Disclaimer: See the prologue.
Extraneous: Also see the prologue for any marks that I will be using

They say that you are your own worst enemy,
And this proved to be true enough for the companions.
The battle was long and excruciating,
but the Oricaltos emerged victorious.
However, only half of the task was done,
And there was still the matter of a certain Dark Priest...
-Prophecy di luce e di ombre: Lines XCVII-CII

Chapter 13: Old enemies, new challenges
Last time on Requiem of Shadows:

The battle of the Inverted Castle had finally begun. Having proven themselves through the first portion of their trials, Saito, Soma, and the others were now being forced to face stronger and nastier foes, in addition to a few rather familiar faces. Not everyone was there to impede progress, as Abaddon, Medusa, and Malphas joined the companions out of vengeance. Their skills proved to be rather useful when traversing the normal corridors, and they even helped in a few crucial situations during two of the many boss battles. However, the true extent of Shaft's wicked planning was revealed when the forces of Chaos arrived at the Inverted Master's Chamber. Here, they were greeted by Ortega, and numerous Doppelgangers. The fight was long, hard, and rather brutal, but by the time it was over, even though they had been beaten-up rather badly, the Oricaltos and his allies were the last ones standing. Afterwards, everyone retreated to the Inverted Inner Quarter for some well deserved rest. However, let's allow them to sleep for now, and concentrate on another who has a grievance against the Dark Priest. This, of course, is Baal. We now join our rather secluded Lord of Terror as he practices his daily meditation skills...

Following Baal: Inverted Ceremonial Room: Castle Dracula (Inverted): Walachia Province: Transylvania
Time Period: 1666 AD
Time: Four hours after the fight in the Inverted Master's Chamber

The monstrous demon had shifted into his human form before he began his meditations. He just found it easier to concentrate that way. Also, by concentrating hard enough, he could regain some of the memories of his human life. He mentally sighed to himself before reaching out into the castle, looking for one particular mind. It didn't take him long to find the one he was looking for.

How goes the fighting, Oricaltos? Not all that well, Lord of Terror. The Doppelgangers took a chunk out of most of us, and both Mina and I were two of the luckier ones. Ah, I heard about what you did. I have to admit that it's actually kinda' scary when you see it for the first time, but it grows less so with each viewing. Tell me about it. You should have seen the look on Ortega's face when Vlad revoked the transfiguration circle. How priceless was it? Well, if I had brought a camera, I could probably send you a picture of it. Unfortunately, I wasn't fast enough getting it out of the bag. MAN! And I really wanted to see that too! Well, if you want, I can send you what I saw. Sure!

Saito sent the mental image, and he could clearly hear Baal howling with laughter on the other end of the connection. You were right. That is HYSTERICAL! Aw, man, I wish I could have been there. However, Shaft would have probably done something to tick me off even more if you had shown-up. Hmmm... You're probably right. Anyway, I hope that you have a nice rest, because you are all going to need your strength for the coming battles. Meaning? Shaft had help with his resurrection squad. What are you talking abou... Hold on a minute. Are you telling me that Celia raised all of the other bosses that Soma faced in 2036? Even worse. She raised ALL of them, and Shaft strengthened them exponentially. DAMMIT! Well, thanks for the information, Baal. I'm sure that Soma will want to hear this when he wakes up. Probably. Good luck, Oricaltos. And may the gods of Chaos keep their own watch over you, Baal. Amen.

Saito separated his mind from Baal's and rolled over on the bed before pulling one of the pillows over his head. Soma will NOT be happy when he hears about this...

Well, to say the least, Soma was absolutely furious when he heard the news...
Following Saito&Co: Inverted Inner Quarter
Time: Four more hours after the conversation between the Lord of Terror and the diralec

"WHAT? You have GOT to be kidding me!" "He's been right so far, Soma. After all, he stands to lose everything if we fall in battle. Just calm down." Soma sighed aloud before turning to look at Mina. "I guess you're right. Well, this might change a few of our plans." "You aren't kidding," Saito remarked, leaning against one of the nearby walls. Everyone had either already rolled out of bed, or they were awakened by Soma's furious yelling. "Can't someone get a decent amount of sleep around here?" Rena complained as she opened her eyes before looking over at her husband. Nicholai shrugged before looking at Soma. "What were you yelling about?" "Oh, nothing much, except for the fact that Celia resurrected all of my foes from 2036." At this comment, the former Overlord's eyes grew wide. "You're KIDDING me, right?" "Not according to Baal," the diralec called, and then Krichevskoy slowly shook his head. "Damn. And I thought that this would just be growing easier over time." "Forget it, man. It's only going to get harder from here." "Well then, we might as well go get started on eliminating our remaining opponents," Adrian called as he rose to his feet and stretched.

"Sure, but first, we need to split-up. Remember, there are two paths to the Garden of Madness, and we need to cover both. Besides, didn't you say something about showing us the human forms of your last two familiars as well, Alucard?" Saito asked, much to the elder dhamphir's annoyance. "Yes, I did. Thanks for the reminder, Saito." "Any time, man. Any time." Dracula's eldest son let out a rather exasperated sigh as he drew the cards holding his five familiars. One by one, he released them for everyone to see.

First, he released his Bat Familiar, Marissa. As the young woman proceeded to stretch her legs and her wings, Tim couldn't help but stare at her. WHAT? Have you never seen a woman before? she mentally teased him, causing the elder of the Belmont brothers to blush furiously. Sorry about that! It's just that I never had the opportunity to be around so many beautiful women at the same time. Marissa blushed slightly before turning away from him and looking directly back at her master.

What do you want me to do this time? Well, I was planning on summoning ALL of you, and then letting you decide from there. Fine with me! After considering his options for a few moments, Alucard decided to summon his Ghost Familiar. Lucian emerged from his card shortly after being summoned, and then he looked around the room. "Ummm... What am I doing here?" he asked aloud, running a slender hand through his golden colored hair. His dark brown eyes blinked rather rapidly as he tried to adjust to being in his human form once more. "Relax, my young friend. Alucard is just summoning all of you before we move into the Garden of Madness," Saito replied from his position against the northernmost wall. "Welcome back to the land of the living." "Why, thank you sir," Lucian responded, inclining his head in a short bow before turning to look at Elizabeth. "I take it that you are well, Lady Elizabeth?" "I'm doing fine, Luc. You know how I am, so why do you keep asking?" The 17-year-old specter, who was just a few inches shorter than Saito, merely shrugged once before smiling. "I guess that it's just part of my nature," he responded, brushing-off the all-black ensemble that he was wearing at the time. At this, the Oricaltos let out a laugh, and everyone joined him.

The Sword Familiar was the next to be released, and Sophia groaned as she tumbled to the floor. "OUCH! Next time, please warn me before you do that, Master Alucard?" The dhamphir smiled easily before slowly shaking his head. "Of course I'll warn you next time, Sophia. However, I do still need to release the others, so could we discuss this another time?" "Certainly, master."

