Chapter 554
Buffy arrived in the Master's lair. She'd dreaded this moment, he seemed to be savoring it. This was, quite possibly, the final battle between good and evil. No point in putting it off any longer. Buffy and the Master fought with swords. Since he had the strength of Glorificus, and the hypmotic power of Jasmine, swords might be Buffy's only chance at victory. Giles had trained her well, but he had centuries more experience. The Master stabbed Buffy, severed her spine. She was unable to move, but she was perfectly aware of everything, even able to speak.
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Master: So that's it. No weapons, no friends, no hope. Take all that away, and what's left?
Buffy: Me.
Master: Yes. You. You tried to stop me, it was noble of you. Futile to try and stop the ultimate prophecy. Prophecies are tricky things, they don't tell you everything. You're blood is what sets me free slayer. Because you came to stop me, I will free myelf and destroy your world. I wanted that to be your last thoughts before you die, that it's your fault.
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The Master drank from Buffy's neck. Her blood would help him destroy the barrier, and he'd live to see the end. A brief moments to savor true destruction. But this blood tasted like poison to the Master. What was wrong? Slayer blood didn't taste like this.
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Master: What did you do?
Buffy: A little precaution. My side was willing to sacrifice ourselves for the good of the world, something you'll never understand. You drinking from me destroyed your side. Let that be your last thoughts before you die.
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Buffy saw the Master crumble into dust. She did feel her own life slip away. But she also felt victory. She could feel the Beast, and all the Turak-han, cannibals, and harbringers of death being destroyed. Buffy had failed to save her friends, but together they had saved the world.