"I demand to see the Mayor!"
"You'll have to go through the proper channels and wait like everyone else." The guard was used to such arrogant demands from the prisoners. This girl was more annoying than most.
"I will not wait like I am some peasant!"
"Then wait like whatever you are."
"By the authority of this crest, I demand that you release me immediately and take me to the Mayor!"
"Humph. Think you can just wave any old piece of metal at me and I'll..." The guard gulped as the recognized the crest engraved on the golden metal plate. "Please forgive me! I didn't realize...that is...I didn't expect someone like you...er no that wasn't right...what I mean to say is..."
"The door." Amelia reminded him haughtily.
"Yes, yes of course," blathered the guard, fumbling with the keys and dropping them. He finally did manage to find the correct key and insert it into the lock.
"Take me to the Mayor."
"He's probably asleep at this hour..." hedged the guard.
Amelia, despite her shorter stature, looked down her nose at him. "Do I need to repeat myself?"
"No, no. I will escort you personally," bowed the flustered guard.
"Then come." Amelia brushed by the city guard like he was beneath her notice.
"In here please," whispered the cloaked girl. She ushered everyone into what appeared to be the kitchen of a very large manor. Once they were all inside, she shut the back door and bolted it.
"Who are you?"
In response to Lina's question, their rescuer pulled back her hood revealing a young lady perhaps around twenty with green eyes and long shiny black hair. For some reason, she kept glancing at Gourry as if expecting a reaction.
"My name is Sylphiel Nels Rada, the daughter of Eruk Rada, the mayor of Sairaag," bowed the young lady.
"So why did you save us? You know who we are don't you," Lina demanded.
Sylphiel nodded. "Yes, I am afraid my father did agree to stand behind the wanted posters but I never believed the accusations leveled against any of you."
"What kind of accusations?"
"That you had conspired with Mazoku to reawaken a piece of Ruby Eye Shabrinigdo and now seek to destroy the Flagoon."
Was this another of Rezo's twisted games? Just letting his enemies know exactly what he was planning to do?
"He also said something else but I'm not sure if it's something I should repeat," Sylphiel said shyly.
"Just tell us everything," Lina said testily.
"Well...he said that you, Lina-san, are over ninety years old..."
"Wow, you sure age well Lina."
Lina backhanded Gourry. "Don't be stupid. Why would I look like ninety if I'm not even ninety!"
Sylphiel blinked.
Migel nodded. "Lina-san is right. If I was a betting man, I'd say she was closer to maybe 300 years old."
Lina picked up a chair and broke it over the holy knight's head. Sylphiel sweatdropped and Eris quietly moved away to avoid getting caught in Lina's wrath. The short-tempered sorceress dusted off her hands.
"Alright, why didn't you believe the accusations against us?"
Sylphiel began to blush. "That is...I at least knew Gourry-sama wasn't that kind of person..."
"Gourry...sama?" Lina repeated incredulously. "You know Gourry?"
"...hai."
"Gourry! Why didn't you tell me you knew the daughter of the mayor in Sairaag! We couldn't have avoided all of this trouble and gone straight to the source!"
"Daughter of the mayor?" Gourry crossed his arms and thought. "I don't know any of the mayor's daughters but I do remember his son."
Sylphiel sighed. "Actually, that was me," she said meekly.
"Leave it to him to mistake a girl for a guy," Lina groaned.
"It was quite a few years ago," Sylphiel protested in Gourry's defense. "I was still a child and I didn't look or act anything like I do now."
"Perhaps, but you still feel the same way toward him don't you?" Lina asked slyly.
"Huh?" was Gourry's contribution. "You mean you were that scrawny kid with the messy short hair?"
Sylphiel nodded, cheeks burning.
"Hey, you've grown up a lot. Wonder if that will ever happen to Lina?"
Lina kicked him in the stomach and cleared her throat. "Anyway what do you know about the person who put up the bounties?"
"Not much really. Father seems to be convinced of who he says he is but I wasn't allowed to attend that meeting."
"Sylphiel? Is that you?" A man's voice called from outside of the kitchen.
"That's my father! You all have to hide. I'll try to explain everything to him but for now, just, um, go in here!" Sylphiel unceremoniously shoved everyone into the pantry and slammed the door.
"Sylphiel? What are you doing down here?" Eruk opened the door and looked into the kitchen where his only daughter was just closing the pantry.
"I...I wanted to surprise you and make a cake," Sylphiel smiled nervously, silently begging forgiveness for this white lie.