The fourth familiar that Vlad's elder son released was the Demon Familiar, and when it emerged in human form, it came as a surprise to all. For starters, he was standing at the same height as the Oricaltos. Another thing that drew everyone's attention was the fact that he had flaming red hair. Acid-green eyes were narrowed to slits as he stared around the circle, finally settling on Saito. "Who are you, what are you, and why have I been called here?" he snarled, the annoyance in his voice becoming agonizingly clear. Saito slowly shook his head before staring back into the young man's eyes. His own had hardened into flakes of ice, and they were slowly starting to darken. "I should be the one asking YOU for the introduction, but since you asked first, I might as well give you one. My full name is Saito Alexander Daniel Michael Nathaniel Alan Jeffrey Onago, and I am a hybrid of four different species. As for why you were summoned, why don't you ask Alucard?"

At this, the demon visibly paled before looking at the slender half-vampire. "Sorry about that, Master Adrian. It's just that I didn't see you at first." "So you just decided to try and verbally attack the most powerful person in the room at the time? Smooth move, Matthai." Alucard shook his head before turning to Saito. "My appologies, Oricaltos. Normally, he is much better behaved than this. Anyway, to answer your question, Matthai: I decided to summon ALL of you before deciding where to go from here. Good enough?" "That works for me!" the familiar responded, his hand resting against the rather small pendant at his throat. Saito noticed this, and his eyes narrowed slightly. Let me take a wild guess... That pendant is actually your weapon, correct? Matthai looked at the mage in stunned disbelief before slowly nodding. How did you know that? Because I use the same method when I don't want anyone to know that I am armed. Ah, good point, the familiar conceded before remembering to brush-off his crimson leggings. Taking another moment to adjust the sleeve-length of his lime-green tunic, he then settled against the wall closest to Lucian, looking rather bored while doing so.

Finally, Alucard got around to releasing his fifth and final familiar, the Fairy. She tumbled out of her card, much like Sophia had. However, she managed to right herself before hitting the ground. Gazing around the circle of unfamiliar faces, she paused when she saw that all of the other familiars had been summoned as well. "What's going on here?" she tentatively asked, looking at Alucard for an explanation. He merely rolled his eyes before turning to Lucian. "YOU explain it to her. I'm getting a little tired of repeating myself over and over again." "With absolute pleasure, Master Adrian," Lucian responded, bowing to his master before turning to the slightly distressed fairy. "Sakura, we were ALL summoned for the same reason: not only to reveal our human forms to everyone else, but also to decide the next course of action." The copper-haired, ice-eyed young woman blinked in surprise before gently smiling at Lucian. "Thanks for the explanation, Luc," she responded cheerfully before running her hands along the length of her crystal-blue dress, smoothing-over the wrinkles. She then turned to look at everyone else, her eyes finally settling on Soma. A rather warm smile crossed her features as she rushed over to give the young man a hug. "SOMA! It's been far too long since I last saw you." "Tell me about it," Cruz replied, shooting a rather pointed look in Alucard's direction. However, both were interrupted by a few light coughs coming from the mage. "I think that you two will have plenty of time to discuss this later, but right now, isn't it best to focus on the task at-hand?" Both looked over at Saito before slowly nodding in agreement. "So, which direction do you guys want to take, Kyuuseishu?"

The hybrid scratched his head for a few moments before looking over at the mage. "I feel like taking the long way, so we're going to be heading over to the Colliseum. Is that okay with you, Saito?" "That's perfectly fine with me, Setsuna. However, I think it might be for the best if you allow two of Alucard's familiars to join you." "Agreed, but which ones?" With that, they both turned to look at the five familiars, waiting patiently for an answer. Matthai shrugged and stepped forward, followed shortly by Lucian. "I don't mind going with the hybrid." "Neither do I, Master Saito." Marissa was the next one to step forward, shrugging as she did so. "I don't mind being a messenger between the two groups." Saito nodded at this, and then looked over at his fellow hybrid. Setsuna nodded, and then the two parted ways: Setsuna heading towards the Inverted Colliseum, and the diralec heading towards the Inverted Floating Gardens.

Well, it's time to get back to the task of demon-slaying! We join-up with Setsuna's team once again, moments before they enter the first Boss Room on their rather lengthy route to the Inverted Garden of Madness...
Following Setsuna&Co: Boss Room: Inverted Colliseum
Time: Nearly thirty minutes after parting ways with Saito.

Henry Oldrey shuddered as he approached the door. Why does it have to be HIM? Actrise stopped and looked over at her husband, her expression slightly puzzled. "Who do you mean by 'him'?" The blonde-haired church knight sighed before turning to explain his dilemma. "You see, my grandfather was turned into a vampire. He was slain by Cornell, and I was actually really glad when it happened. However, I believe that it is now time for me to face my greatest fear."

Actrise wrapped her arms around her husband's shoulders and gave a light squeeze. "We all have our crosses to bear, but you will not bear this burden alone." Henry stopped, and then looked over at his wife. The shock was evident on his face, and he allowed his expression to ask the question. The young witch lowered her eyes before responding. "Your grandfather cursed me, in a way that I can't undo it without sacrificing innocent lives." At this statement, Setsuna raised a quizzical eyebrow before gesturing for her to continue. "Go on, Actrise. What's the problem?" "Well, as long as the curse is in effect..." She trailed-off suddenly, and the church knight immediately understood. "You mean to tell me that this curse is the reason why...?" "Yes, dear. I'm afraid so." Setsuna looked from one to the other, a bewildered expression on his face. "Do you mind explaining? Because I'm not exactly getting the clearest picture right now." Actrise sighed once before turning to the hybrid. "I can't bear any children."

To say the least, the holy/unholy priest was shocked. "WHAT? But that can't be right!" "I'm afraid that it is," the witch responded with a sigh. "As long as Gilles de Rais exists, then I cannot bear any children." "But why? Why does he not want any more descendants?" Here, Henry scratched his head ruefully before answering. "He turned my father into a vampire, and he intended for all of us to live together happily as undead. Unfortunately, his hopes were dashed when Cornell slew my father and rescued me." "So you're saying that Gilles wants no descendants..." "because he still believes that I want to be turned into a vampire." At this statement, the hybrid's eyes hardened with resolve. "Actrise was right, Oldrey: you will not bear this burden alone. I myself must be the one to slay him, if this curse is to be lifted." The blonde-haired knight nodded his head once before turning back towards the door. "It is time, then."

"Ah, my dear grandson Henry! How lovely to see you again!" "Can it, vampire! I came here with two purposes. First, I want you to leave my family alone. Second, I want you to remove that damn curse you put on my wife!" "Give me one good reason WHY!" the white-haired vampire snarled at his only living heir. "If you want a good reason, then how about the fact that I don't want to become a vampire like you? Is that good enough?" The elderly vampire paused for a moment, considering this new development before scratching his head, shrugging, and then promptly responding. "I'm afraid that YOU don't have a choice in that matter, my boy!" "I am afraid that you are sorely mistaken, Gilles," a voice called from the doorway, causing him to look beyond his grandson and granddaughter-in-law. "Ah, I take it that you are the hybrid priest Setsuna. Here to try your skills at an exorcism?" "No, I'm just here to kill you and lift your curse the old-fashioned way!" he yelled before lunging forward, trying to impale the monster. Unfortunately, the vampire proved to be rather elusive, and he managed to dodge out of the way. However, Henry was also swinging at him, forcing the elder vampire to dodge constantly. In addition, the fact that Actrise was also launching spells at him wasn't making the situation any better.

