Lina Inverse was eating with his ever-present friend Gourry in a little inn. Unexpectedly a loud voice exploded in her mind:
<CAME HERE, LINA INVERSE, ACCEPT MY CHALLENGE OR YOUR WORLD WILL DIE. AT REZO'S TOWER>
Gourry raised his head and looked her: "Strange, I've heard something about a challenge in my head, but I don't know where did it come from." She seemed shaken and frightened, he stood up and went near her: "Lina, what's your problem? LINA!" Lina recovered: "Gourry, he was? SHABRANIGDO!!" She cried. "Lina, calm down? Who's shabigdo?" Lina bounced him: "Silly, Idiot! Shabranigdo not shabigdo! He is the demon-god!" The outburst was good for her. She got up: "Let's go! We can't allow Him to destroy the world". She left the inn; Gourry, with a kind smile, followed her.
Zelgadiss was looking for a cure in an ancient temple. The same scream that hit Lina and Gourry got him. He looked at west where there was Saylun, a young girl would be dead if he refused. He ran to the tower.
2 days later at Rezo's Tower
"We are here", Lina cried, "You will not destroy the world, ugly monster with throatache!"
"Lina", Gourry whispered: "Are you sure it's a good idea to offend him? After all, HE is a god".
Lina elbowed him and a slight mocking tone behind her said: "you are not changed, Lina! Almost everybody is here, I see!"
Lina looked: "Zel, I'm happy to see you, how are you?"
The demon's voice interrupted them: <EVERYBODY IS HERE, PREPARE YOURSELVES TO DIE>
Zel: "We speak later, ok?" he dodged a powerful ray that hit the ground behind him. He flew to avoid some lava monsters that took life to attack them.
Gourry shouted: "LIGHT, FORTH" and the sword enlightened, then he attacked the monsters. Zelgadiss tried to give time to Lina casting an useless Ra-tilt. When the attack finished, the mazoku's god was in the centre unharmed. "Laguna blade" and between Lina's hands appeared a lance formed from the darkness. Lina struck him with that. The powerful spell hit the demon and he fall. "VICTORY!" Lina roared happily until a laser raining fell upon them. They tried to hide the sorrow, they knew their agony gave power to the demon.
Lina thought I can't surrender, I must win! My friend will die if I lose. If only this pain stop. The pain stopped. Lina watched up surprised, the demon seemed blocked. Gourry threw her the sword and Zel with determined aspect: "Lina, I'm afraid our only possibility is the Giga Slave".
She watched him shocked as he went next to her. On the other side Gourry looked her with eyes filled with love and trust. Lina decided; Gourry'd not be dead! She cast the Giga Slave praying L-sama to take only her and Shabranigdo. The demon-god woke up as Lina terminated the spell.
<YOU CAN'T WIN ME TWICE WITH THE SAME SPELL, LITTLE MAGE!> When he finished those words, Lina struck him. He shouted the spell that was able to defend him when the presence in him took the control again. His normal barriers were destroyed and a profound wound told him he was near his end. He spoke to the group: <good work, you won another time. I keep the promise, little girl>.
Lina, exhausted, didn't understand what he referred to. A strange light covered Zelgadiss. "NO, ZEL, NO!" she cried. When the light vanished he was human and Red-eye disappeared. On the ground lied a lifeless body. Zel examined thrilled every part of his human body. Lina went to see the person that woke up the demon.
A grief whisper: "Oh no, oh no". Gourry, worried, went near her, then he saw and sob as a child. Zelgadiss, this time heard something: "What's the problem? We won! And I'm human at least!" He reached them. Lina turned to him and: "No Zel, don't come here", she was crying. Zel ran; when he arrived observed the cadaver and with thick voice: "It's a trick", he pleaded. He didn't stand upright; the ground welcomed his quivering body because in front of them there was Amelia.
"Zelgadiss, Zelgadiss?", Lina whispered.
He smiled: "Lina, I had a nightmare, Shabranigdo woke up, you slew him, I was human at least but Amelia was dead"
Lina cried desperately: "It's not a nightmare, I've killed my best friend, Zel! He said he'd have kept a promise: I think he spoke with her!"