"A cake you say?" asked someone behind Eruk.
The people in the pantry knew that voice.
"Umm, yes. I was just going through the pantry but found we didn't have enough vanilla flavoring," she said meekly.
"That is a shame. Your father has often praised your cooking."
Lina barely bit back a gasp as Sylphiel moved away from the pantry doors that were barely opened. However the angle and positioning was right for her to be able to see who stood behind Sylphiel's father.
Red Priest Rezo, robes and all.
"Was...was there a reason you were looking for me, Father?"
Eruk nodded. "There are some very dangerous people in the city tonight, possibly even the criminals that Rezo-sama has placed bounties for. I was afraid you had gone out without knowing about them."
"Those people were seen in the city?" Sylphiel hoped no one saw her lead them here. A shiver past through her when the Red Priest seemed to turn to look at her. A slight smile crossed his face.
"Yes, there were several accounts from very reliable witnesses. But they've gone into hiding now. They are very dangerous. I would recommend that you and your father remain inside at least during the night. Now if you'll excuse me, I only came to warn the Mayor. I will now proceed to search for and end this threat."
Rezo bowed his head slightly before turning and leaving with Eruk. Sylphiel let out a deep breath. If that was the legendary Red Priest, why did she always feel so cold around him?
The Red Priest wished the Mayor a good night and walked away, the rings on his staff chiming with each step. As he passed beyond the green hedge that surrounded the manor, another form appeared behind him.
"They were in there."
The person nodded.
"Take care of them."
Again the person nodded, a red gem on his brow catching some of the starlight.
"Is this the cloning laboratory?" It was a rhetorical question. The many glass tubes lining the walls of the room where all filled with the glowing fluid needed for the growth and nurturing of the creature inside. They were in various stages of growth though it was obvious that they were all the same. However, the subject wasn't Rezo.
"Who are they?"
"A cloning project that Rezo-sama took," Tiiba answered reluctantly.
"More research?" The sarcasm was just dripping from his words.
"Ready supply of slaves?" Tiiba cringed at Zelgadiss's icy glare. "I really don't know about this one! I'm only supposed to make sure there are always some ready to be released."
Walking over to one of the workbenches, Zelgadiss quickly appraised the number of red gems scattered there. They were of very good quality and purity, the kind used for enchantments. He picked one up, faintly sensing the aura of magic emanating from it.
"And these?"
"Try it for yourself."
"No thank you. I won't become someone else's unwitting pawn again." His fingers curled around the gem, grinding it to dust. Again, he looked at the clones in various stages of maturation. "So you have no idea how these figure into Rezo's plans."
Tiiba shook his head.
"Alright." Magical energy began to collect in Zelgadiss's hands as he calmly walked out of the room. Just outside of the door, he turned and held out one hand. "Bram Gush!"
A vortex of wind ripped from his hand and into the glass tubes, shattering the glass and discharging the contents into the hostile environment where they would die in minutes.
"Where are the mature ones?"
"They've been called away."
Zelgadiss shrugged. "No matter. You were leading me to where Rezo was creating a clone of himself."
Tiiba reluctantly began to lead the way again, always walking before Zelgadiss except when the chimera was required to cross through one of Rezo's warded portals. As they continued to descend deeper, a small flame of an unfamiliar emotion began to burn in the chicken. It was called hope, because soon he could be freed from this wretched form.
"All present who think the person with Sylphiel's father just now looks exactly like Rezo, please raise their hands."
Four hands raised.
"At least we can agree on that," Lina remarked wryly. "By looks and voice alone, that's one damn good imitation of Rezo."
"But is he the real thing?" Migel voiced the 1000 gold question.
"Eris?"
But the young lady shook her head. "The Rezo I knew seems so different than either this or the one you knew. I can't add anything."
"Excuse me, but why are you all talking as if this Red Priest was a fake?" Sylphiel asked.
"Because we killed Rezo," Lina shrugged.
"What?!" Sylphiel shrieked but then quickly quieted down. "Why would you kill one of the Great Sages?"
Lina sighed. This wasn't the time for a long-winded lecture. "To put it simply, a piece of the Demon Lord was sealed within Rezo's eyes. It woke up within him, we defeated it, and since it and Rezo shared the same body, Rezo is dead."
"But if that's true...who is that person we just saw?"
"That's what we're trying to find out."
"What if it's one of those things she has?" Gourry asked, pointing to Eris.
"Huh?"
"You know, like those men who all look alike."
"The Vrumuguns? You mean a copy?"
"One of the Rezos is a copy...?"