Eventually, Gilles tired of the situation, and made a rather curious gesture in the witch's direction. Immediately, several thin strands appeared and wrapped around her wrists, ankles, and waist. They then promptly dragged her back towards the wall, holding her stationary, unable to cast anything. She snarled at him, spitting some fairly creative (though vulgar) curses at him before struggling to break the bonds. The wires merely cut into her flesh, drawing blood as she continued to struggle. The vampire smiled at his handiwork before lunging at her, only to be stopped short by the broadsword of his grandson. Hissing in annoyance, he tried to slip past the young man, only to run into the cross-topped staff of Setsuna. The hybrid merely grinned in satisfaction as the cross connected with undead flesh, landing a blow directly over the beast's heart. Screaming in pain, he dissolved into a pile of ashes at the feet of the young hybrid. Setsuna merely crossed himself before tapping the pile with his staff, causing it to dissipate into nothingness.

As soon as de Rais had fallen, the wires holding Actrise to the wall dissolved, leaving her slumped against it. Henry was about to rush over when he felt a hand suddenly latch onto his wrist. "Let me go to her, priest!" "Hold-on for a minute, Oldrey. Take a closer look at your wife." The church knight did as he was bidden, and his eyes promptly widened in shock and surprise. There was a black cloud drifting up from the skin of Actrise, and he watched rather cautiously as it dissolved into the air. "What in the hell was that?" "THAT, my friend, means that your nightmare is now over. The curse has finally been lifted, and you and Actrise can now have children of your own." The slender knight bowed his head, tears streaming down his face as he rushed to hold his bride. "Thank you, Setsuna. You have no idea how much this means to both of us." "Oh, but I think that I do," the hybrid responded with a smile as he reported his progress to Marissa. The bat squeaked at him once before rushing-off to deliver the news, leaving the door wide-open, and giving the hybrid time to help bind the witch's wounds before the others filed into the room.

While Marissa is busy traveling the corridors to deliver the news to Saito, AND while Setsuna's group is celebrating the good news, we know join the Oricaltos and his team as they prepare for one of the nastiest fights of all...
Following Saito&Co: Boss Room: Inverted Floating Gardens

"Aw, HELL no!" Nathan Graves groaned aloud as he stared into the room beyond, taking-in the horror that awaited them. Just beyond the great doors was a pair of zombified dragons, and both were in a rather foul mood. Saito grimaced as he looked into the room, and then he turned to look at his companions. "Okay, listen-up people. I'm not going in there alone, and I know that no one else wants to either. I'm already going, and I am taking eight of you with me. Don't all volunteer at once," he responded jokingly to the stares he was receiving from most of the others. Aramis looked around, shrugged, and then stepped forward. "I'll go with you. Who knows? They might actually listen to me!" The Oricaltos nodded at the young Zombie Master, and then he allowed his eyes to wander the room once more. "Anyone else?"

Nathan and Camilla were the next two to step forward, and they were followed shortly by both Malphas and Medusa. Etna gave her little brother a slightly exasperated look before finally sighing and stepping forward. "I'll go with you, if only to save my brother from making a BIG mistake." Saito nodded in agreement, and then looked around for anyone else to volunteer. Seeing no one else, he gave a small sigh before selecting the Seraph and the Alternate Overlord. Everyone else breathed a collective sigh of relief that they had avoided the selection, but they did wish the others luck as they proceeded through the doors.

As soon as all nine had entered the room, the doors slammed shut, and both of the dragons looked rather curiously at the group. Aramis stepped forward, drew his katana, and then looked over at the mage, as if asking permission to try something. Saito nodded, and the young demon pressed the point of his blade against the floor. One of the dragons blinked in surprise at him, and then it asked him a question. What do you want with us, Zombie Master? We need to pass through here in order to deal with Shaft. Will you allow us passage? The second dragon snorted once at him, flames curling around it's mouth. We both serve Shaft, so why should we allow you passage? After all, I can see that there are at least two here who have destroyed us in the past. So I am afraid that the answer is no. We will not allow you passage, unless, of course, you manage to defeat both of us. Aramis sighed before he pulled his blade from the floor. So be it.

"Saito, they refuse to allow me to reason with them." "Well, it was worth a try, my young friend," the immortal hybrid responded before drawing his sword and looking over at the others. "Ladies and gentlemen, it appears as if we have no choice but to fight." Nathan shook his head before drawing VampireKiller, and then he pulled the boomerang from his belt. "Well, we might as well get this battle started!" he called, activating a few of his DSS combinations. Michael merely rolled his eyes before drawing the Lightning Fang and setting his stance. As soon as he was set, the left-hand dragon launched a stream of fireballs at the angel, and he dived to his left in order to avoid being scorched. The battle had begun.

Aramis, MOVE! Grrr... Etna, go grab that brother of yours and drag him out of the w... Wait, forget what I just said. Saito shook his head as Aramis managed to deflect the stream of fire towards the second dragon, causing it to roar in pain before stretching it's neck to try and take a chunk out of Malphas. However, the King of Ravens was well-prepared, and he managed to land a sharp slash over the dragon's right eye before ducking beneath the snapping jaws. Snarling in frustration, the dragon then tried to attack Medusa, only to be paralyzed by her appearance. Since when were you human? About two days ago. Why are you asking? she responded with a grin before stabbing forward, putting a gash across the beast's stomach. Hissing, it tried to turn away. There was a rather loud thwack, and the dragon immediately began to rub the place between his eyes, growling at Priere. The Alternate Overlord looked over at Saito before turning back to her task. Grinning at Medusa, she settled her stance and prepared to defend herself from the stream of blue energy blasts that soon erupted from the dragon's mouth.

Meanwhile, Nathan and Camilla were having an easier time with the first dragon. Thanks to Nathan's never-ending barrage, the dragon had suffered minor cuts and abrasions all over it's body. Roaring in frustration, it lashed out with it's tail, only to have it caught by Saito. The diralec managed to give the dragon a rather unsettling smile before he raised his right hand towards the beast's face. He then unleashed the Gergoth soul, firing a laser at full-power. The zombie dragon managed to blink twice before it's face blackened. Then, it dissolved completely, leaving no trace that it had existed.

With one dragon now eliminated, all eyes strayed to the remaining beast, just in time to watch a rather large crystal come crashing onto the monster's skull. This was closely followed by several comets, a large pink sphere of chaotic energy, a variety of ice spikes, and finally, a massive blue-white lightning bolt. The last attack did the trick, and the great dragon let out a final whimper before collapsing into ashes. Aramis slowly lowered his right hand before shaking his head. Turning to look at Saito, he barely managed to salute before collapsing to the floor. Are you okay? Yeah... It's just that the Terra Thunder took a little more out of me than I originally thought it would. Well, stay there and rest for now. Gods only know that you've earned it. Thanks.

