody else could handle the task." At this, the young mage grinned.

"Then I humbly accept your offer."

One week later:
Hall of Shadows: Draconia

Serena Onago could not hold back her tears as she watched her son ascend the main steps. Alexander looked on with pride at his prize pupil as he willingly accepted the task of guarding the twelve dimensional keys. Krichevskoy merely sat near the back of the room, smiling easily. The Seraph, meanwhile, was sitting between Priere and Marjoly. The Witch of Beauty Castle had made a full recovery from her injuries, and she smiled gently as Saito crossed the stage to the podium. "Quiet. I want to hear his speech."

As the ceremony wound down, Saito stepped up to the podium to do something that he had dreaded for quite a while: give a speech. "First and foremost, I would like to thank the Oricaltos for hosting this ceremony, and for my teacher, Master Alexander Critios, for also being present on this joyous occasion. Next, I would like to thank my mother. She has done so much for me, and she helped me to see my true path in life. She gave me the weapon that saved my life, and I will always look up to her." Saito allowed his gaze to wander the audience before he continued. "I wish to thank the Overlord, Nicholai Krichevskoy, for giving me the chance to prove my own skills on the field of battle. I also wish to thank his lady wife, Rena, for her amazing healing skills and her caring devotion. I will always look up to you, Nicholai. There is no doubt about that." His eyes swept the room once more, until he noticed three particular people who were sitting together. He grinned. "Next, I wish to extend my thanks to the Lady Priere, who is the Overlord of the Alternate Netherworld. Thank you for watching my back during all of the confusion. Along with her is the witch Marjoly, who saved my life more than once during that hellish fighting." I also want to thank you for not giving up and dying on me during the fight. Marjoly felt her face turn scarlet, and she turned away to hide her blush. I should be the one who is thanking you. If you hadn't been there to help me out… Don't be so morbid, Marjoly. Please? should be the one who is thanking you. If you hadn't been there to help me out… Saito sighed aloud before continuing. "Finally, I want to thank the Seraph, Michael Lamington, for his belief." Saito looked pointedly at the Seraph. "Without the angels that accompanied him, the battle would have ended very differently. Finally, I want to thank all who attended this ceremony. Your support helped to bring me through this crisis. Thank you." As he stepped from the podium, he heard a noise like thunder. Turning around, he saw that everyone was on their feet, giving the young man a standing ovation. He flushed red before bowing to the audience.

After everyone else had left, only the Overlord and a few others remained behind. Saito looked around at the small group that surrounded him. "I want to personally thank each of you for coming. In parting, I have a gift for each of you." He dipped his hand into the pouch hanging over his right hip, and drew out several small crystals. Each crystal was a different color, and had a different set of initials. The young mage shrugged lightly as the young women gawked at the gemstones in his hands. "Think of this as a way to remember me."

Saito passed the first ruby over to Priere. She looked into it, and then gasped. The center was much lighter than the rest of the gem, and she could clearly see that her full name had been written in ebony. She strung the pendant around her neck, and then proceeded to squeeze the living daylights out of the young mage. "Ack, woman! Let me breathe!" Priere let him go and then she stepped back, blushing. "Thank you, Saito Onago."

The weredragon passed the second ruby, along with an extra onyx, over to the Overlord. Krichevskoy smiled and shook the young man's hand. "You have truly found your place, my friend." Saito smiled. "Without you, I wouldn't be here. Thank you." He then proceeded to give out the rest of the stones.

The emerald on a silver chain went to Rena, while the amethyst was handed to Marjoly. Finally, Saito drew a silver agate from his bag. This he passed to the Seraph with a smile. "Thank you for everything that you have done, Master Lamington." The Seraph smiled gently at the young man. "You are very welcome, young Master Saito."

Saito Onago looked around the circle, and then he smiled. "If you ever want to visit with me, just wrap one hand around the pendant before you enter the Dimensional Gate. I'll be able to sense it, and will bring you here. Are there any questions?" He looked around, and all he saw were saddened faces. "I will be with you always. Never forget that." With that, the new Keeper of the Keys opened three Dimensional Gates, and his guests finally headed home.