"That would explain the appearance," Eris nodded.
"But he wouldn't know about us," Lina insisted. "Unless Rezo prepared the copy very recently. Eris, does he know how to do that?"
"I'm not sure. He did take my Vrumuguns and perhaps he had some other help. Even so, he wouldn't have anywhere near the same power level as the original."
"Which one would be the copy?" Gourry asked.
"Oh come on, Gourry-san," Migel sighed. "Even you should be able to figure that out. The one running around the city right now has to be the copy. There would be no way for Rezo to transfer the essence of Ruby Eye from himself to a copy. I would know."
Lina cracked her knuckles. "That would be the good news. Between the three of us, we could probably take him and force, er that is convince him to remove the bounties."
"And the Vrumuguns?"
"Like Eris said, if we take out the head, the body will fall apart."
"I never said anything like that," murmured the research mage.
"Whatever. Hey, I have an idea. Why don't I turn in Gourry, claim his bounty, and then trounce this Copy?"
"Lina!" "Lina-san!"
"What is all the noise down here?" Eruk opened the door of the kitchen again. "Sylphiel, you didn't tell me you were having friends...over..."
He stared at the people seated in his kitchen. The threats to the city.
Then one of the walls was conveniently blasted away. Standing amid the settling dust and mortar, a robed mage stepped through, an energy blade flickering in one hand.
"Vrumugun!"
"I have come for you."
"That's nice. Digu Volt!" Lightning crackled from Lina's hand across the air to the Vrumugun. It struck him dead center in the chest but left not a mark.
"Is that all?"
Lina was really getting sick of his flat voice. "Gourry! Migel!"
"Me first!" Gourry called, pulling out his sword. "I'll show you a real Sword of Light!"
Something flickered in Vrumugun's red gem. "Please...do."
The two blades of energy hit and held. Lina immediately began to chant another spell. Maybe this time she could send a nasty jolt back to the puppetmaster as well.
"Elmekia Lance!"
"What?" Gourry sputtered as the Sword of Light suddenly blazed brightly.
"Damn, I forgot that that blade absorbs magic," Lina groaned. Oh well, make the best of it. "Eris, how are the Vrumuguns controlled?"
"The red gem!"
"Got it!" Gourry lunged forward with enhanced blade as the Vrumugun vanished. He reappeared near the kitchen door and then ran further into the house.
"Eris, you're going to have to tell me how you gave those Vrumuguns of yours the ability to cross dimensions," Lina told her as they chased after Vrumugun.
"But...I never gave them that."
"You didn't...then just how are they doing it?!"
"Gotcha!"
The girls' attention was drawn back to battle as Gourry leaped through the air and slashed at the Vrumugun. Gourry landed with a smug smile. The Vrumugun looked at him, and a crack appeared in the red gem on its brow. It shattered into glittering ruby dust.
"...is that it?" Gourry asked.
Energy began to collect in Vrumugun's hands. "No."
"Eris, I thought you said that the red gem was the key!" Lina screamed as she ran and slid across the floor to escape the many energy blasts escaping from Vrumugun.
"It was!" Eris yelled back, hiding behind a stone pillar. "Whoever is controlling it must have lost control!"
"So why is it still trying to kill us?" Migel yelped at a near hit.
Eris chewed on her lip. "It shouldn't be. They are all passive, not aggressive. And none of them should have been able to cross dimensions or fire energy like this!"
Another blast shook the entire manor to its foundation. The walls began to shake as more and more of the supports were being broken by Vrumugun's wild energy release.
"Please stop this!" Eruk pleaded, his arms out and beseeching to the wild floating mage. "There is no reason for this to have gone so far!"
"Father!"
"Don't get near him!"
"Sylphiel don't!" Gourry warned, grabbing the young lady before she got too close herself.
"You are in my way." Vrumugun floated down closer to Eruk and placed one hand on his face. "Die."
"FATHER!!"
Eruk's scorched body fell silently to the ground, smoke coming from his eyes and mouth.
"Fa...ther..." Sylphiel fainted.
"What the hell..." Lina murmured. Just what was going on here? If he was just after her and Gourry, then why did he kill Sylphiel's father!
"I can't allow you to get away with that." Migel slowly walked toward the Vrumugun, his long sword held out before him. "Clones or not, manipulated or not, this has gone too far. That man had no connection to any of this and you deliberately killed him. By my books, you are unredeemably evil."
The holy knight nimbly dodged the energy blasts and parts of the falling ceiling, all the while still advancing on the cloned mage.