Outside of the Boss Room...

Alucard lifted his head upon hearing a tiny squeaking sound. He then smiled before lifting his right hand and allowing Marissa to land. His loyal familiar whispered her message into his ear, and a smile suddenly crossed the elder dhamphir's face. Vlad saw the look, and knew that something was up. "What news from the others?" "Well, let's just say that Henry and his grandfather had a few issues that needed to be worked out, but they managed to resolve the issue with a little mediation from Setsuna." "You're not telling me everything, Adrian. I can tell." "Well, there is also the fact that Actrise can now bear children, but I thought that I might as well wait for Saito to hear it with the rest of us." No need, Adrian. I can hear you fine from in here. Send our congratulations along, and also warn Setsuna about the Clockwork Golem in the Machine Tower. Will do, Master Saito. How many times have I told you NOT to call me "Master", Marissa? Saito groaned, hearing the young familiar laugh easily before replying and soaring out of the room. Too many times, sir. Too many times.

While we are waiting for Marissa to catch-up with Setsuna and the others, let's go check-in with our resident Dark Priest, shall we?
Following Shaft: Boss Room: Inverted Observation Tower

Sitting in front of several monitors, Shaft was glowering at the concept of having to face Soma and his allies in combat. "BAAL! I need your opinion on something!" The Lord of Terror was quick to climb from his room to Shaft's, and he cautiously poked his head in. "Well, what is it?" "I was just wondering what you thought of having Gergoth guarding the Condemned Tower." Baal thought for a moment, scratched his head, and then gave his honest opinion. "Well, that would seem to be the most logical choice, seeing as he was the original guardian in the first place."

Shaft nodded in agreement before turning towards the door. "You may enter now, summoner." There was a brief pause, and then the dark-headed form of Celia Fortner entered the room. "You called me, dark priest?" "Yes. We have come to a decision as to our dilemma. You will summon Gergoth to guard the Condemned Tower, as we originally planned. I will strengthen him, so that Soma will be unable to defeat it." The summoner bowed her head to Shaft before exiting the room. "As you wish, my liege."

Outside of the Boss Room

Celia hissed in annoyance before calling to her two companions. "Dario! Dmitrii! I need to speak with both of you!" The two former candidates for the position of Dark Lord materialized in their own unique ways. A pillar of fire rose directly in front of Celia, and then it faded away, leaving behind a slightly annoyed Dario Bossi. Next, a small patch of darkness seemed to expand from one corner of the room, widening into a portal. Almost immediately after it had formed, it vanished, leaving behind Dmitrii Blinov. Both looked at Celia with slightly confused looks on their faces, and then Dario snapped. "Why in the hell did you summon us here if it wasn't for anything important?" "Shut up, Dario. If it wasn't for Shaft, then you would have absolutely NO use to me!" she snapped in return. Sighing aloud, she reluctantly explained the situation. "It appears as if he wants me to summon Gergoth, but I'm not exactly sure if that would be the best idea." "Why not? We know that the beast gave Soma trouble in the past. Why should now be any different?" Dmitrii asked, slightly suspicious. "Well, I personally have no idea how it will react to the presence of Dracula..."

This statement stopped Dario dead in his tracks. "DRACULA? You mean to tell me that the Count has actually been freed?" "I'm afraid so, Dario Bossi," came a rather amused voice from behind the trio. Everyone turned in order to see the Lord of Terror staring at them, a sad smile on his face. "From what I have experienced in the past, I believe that it will not be happy if it is forced to face him. However, I might be able to establish some sort of barrier to prevent Vlad from entering until the battle is finished." "Do it, then," Celia responded before shuddering. "May the LORD have mercy upon us all, for the Count most certainly will not."

While Celia is preparing her resurrection spell, let's go check-in with Setsuna and his companions...
Following Setsuna&Co: Boss Room: Inverted Catacombs

Lydie peered into the room before motioning for the others to follow her. "It appears as if this room was forgotten when Shaft decided to raise the bosses." "Um, Lydie? I think you might want to move out of the way," her husband responded, seeing a pair of golden eyes opening in the center of the room." Looking over at Maxim, the Belmont nodded before slowly drawing his whip. However, upon seeing the weapon, the winged dragon in the center of the room hissed at him before rearing back and launching a fireball at the silver-haired man. Unfortunately (at least for the dragon), the projectile failed to reach it's target, thanks to the quick thinking of both Lydie and Elizabeth Bartley. Lydie had been quick to cast a barrier spell, and Elizabeth added a reflection spell of her own, causing the fireball to hurtle back towards it's point-of-origin.

The projectile was batted aside, and the Wyvern roared angrily before spreading it's wings and lifting from the floor. It hovered above the heads of all present before diving towards Lydie, claws outstretched. The young bride of Juste, however, remained calm as she stepped to one side, out of the path of the attack. Turning, she drew a rapier before stabbing forward, piercing the beast's right eye. Howling in pain, the monster turned, snapping long jaws at the witch, only to be foiled when it's mouth was roped shut by VampireKiller. Juste smiled at his wife before nodding at his best friend, and Maxim instantly got to work. His task was a simple one: Blind the beast, and then inflict as much damage as possible, without being killed in the process.

He accomplished the first portion of his task with relative ease. All it really took was a single stab before the beast was blinded, and then he looked over at Dracula's niece, as if asking permission to try something. Elizabeth gave him a nod, and then motioned for Matthai to join him. Alucard's Demon Familiar didn't need to be told twice, ad he quickly materialized his weapon from the pendant around his neck. A halberd appeared in the demon's hands, and he immediately began to use the long reach of the weapon to his advantage, slashing at the bound monster from a distance. Unfortunately for the two, Juste was no longer able to keep the jaws of the beast shut. With a quick flip of it's head, the Wyvern had thrown the Belmont off, and then it turned and blindly lunged at Matthai. The familiar was unable to move away fast enough, and he received several nasty-looking slashes for his troubles. BUT, this gave Maxim the perfect opportunity to end the battle. And end it he did. In a single thrust, the monstrosity's life-blood was spilling all-over the floor, giving the room a rather familiar appearance. "Hey, if we dyed the curtains, we would have a regular Master's Chamber down here!" Marissa called jokingly from the door. Lydie slowly shook her head before rising unsteadily from the floor. "Get down here, young lady," she chided the familiar before giggling at her own words. "Ah, who am I kidding? You're probably older than I am." "I hate to say that you're right," Marissa responded before gliding down to help Lydie to her feet. "Are you going to be alright?" "I've seen better days, lemme tell you that much."

Juste merely shook his head as he looked over at the two women. I swear, they never seem to age, do they? Apparently not. Sonia is nearing forty, and yet she doesn't look a day over twenty-three. Why is it only us men who age? I have absolutely no clue, but I can tell you that things are not going to be pretty during these next couple of hours. You're tellin' me! I'm sorry, but I have to go now. Apparently, Laharl had a rather close encounter with several succubi, and Rena wants my help in reviving him. Juste instantly shook his head, amused by the mental image that he was receiving. Man, I feel REALLY sorry for him. You and me both. Until next time, grandson of Simon.