He wasn't able to cry. Amelia was dead for his fault. He was human now but it wasn't important anymore. If only he didn't speak to her that day?
"Amelia, I leave"
The princess' eyes became sad: "Why do you want to leave? Don't you like Saylun? Have I made something bad?"
"Look at me!"
She observed him, she smiled: "You are Zelgadis, I know you, I love you!"
He was furious: "I'm a monster! Are you blind? I want to become human and I can't obtain that result here! I like you but that
is my most important goal!
She was crying but with a brave voice: "Right! I understand, Go, Zel!"
He was happy she understood: "I will come back when I'm human again, I promise!"
She kissed him, then ran away. He left Saylun.
Lina: "I would like to know what's happened."
Xelloss appeared in front of her: "If do you want I can answer at this question?"
He wasn't smiling, they stared him worried. "Please." was their answer.
He sat down near Amelia and cradled her as if she was only asleep.
She called me when you, Zel, went away. "Xelloss, a Shabranigdo's piece is in my body; I think you know". I was surprised: Rei Magnus didn't realise the presence of the demon in his body and that little girl knew that! I recovered soon and with a mocking tone: "What do you think to do about that? To commit suicide in the name of justice?" She shook her head and with soft voice: "I will free him if he make me a promise. I need your help to speak with him! Please, Xelloss!" I hadn't any choice, I helped her.
Zel quietly: "How did you help her?"
Xelloss didn't smile: "Sore wa himitsu des."
Lina was going to get angry with him but the frosty glance of Xelloss held her immediately. She was frightened by him. She hoped him to resume to behave as the old himself again. This wasn't a Xelloss to speak with, to dispute with.
He continued the story.
When she came back said: "Well, I'll go to Rezo's Tower. If this story finished as I hope, please ask them to forgive me." She looked me with sorrowful eyes. She hugged me: "I'm happy to have known you, Xelloss. Strange, you have been a good friend for me!" I was shaken but she fled before I was able to answer her. It was a good thing: I think I was near to betray my race for her?
Lina was astonished: "Xelloss, you?"
"Don't say that, Lina! Don't dare say that!" His voice was full of menace.
Lina became silent and went nearer Gourry.
"You can figure out the rest of the story. She went here to wake my lord but she trusted you to save her world from the chaos".
Zelgadiss brought his knees his chest: "It's my fault, It's only my fault! She thought that only Red-eye could free me. I understand now why she didn't say anything about my return. She knew she would be died". Xelloss got up with Amelia under his arms. Zel got up infuriated: "What do you think to do? She remains here. WE will bury her!"
He gazed him, his eyes burning with hate: "You don't understand. The only reason why you 're alive is her. I know she would suffer for your death. Don't challenge me! Or I may decide to revenge her death!" He turned: "Lina, give me back the talismans!" "No, you sold me these, I don't want to give you them". He laughed. They stiffened: "You are afraid of your sister and dare provoke me, little sorceress! It's not a good idea. I defeated her in more than a battle! Now, stop to quarrel! Give me the talismans!" Lina was stunned: was he truly more powerful than her sister was? No, he was deceiving. It's impossible! Xelloss said ever the truth but not all the truth. In his eyes there was a clear danger: she was tired dead and she wasn't able to win him. Gourry and Zel (He was sat down again) were very tired too. She didn't have any choice: She gave him the four talismans. Xelloss bowed and disappeared with Amelia.
"Gourry, Zel what do we do when we regain the forces?" Zelgadiss with dull tone: "I go home. I want try to live for Am?, for her." Gourry didn't understand what he meant but he knew it was better not to ask. He said: "I come with you, I'm your personal paladin, you know". Lina hugged him: "Don't let me alone, Gourry! Don't let me ever alone!" He hugged her: "Sure". For the first time the supreme mage genius Lina felt herself weak and vulnerable. Afterwood they slept dreaming a young princess loving of the life they will never forgot.
In a dark cavern, an ancient priest cried a never existed love.