"Draw your blade and fight!" Migel challenged as the building began to come apart at the seams.
"Eris! Come on, we can't stay in here!" Lina yelled, watching for large pieces of the falling ceiling. "Gourry! Take Sylphiel out of here! Migel, forget him!"
"Go first!" Migel yelled back as he crossed blades with Vrumugun.
"Lina, let's go!" Eris called, tugging on the young sorceress's arm.
The three fled the collapsing building. Vrumugun's energy blasts had broken most of the supports and walls but none of them were hurt badly. Actually, Lina noted, though Gourry and Eris suffered some scratches and bruises, she was perfectly fine. None of those blasts had ever been aimed directly at her or close enough to harm her either.
"He wasn't trying to kill me?" Lina muttered.
"What was that?"
"Eh? Oh, nothing I guess. Just how long is Migel going to - "
The Mayor's Manor crumbled to the ground.
"Migel?!"
"He was still in there fighting Vrumugun..."
"What is this place?"
"This is Rezo-sama's main laboratory."
More like storeroom, Zel thought privately. Almost everywhere he could see were shelves upon shelves upon shelves of magical knick knacks, scrolls, and books. There was no order in the mess.
"And where are you going?"
Tiiba froze mid-step. "Uhhhh, the little chicken's room?"
"Take me to - "
"Rezo-sama's clone. Yeah yeah, I know, I know." Tiiba shrugged his white feathered shoulders in resignation. The chicken lead Zelgadiss through the maze of shelves until anyone could have lost their bearings.
"Here we are."
Tiiba had lead them to what Zel assumed was one corner of the huge lab. Now this part looked more like a magical laboratory with the shelves of neatly stacked books and manuscripts and a desk covered with notes. In the corner was some type of chair made of organic material that almost pulsed. Zel decided to leave that for last.
"Where is the copy?"
Tiiba blinked its eyes innocently. "Well, it was here."
"Don't play games with me," snarled the chimera. "Who is using that copy to put out the bounty?"
"Rezo-sama is... Rezo-sama."
"Give me a straight answer!"
Tiiba chuckled. "The answer lies in Rezo-sama's notes."
All it took was just the right grip, and this chicken would be serving as someone's dinner. Unfortunately, it was also the only thing that knew its way around this laboratory. It knew it, it knew Zel knew it, and it knew it could push him within certain limits.
"You stay here," Zel growled before going over the papers on Rezo's workbench. He didn't need to keep a constant watch on the chicken when he could hear it all the more easily.
Keeping the rustling of papers to a minimum, Zelgadiss sorted through the disordered notes. Some notes on the creation of copies and their limitations, some notes comparing chimera techniques from the Clair Bible with the more crude methods developed independently, those were what he expected. But they didn't tell him why Rezo had been so intent on creating his own pet 'Zanaffar' and on creating a copy of himself even though it would be blind as well.
"What were you up to, you bastard?" muttered Zel. "What is this?"
At the bottom of the pile, there were several figures and notations about those gems he had found in the other cloning laboratory. So, those gems did allow who ever enchanted them the power to control whomever wore the gems. Such control would also extend to being able to see and hear through the puppet as well. So why was this so important to Rezo?
Zelgadiss came to the last page of notes.
'I have finally hit upon it. This is the breakthrough I have been looking for. With this, I have no need to fear what may happen when I fulfill the deal with the Mazoku. Either way, I will survive.'
"Of course. If he can do that and with the clone's body...So he knew all along." The paper crumpled in Zel's fist. "He knew what was going to happen and he was preparing for it. Damn you, Rezo. Just how much of this is all your doing!!"
"More than you think, kid."
"So, you've finally returned to your true form," Zel said flatly.
Tiiba was somewhat miffed at the mortal's lack of response. After all, it now towered him by several feet in its demonic form. The Mazoku bared its beak of sharp teeth.
"You still look like a chicken."
"Wark! I am a Mazoku!"
"Humph. So it was Rezo's plan to use you to lure me all the way down here? Why then let me in on all of his deep dark secrets?"
"You're a smart boy," snarled Tiiba. "You figure it out."
"So he's that afraid of me that he doesn't do the job himself?"
"Rezo-sama has other things to do," announced another voice who steppe forth from the maze of shelves. "We are sufficient to deal with the likes of you."
Zelgadiss narrowly studied the newcomer. It was humanoid but that was about the extant of anything human about it. Silver scales took the place of skin with tufts of white and black fur around its collar bone. Its 'hair', like his, appeared sharp and stiff, having that look as if someone had blown it all back. Jutting from its lower arms were bone spurs and the fingers ended in claws. The pupilless eyes blinked, not with lids that went up and down but those that came in from the left and right.