Poor, poor Overlord! (laughs) Man, that was a sight for sore eyes! Anyway, time to move onto other things for the time being. We now join our resident Lord of Terror as he goes about trying to establish a barrier to keep Vlad out of the Condemned Tower...
Following Baal: Top floor: Inverted Condemned Tower

"Are you sure that I should establish the barrier around this room?" Baal asked, slightly worried at what the Count would do to him if he caught-on to the turmoil in his mind. "Of course I am sure! Gergoth was always on the top floor, but he must be released before the battle can begin." "Then how will they accomplish that?" Dario snorted once before explaining. "There is a series of switches scattered along the lower floors of the tower. However, the main switch is located in the Boos Room itself. In order to unchain the beast, every switch must be pressed. Then, everyone on the lower level needs to get themselves into one of the side passages, in order to avoid getting stomped-on when Gergoth breaks through the floor." The Lord of Terror visibly blanched. "You mean to tell me that the battle will start here and end in the Boss Room?" "Exactly." He sighed aloud before gesturing. "Might as well get started, then."

From the Lord of Terror, we head back to the lesser of the two hybrids as he prepares for the battle against the Clockwork Golem...
Following Setsuna&Co: Boss Room: Inverted Machine Tower: Castle Dracula (inverted): Walachia Province: Transylvania
Time Period: 1666 AD

Setsuna rather reluctantly shook his head as he peered into the room. "How in the hell did he create such a thing?" To tell you the truth, the Clockwork Golem is not one of Dracula's creations. Then whose creation is it, Camilla? It's one of mine. ...Okay, so how in the hell do I beat this thing? It absolutely hates lightning, but that's the only hint you will get from me. Fine, fine. Just be that way.

Abaddon rolled his eyes at the immaturity of Camilla's comments before looking over at Marjoly. The witch had one hand clamped firmly over her mouth, trying desperately not to crack-up in the hybrid's face. Her eyes danced merrily as Setsuna gave a slightly dejected sigh before turning back towards the door. "Carrie, Malus, you are both coming with me. It's time to deal with this nuisance." Both vampires nodded in agreement before falling into step behind the hybrid. The door irised open as he approached, and when they had all passed through, it sealed shut behind them.

Carrie raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Exactly WHY did you need our help again?" "I'm not exactly the best with lightning spells, so I need to make sure that I don't screw-up too badly." "That's just great," Malus responded, rolling his eyes. "We get called-in for spell support. What else could possibly go wrong?" His question was quickly answered when there was a sudden crash coming from one of the high windows. Looking towards the ceiling, Dracula's grandson groaned aloud. "Not you again!"

The harpies circled overhead, waiting for the perfect chance to attack. Meanwhile, the golem had started to move, giving Setsuna a bit of trouble as he tried to concentrate his spell on a specific point. "Aw, screw this!" the hybrid called as he finally gave-in to his slightly more destructive side, unleashing several lightning bolts at the creature. They slowed the monster down, but it continued to advance, giving Carrie an opportunity to try her hand at taking it down. Simultaneously, Malus was defending himself from the summoned harpies. Swearing under his breath as one latched onto his arm, he channeled fire into his other hand before using it to fry the beast. Unfortunately, he was about ten feet over the floor at that point, and there wasn't enough time to spread his wings and catch himself. He closed his eyes and braced for impact...

...only to open his eyes seconds later to find himself hovering mere inches above the unyielding stone. Looking over at Carrie, he was rather surprised to find that she was staring as well. Okay, which one of you guys saved me? I'm not sure, but I know that it wasn't me. And it wasn't Carrie either. How can you tell? The look on her face says THAT much. You got VERY lucky that time, Vivode. Saito? Are you the one who caught me? No, that was actually Yoko. I never knew that she could establish a barrier spell so fast! Phew! Could you give her my thanks? Sure, but don't you have a battle to get back to? Right...

Malus scrambled to his feet before looking-up at the harpies once more. "Alright, you pissed me off this time, and now you're going to pay for it!" he yelled, launching himself into the air. His own wings, which bore a stunning resemblance to Mina's, I might add, burst from his shoulders before spreading to catch the air currents. The jet-black feathers were a surprising contrast, but no one seemed to notice that, as they were too busy dodging attacks. Setsuna was too busy concentrating on his staff to notice anything else, and Carrie was giving the monster a full-charge of her combined lightning souls.

In the end, it was the hybrid who landed the final strike. Utilizing the Skeleton Archer Soul, he transfigured his staff into a bow before bending it back. The reason for his concentration soon became clear, as the arrow he was preparing to fire suddenly took on a brilliant golden color. He released the arrow without a second thought, and smiled as he watched it pierce the target. The heart of the Clockwork Golem suddenly ground to a halt, and it collapsed into a heap of rusted metal. Setsuna smiled grimly to himself as he then turned and used the Fire Demon Soul, releasing a rather large fireball at several of Malus' attackers. The vampire grinned and saluted the hybrid before dashing forward once more, cutting down the last of the beasts.

At long last! One of the two groups has finally reached the Garden of Madness! However, let's just pray that they are well prepared for the battle now facing them...
Following Saito&Co: Boss Room (upper) ((remember, this is the Inverted Castle!)): Inverted Garden of Madness

Kurtis was merely shaking his head at the situation that Laharl had just been put through. Suddenly, I wish that had happened to me. If you want, I could change that... On second thought, maybe that would be a bad idea... Glad you finally got the point, Kurtis. Anyway, let Aramis know that he can proceed. I have a feeling that this might turn into a battle of the undead. I'm not sure what you mean, but I'll let him know anyway. Thanks.

"Aramis? Saito said that you can go ahead and check-out the room." The young demon nodded his head before drawing his blade and proceeding rather cautiously through the door. It quietly slid closed behind him, but not before an unobtrusive cloud of mist managed to pass through the doorway as well. Aramis gazed around the room in wonder, and then his eyes wandered to the wall. "Hey, that looks like the stain that Actrise was talking about from when she spattered her duplicate all-over creation." "You are correct, and YOU will become a stain rather shortly," came a deep voice from the shadows on the other side of the room. Aramis sneered, and when he spoke again, his voice was dripping with content. "Show your face, coward. Or do you fear me?"

The slender, balding man stepped forward, glowering at the last retort. "I am known as the Chamberlain, and I fear no one!" "Oh, really, Chamberlain? Then tell me, why are you shaking so much at hearing my voice once again?" a smooth voice called from the shadows behind Aramis, and the dark wizard slowly shook his head. "I had no idea that you would be hear, Count. However, this will only serve to make our battle more...interesting." Vlad frowned at these words, and the man's only response was a smile as he gestured towards the floor. Several skeletons rose from the dust surrounding the two, and he smirked as he motioned for Aramis to step forward. "Try your luck, my boy! I'm sure that you will utterly fail to summon anything."