Flashback Ends

"And THAT is where my past ends, and the present truly begins. Now," he said, looking around the room at everyone, "are there any questions now that I am finished?" Setsuna was quick to raise a hand, and his example was followed closely by Maderas and Gordon. Saito looked around, and then he smiled. "Setsuna? I'll answer your question first. Next, I'll answer Gordon's. Last, I will answer Maderas' question." The holy/unholy lowered his hand, and then he spoke. "I never knew that you could actually become the dragon, rather than just summoning one. Why didn't you do that during our battle?" "Well, I didn't want to kill you. Besides, I knew that it was not yet your time to leave the world." The mage then turned to Gordon, and the Slayer had his say. "I keep on hearing the mention of keys. How many are there, and where do they all lead?" Saito paused for a moment, and then he shrugged.

"There are twelve official keys and one unofficial key. The unofficial key leads directly to my forge, and I am the only one who can use it. Three of the remaining keys lead to the gates on Earth, which are as follows: Grand Central Station, EDF Headquarters, and the White House. The three keys that open doors in Celestia create gates to the Sacred Altar, the Fountain of Dreams, and the main gateway between Celestia and the Netherworld. The keys that lead to the True Netherworld open the gates in Veyer Castle and the Overlord's Castle. The keys that lead to the Alternate Netherworld open the gates in Priere Castle and Beauty Castle. Finally, the two draconic keys lead to the Hall of Prophecies and the Hall of Shadows."

"What do you mean by the Hall of Shadows?" "Oh, sorry. I need to explain that. The Hall of Shadows is basically the palace of our leader, the Oricaltos." "Thanks for the clarification, kid." "You're very welcome, Slayer of the Netherworld." Finally, Saito turned to Maderas. The Nosferatu slowly looked at the mage and then asked a simple question. "What took you so long to get here?" The mage promptly looked over at the former Overlord, and then raised an eyebrow. "Do I really have to explain this all over again?" Krichevskoy smiled and then shrugged. "That's YOUR decision, not mine. After all, it is your story that is being told." Saito sighed and then looked Maderas square in the eye. "I had a run-in with Baal. Does that answer your question?" The vampire blanched, and then nodded.

Saito sighed aloud. It's good to finally get all of it out. I was staring to wonder as to how much longer I would be able to hold it in. "Well, I've heard all of your questions. Now, I have a question for a few of you." He turned towards Priere, and then he gently smiled. "Do you all still have your pendants?" Krichevskoy smiled as he withdrew the chain from his pocket. "I have mine, but I'm not so sure about the rest of you." Rena turned to her husband. "I know that I still have mine, because I gave it to you. Can I have it back now, Nicholai?" The former Overlord shrugged as he handed his wife the emerald. Saito looked over at Priere and Marjoly, and then raised an eyebrow. Priere couldn't stop herself, and she giggled. "WHAT! You think that I would lose something that was given to me by the only four-part hybrid that I have ever met? I'm wearing it right now." To prove her point, she allowed her right hand to stray across her throat, and her fingers instinctively closed around the slender chain. She lifted the ruby up so that Saito could see it, and then she noticed that Marjoly was doing the same with her pendant. The young weredragon then looked over at the Seraph. Michael shrugged, and then he tugged down his collar to allow the agate to see sunlight once more.

The young man smiled at each of his compatriots. "Thank you for remembering them. However, we have other matters to attend to." He turned to Laharl and let his chin rest on his hands. "Do you have any ideas as to how we can deal with Baal?"

Author's notes2: I'm sorry if this one took the longest. I just had SO much information to put into this chapter. Stay tuned for my next chapter, Solutions to a Big Problem. As always, please remember to READ AND REVIEW. Thank you.

Author's notes3: As I stated at the end of one of my earlier chapters, I have decided to post Saito's flashbacks as a side story, under the name of The Origins of a Kaiser. I will alert everyone when I am finished with the editing and posting. Thank you for your patience.