"Don't bet on it," Aramis responded before thrusting his sword, point-down, into the floor. Dracula drifted backwards, unsure of what the young man was doing. He watched as Aramis planted both palms flat on the floor, and then his eyes grew wide as he saw a series of glowing runes spread across the floor, the walls, and even the ceiling. His eyes weren't the only wide ones, as the Chamberlain was also staring at him with a mixture of shock and horror. "NO! It's not possible! You can't possibly be the Zombie Master!" "Oh, but I already am," Aramis responded, turning his hands palm-up before slowly rising from the floor. His light-pink hair suddenly changed colors, shifting to silvery-white, starting at the roots and spreading downwards. His eyes shot open, glittering blood-crimson as he stared at the terrified dark wizard. He only spoke a single word, but it was enough to send chills down even Saito's back. "RISE."

A mass of zombified hands suddenly burst from the floor. These were closely followed by the zombies themselves. They assembled into ranks before their true master, bowing their heads respectfully to Dracula before awaiting the commands of Aramis. He looked directly at the Chamberlain and his army of skeletons, and then a bone-chilling smile crossed his face. He pulled his katana from the floor, and then pointed it directly at the man's forces. "Obliterate them all," he commanded, and the zombies rushed to obey. Dracula watched, rather impressed with his skill, as the zombies tore through the skeletal army with little trouble before moving-on to the Chamberlain. As he began to be crushed by the mass of bandages wrapped around his frame, he let out a rather dry rasp. "You...truly...are...the Master," he managed to gasp out before there was a rather sickening series of sounds coming from the Chamberlain's mangled body. "Dismissed," Aramis called as he sheathed his blade, causing all of the undead to vanish. They left behind no trace of their passage, except for the mangled remains of Shaft's right-hand man.

Saito walked into the room, stared at the remains on the floor, and then whistled lightly as he looked over at Aramis. "I see you decided to change your hair color," he said, slightly amused. Aramis slowly rolled his eyes as he looked over at his sister, and Etna sighed aloud before staring back at him. "How come you get the ability to control zombies?" "Well, there's the fact that I was born with it. Did that thought ever cross your mind, sis?" Saito rather slowly shook his head before smiling. Life was back to normal, at least for the time being.
One down, and one to go! Let's go rejoin the other hybrid as he enters the lower room to deal with a rather nasty foe...
Following Setsuna&Co: Boss Room (lower): Inverted Garden of Madness

Croix was the first to poke his head through the door, and he groaned aloud at the sight that greeted him. "This is just perfect," he grumbled sarcastically as he leaned against the nearby wall. What's the problem this time, Croix? Oh, just the fact that they left a freakin' Chimera down here for us to deal with! ...Man, I feel REALLY sorry for you guys. The only advice I can give you is this: Take out the heads one-at-a-time. Thanks for the hint. You're welcome!

Cornell looked into the room before snorting once. "Come ON! Don't tell me that you have never faced anything like this before." "It's not that. It's just that the one that we faced was a whole lot smaller." "...Fine then. I'll go in and deal with it, if that will make you feel any better." "I'd appreciate that," Croix responded with a grin, only to be shoved into the room in front of Cornell. "No buts, Croix. Henry had to face down one of his worst fears, so now it's your turn." The former member of La Pucelle muttered under his breath before finally agreeing with the hybrid. "I guess you're right, Setsuna. It's time that I stopped running from this." With that, the door closed, leaving the werewolf and the angel in the same room as the beast.

The snake head was the first one to strike, spitting a large stream of acid at the duo. "SPLIT!" Croix yelled as he rose into the air, and then noted that Cornell had dove to his left before rolling and coming back to his feet once again. Okay, time to wipe the floor with this thing, Croix thought as he loaded several shells into his shotgun. He then took aim before unloading two shells into the central head. The lion roared in pain before trying to track him with several fireballs, but the angel proved to be rather elusive.

Meanwhile, Cornell was busy dealing with the eagle head. Dodging all of the lightning was a risky proposition, but it was better than taking-on two at once. Feeling the ground rise beneath him, Cornell leapt upwards, shifting into his wolf-form as he did so. His leap, amplified by the unknown ground wave, carried him right up to the beast's face, and then he stabbed his razor-sharp claws forward. There was a rather loud screech as the werewolf's claws met little resistance, and then the eagle began to fire blindly (in the most literal sense of the word. You see, Cornell plunged his hands into the beast's eyes.).

Great. Now I don't have to just dodge acid, but I need to dodge lightning, too! This just isn't my day! Croix thought to himself as he hovered in mid-air, waiting for the snake to try and spit at him once again. As it opened it's mouth to unleash the acid, Croix plummeted towards the floor, pulling-up just before he reached it. He then raced forward, slinging his shotgun over one shoulder as he drew his broadsword. SLICE! One head down, and two more to go. Well, one that could see, anyway. Rising higher into the air, he barely managed to dodge another fireball from the lion head. Hey, Cornell! A little help over here?

Cornell let out a rather low growl in Croix's general direction before hauling himself to the top of the monstrosity's head. He then slid down the neck to the main portion of the body, where he proceeded to hack away at the necks of the two remaining heads. Croix smacked his own forehead in one of those classic "Why didn't I think of that?" moments, before rushing to join the werewolf. It was only a matter of time before both remaining heads were removed, and then the doors opened. "Well, it as actually easier that I thought it would be!" Croix remarked, and Cornell nodded. "Agreed. This was just a test for us. The worst is yet to come."

"I couldn't agree with you more, Cornell," a familiar voice called from the far side of the room. Croix looked-up and smiled upon seeing Saito once more. "Dude, what TOOK you so long?" "Well, you should have seen what Laharl had to go through earlier. I'll explain it along the way..."

As Saito recounted Laharl's rather uncomfortable encounter with the female demons of the castle, the rest of the groups reformed, and then (once Croix had stopped howling with laughter), the group moved towards the Condemned Tower. Unfortunately, Baal had established a rather selective barrier...
Following Saito&Co: Inverted Condemned Tower

Vlad approached the door to the next section only to be pushed away by a rather strong force. "What in the name of...? How come I can't get near the door?" Saito approached it with little trouble, and then he looked back. "My guess is that this was designed to keep several people out, but you in particular, Vlad." "Why would that be?"

"Gergoth," Soma responded, causing Mina, Seth, and Ria to shudder. "That must be why the barrier was established. Shaft has no idea how your presence will affect Gergoth, and he wants to make certain that you don't get the opportunity to try anything." The Prince of Darkness shrugged once before looking over at his elder son. "Think you could get through that barrier, Adrian?" "I doubt it, but I'm sure that my familiars could. Wanna' find out?" "We might as well give it a shot, Alucard. Send them over."

Marissa and Sophia crossed with relative ease, and the same went for Lucian. However, both Matthai and Sakura were unable to cross the barrier, much to their disappointment. The diralec merely shook his head before beckoning to the others. All told, Yoko, D, and Abaddon were the only other ones capable of crossing the barrier. Saito shrugged before looking across the barrier and seeing the dejected looks on everyone else's faces. "Cheer-up guys. At least you won't have to deal with Gergoth." Soma snorted at this, but then he smiled. "You're right, Saito. We don't have to deal with Gergoth, and for that reason alone, I pity you. Good luck facing that beast." "Thanks, Cruz. I have a feeling that I'm going to need all of the luck that I can get."

Inside of the Tower: Top floor

"Spread out people! I don't want any of you being caught off-guard." "We hear you, Saito. We hear you." Saito gazed around the room. It was fairly plain, but there was a space above their heads that was separated by a grate. "My guess is that Gergoth is up there right now, but how do we get it down?" Lucian scratched his head for a moment before offering his idea. "I think that there might be a series of switches that we need to hit as we head down the tower, with the last one being in the former Boss Room." "Hmmm... That would probably make the most sense. Okay, here's how we are going to do this. Abbadon, Yoko, Sophia, Morian: I need you to go and hit as many switches as you possibly can. After you hit the last one, get to one of the side-rooms and wait for us there." "Why should we... Wait a second. Isn't Gergoth the beast that crashed through the floors and then suddenly sped-up once we hit the bottom?" "Exactly, Yoko. I'm surprised that you remembered. Anyway, you all have your assignments, so get moving!" "Yes Sir!"

Thirty minutes later: Former Boss Room

"Well, it looks like we just have to hit this switch, and then get the heck out of here!" Yoko remarked as she stared at the rather large, partitioned switch. "Well then? What are we waiting for?" Morian asked as he stepped onto one portion of the design, causing it to shrink into the floor. The remaining three did likewise, and then they all heard a sudden rumbling coming from the top floor. Listen-up everyone! I need ALL of you to get into one of the side-rooms NOW! Then he has been released, correct? Yes, Yoko. Now don't just stand there, MOVE! The quartet promptly scrambled off to one side before peering out the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of the battle.

Simultaneously: Top floor (New Boss Room)

The grate suddenly yawned open, dropping the beast onto the platform. Saito took one look at Gergoth, and knew that they were in deep trouble. SOMA! They gave this damn thing armor plating! What in the hell? You're kidding me, right? Afraid not, Master Cruz. We're in deep trouble unless we can find a way to punch through this armor. Wait a second. Punch through... I've got it! What is it, Marissa? Well, I was thinking that if you used the Hell Boar Soul in combination with the new Werewolf Soul...then I could literally punch a hole through the armor! Thank you, Marissa. I think you might have just saved us a whole lot of trouble.

The Oricaltos tried the familiar's suggestion, and found that it worked like a charm. By using his increased speed, Saito was able to put enough velocity behind his punches to crack through the thick plating surrounding the neck-joint of Gergoth, exposing the rotting flesh beneath. "Now it's time that we really get started!" he called, drawing his sword with a natural ease. Lucian summoned a Golden Axe, and Marissa, much to the surprise of Saito, was fairly quick to draw a Final Sword. He looked over at her, and then asked a simple question. "You want me to turn that into another Solais?" "Nah, not really. I'd be much better if you could change it into something different." "I'll see what I can do, but right now, let's get back to the task at-hand, shall we?" "Lets."

The battle that followed was long and brutal. After repeatedly slashing the beast across the face, the trio had to deal with falling down several stories in order to complete the fight. However, this time, they were not alone. "Yoko, Morian, NOW!" At the mage's yell, several fireballs and lightning spheres came soaring into the room, followed closely by a massive swarm of locusts. Most of the projectiles connected, causing the monster to scream in pain. Then, the locusts managed to land the final blow, and Gergoth let out a final groan before collapsing to the floor. It closed it's eyes, and then promptly disintegrated, no sealing required.

"What in the hell happened down there?" Vlad called as he entered the room, only to find that there was no floor. "Gergoth is what happened, Count. Now, if you don't mind, I need to take a quick break. That thing tired me out." Soma merely shook his head before calling down to Saito. "How's the weather down there?" "Very funny, Cruz. At least you didn't have to literally punch through nearly ten inches of stainless-steel armor." "...OUCH! Talk about being painful! Are you sure that you're alright?" "Trust me on this one, Cruz. I know what I'm doing. Now get your sorry hide down here, NOW!" "EEP! Yes sir!"

Another one bites the dust! However, the next few corridors will try the patience of the Saito, in addition to testing the limits of his endurance...
Inverted Cursed Clock Tower (Talk about a mouthful!)

"You have GOT to be kidding me!" Soma couldn't believe his eyes. All of the spikes had managed to plant themselves on the new floor, impeding the progress of the companions even more. "All right. When I get my hands on Zephyr, I am going to wring that man's sorry neck!" "Um, Saito? We need to get there first." "...Good point, Soma," the mage responded, scratching his head as he tried to determine the fastest possible path to the Boss Room. "What do you suggest that we do now?" "I say that we just try to clear some sort of pathway for the others. That way, they won't have to worry about the spikes too much." "Agreed."

The task was long and brutal, for both Soma and Saito. There were many sections where the spikes had shifted, making the task much harder for the duo to accomplish. However, when all was said and done, they had managed to forge a path through the worst of the spike-infested rooms. However, the hardest part was yet to come, when the mage would once more come face-to-face with the time-wizard, Zephyr.

Boss Room: Inverted Cursed Clock Tower

"Well, it looks like it's finally time to settle this once and for all," Saito called as he approached the door, tracing the seventh seal on the small pad located to the right of the door. It immediately swung open, the light from behind the mage spilling into the darkness before him. He took two steps forward and was promptly swallowed by the darkness as the doors closed behind him. However, it didn't take long for his eyes to adjust to the lack of light, and he could soon see and hear as easily as if he were in daylight. "Why no lights, Zephyr? I thought that you wanted to see what I was capable of, in more ways than one." The red-haired, razor-clawed wizard groaned at the bad joke before slowly shaking his head. "I prefer the dark these days. It offers me peace," "and also happens to cover your movements," Saito finished before grinning. "Unfortunately for you, that won't be a problem for me. I can see you very clearly, and I'm not going to allow you to escape again." "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go."

The two circled one another rather rapidly, dashing forward with fast attacks to test one another's reflexes. It appeared as if Saito was at a disadvantage, but the hybrid could care less. This was a fight that he knew he could win, and he intended to make the battle last. Zephyr suddenly froze time before leaping into the air, tossing-out several daggers. However, he was surprised when he saw that Saito was also moving, in order to avoid the trajectories. "How come my time-freeze isn't affecting you?" "Well, maybe it's because I'm not completely human. Did you ever think of that?" the mage asked before rushing forward, his claws already slicing towards the monster's chest. There was a brief clash between the claws of the two combatants, and then Saito kicked Zephyr in the stomach, springing away in the same motion. The time-wizard slashed with his claws, but he managed to hit only air, as the mage was too fast for him. Kicking-off the wall once more, Saito prepared for the final blow. At that point, Zephyr finally realized that there was absolutely no way that he could stop the Oricaltos. However, he was not about to give-up, and lunged at the young man in a desperate attempt to end the fight. They met in the center of the room, and then they ended on opposite sides.

Both slowly turned to face one another. Saito slowly nodded as his hand strayed to the slashes covering his chest, but then he smiled grimly. "You did quite well, time-wizard. I have to admit that it has been quite a while since I have faced an opponent of your caliber. I hope that we will meet again sometime in the future." Zephyr nodded once, trying to hold his stomach together with one hand. The wounds inflicted by both were terrible to behold, and the wizard knew that it was only a matter of time before he bled to death. Blue eyes met green ones, and the two acknowledged the skill of the other. Then, as if they had made their final decisions, both collapsed to the floor as light flooded into the room.

Every single one of the torches burst into flames as soon as Soma took his first step into the room. He swiftly glanced around, and the sight of the room chilled him. There were blood spatters all over the walls, and both combatants were lying on the floor. Motioning for the others to enter, Soma proceeded to rush to the aid of the diralec, who was bleeding rather profusely from several large gashes on his chest and back. Looking at Zephyr, Dracula's reincarnation shook his head sadly before walking over to close the eyes of the dying man. "That was one hell of a fight you put-up, Zephyr." "...Thank...you...Soma," he whispered before falling silent for the last time. His body then proceeded to dissolve, leaving behind only his daggers, which all promptly shattered after the body vanished. So passed the final time-wizard, the one who had been used to summon Celia and her companions from 2036, and the only other being (besides Saito, of course) who could open Time Gates without needing approval.

Mina cautiously poked her head into the room before flinching back rather violently. The sight of all the blood on the walls sickened her, but she knew that there were some things that she would just have to get used to. As she gazed around the room, her eyes settled on two figures at the far end, and she rushed over, trying not to slip on the blood-covered stones. Upon seeing who it was that Soma was holding, Mina breathed a brief sigh of relief. Well, thank goodness that Saito made it through the fight alive, she thought as she settled next to Soma, her hands already searching for anything to help staunch the flow of blood.

In the mean time, the others were sitting outside of the room. They were all fairly anxious, but none more so than Marjoly and Priere. The Alternate Overlord was pacing back-and-forth, her feet wearing a path into the wooden floorboards. Eventually, she stopped. "I'm sick and tired of just waiting out here. I should be in there, helping Saito!" "Unfortunately, Soma refuses to lower the barrier around the door. The only person I saw enter was Mina, and she's been gone for the past ten minutes," Marjoly called, rather agitated. The blonde witch then turned to Vlad, a visible plea in her amethyst eyes. "Is it possible for you to lower the barrier for us?" The elder vampire shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid not. Soma's powers are now stronger than my own, and I don't have the strength left to lower it for even a fraction of the time needed for you to pass through." You may not have the strength, Vlad, but I know that I do. Both women stopped, and then Priere cried out in her own mental voice. SAITO! How bad is it in there? Let's just say that this room is not for the faint of heart. Or for the weak of stomach, for that matter. Priere swallowed rather hard before asking her next question. How bad are your injuries? They actually aren't THAT bad. However, if they aren't bandaged soon, then I might be in serious trouble. Can you lower the barrier for us? Of course! I just need you both to hurry. Oh, and bring along Aramis as well. Why? Well, he IS the only one who always has too many bandages with him. After all, how do you expect him to be a Zombie Master if he can't keep his creations from falling apart? ...Good point.

Soma looked down at the mage, frowning slightly when he noticed that Saito's aura had mysteriously flared-up. Why is your aura flaring? Well, I'm trying to lower the barrier that was established outside of the door. After all, I don't think that Mina can bind my injuries on her own. I have to agree with you on that one. I also have a fairly bad feeling that your wounds might be infected. You have NO idea how right you are. I just hope that those two hurry-up, now that the barrier is finally gone. So do I, man. So do I.

Outside, the barrier suddenly grew nearly black, and then it shattered with enough force to send Vlad stumbling backwards. "Well, it looks like Saito did it," he said, looking over at the others with a smile. "Come on. It's time that we get to work." "Agreed," Priere called as she strode through the doorway, Aramis and Marjoly following closely on her heels. However, as soon as she walked into the room, the Alternate Overlord gagged. There was blood covering all of the walls, and there was also a whole lot spilling onto the floor. I told you that it wasn't for the weak of stomach, Priere. I know, but how in the name of Hell was he able to injure you so badly? Well, it appears as if I underestimated him. Zephyr is the King of Distortions, one of the thirteen chief servants of the Dark God. WHAT? But I thought that you would have sensed it before! He was hiding it remarkably well. If Zephyr is one of the Kings of Darkness, then how many others have we encountered and defeated so far? I don't know, but I can tell you this much: We haven't met all of them yet. It may take me a bit, but I WILL remember who all of them are, hopefully before we will face them in combat once again. I sure hope so.(1)

Her eyes wandered the floor, searching for one particular form. It didn't take her long to find who she was looking for, as she could clearly see that Mina was working furiously to try and keep his wounds clean. Unfortunately, it wasn't exactly working out. Priere merely shook her head as she approached, concern shining in her eyes. "Aramis, may I please have your bag?" The Zombie Master wordlessly passed it over, and Priere hurried to Mina's side, her hands already becoming slightly tangled. She lifted her eyes to Soma, but Dracula's reincarnation merely shook his head. "I have no idea as to whether or not he will be able to make it. All we can do is hope, pray, and bind his injuries as best as we can." The women all nodded at him, and then they got to work.

Nearly three-and-a-half hours later...

"There. I think that's the last of your injuries." Saito groaned aloud as he woke-up once more. Looking around, he found himself surrounded by his companions, many of whom had worried expressions on their faces. Reaching-up to run his hands through his hair, he noticed that those expressions were slowly changing to relief. "Oh, my aching head. How long was I out?" "You've been lying on the floor for the past three hours," Soma responded, his eyes hardening as he looked towards the far door. "Are you certain that you will be alright?" "I just need to get some sleep after all of this is over. Then, I should be back to normal," the weredragon responded, gingerly rising to his feet. "How much further until we reach the Pinnacle?" "Only that damn deathtrap between us and the door, and Vlad is not at all happy with it." There was a rather loud explosion a short distance away, and Saito finally smiled once again. "Then we both agree on one thing: Those spikes just HAVE to go!" Stretching his long limbs, there were several popping noises as Saito loosened-up once more. "Well, we can't let him have all the fun, can we?" "Like hell!" Soma replied, his eyes glittering brilliantly once again. "Let's get going!"

1. This little piece of dialog is just a tiny piece of one of the larger plots that I am setting into motion here. I'll be letting you all know more about these as my stories continue to develop.

Author's note: Sorry if this chapter took so long. It's just that I was hit by writer's block once I reached the battle of Zephyr, and I wasn't able to finish it until way later. Also, there is the matter of the fight involving Aramis. Please, don't hesitate to review. It's been SOOOOOO long since my last one, and I'm starting to get the feeling that nobody is reading my stories. If you are, then please, let me know. Thank you.

The task is swiftly drawing to a close, but what other horrors lie in wait for the Oricaltos and his allies? What will happen when they find themselves being turned against one another? And finally, what sort of twist of fate would cause Celia and her allies to side with Shaft in the first place? Be sure to find out in my next chapter, Revelation of Intentions. Meanwhile, please remember to both read and review. Thank you.