"Another chimera."
"Not just any old chimera. Your replacement," smiled the other chimera.
"There is no need for you here, Ducris. I can deal with this upstart myself."
Great, stuck between a pure Mazoku and a proto-Zanaffar chimera. And if Ducris was created after him, then he probably had more of the Zanaffaran attributes like nigh invulnerability to magic. To say nothing of the Tiiba's own resistance to magic. At times like this, there was only one thing to do.
"He's getting away!"
"This is all your fault!"
"Mine? You're the one being an arrogant - "
"Just go after him! Rezo-sama will not be pleased if he gets away!"
"Mi - "
"Stand where you are and put your hands on your head!"
"Amelia!" Lina yelled. "Give it a rest already!"
"Justice will never rest as long as evil lurks in the hearts of men!"
"What about women?"
"Gourry! Just shut up and help me dig Migel out!"
"Ummm..." Gourry looked down at the unconscious Sylphiel. "But what about..."
"Put her down somewhere safe and help!" Lina snapped as she and Eris shifted through the rubble.
"I'm trying to give a speech here!"
"Stuff it, Amelia!"
"Such insolence! Even after being caught red-handed at the destruction of the Mayor's manor and the kidnapping of his daughter. I cannot allow this - "
Chimes rang in the air and almost seemed to cause the atmosphere to darken. Marked first by his staff, the rest of the Red Priest became clear as he approached them.
"Oh my. What ever happened here?"
"Don't pretend you don't know, Rezo!" Lina snapped.
"Me?" Rezo was the perfect picture of mock dismay.
"Rezo-san!" Amelia bounced over to his side.
"Hello, child," Rezo smiled warmly. "You've done very well."
Amelia beamed with pride.
"And now that everyone is here..."
"You have need of something?" asked the Vrumugun who appeared behind Rezo. As it raised its head, the red gem was noticeably missing.
"You're the same one that was in the house! Rezo-sama, what have you done to the Vrumuguns!"
"I haven't done anything. All they are are due to this one Vrumugun, let's call him Alpha, who was one of the original ones that left with me, my dear Eris." Rezo smiled and opened his eyes, one violet and one orange.
"So you really are a copy," Lina hissed. For a copy, this one had a large amount of self-assurance.
Rezo's smile only grew wider.
"Why did you put the bounty on us!"
"For the simplest reason in the world. I wanted all of you to come here so I could thank you."
"Oh, is that all?"
"Of course not!" Lina growled at Gourry. "Don't take everything at face value!"
"You lured me in as well? For what?" Eris asked in a trembling tone.
"...wha...Red Priest!" Sylphiel woke up in a hurry.
Rezo surveyed them all with a cat-like grin. "Hmmm, yes everyone is here."
"What do you we're all here? Aren't you missing Zel?" Lina retorted.
"Oh he is here. But he gets a special reception."
Lina did not like that chilling smile.
"As I was saying, I brought all of you here so I could thank you." He turned first to Amelia. "Thank you for herding Lina Inverse and Gourry Gabriev here."
"Thank you Sylphiel, for helping me find them in the city."
"But I, I wasn't helping you!" Sylphiel protested.
"Thank you Eris, for providing this body and a steady supply of disposable minions."
Eris swallowed her tears.
"Thank you Lina, for defeating the Demon Lord so I didn't have to do it myself."
"Like you could," Lina shot back. She couldn't help it. She was growing increasingly nervous. What was this copy up to? He was talking as if he was Rezo!
"Thank you Gourry, for delivering the statue and granting me the one thing I desired above all else, my sight."
"Errr, you're welcome I guess..."
"Gourry that isn't something you should be receiving gratitude for! Just what are you planning Copy! You could have always sent us little notes of gratitude. You didn't need this elaborate set-up!"
Rezo sighed dramatically. "I had expected you to figure it out. Perhaps my expectations were too high?"
"What do I need to figure out? That you're just a cheap carbon copy of Rezo?"
Rezo frowned slightly. "This just won't do. I guess the only way is to give you one more clue."
"What are you - "
Lina was cut off by Rezo's staff as he slammed its point into the ground. They became enclosed inside a dome.
"And now..."
Rezo's smile was truly terrible.
"Let's level the playing field."
As far as they could see outside the shield was razed to the ground in a matter of minutes.
"No...way..." Lina whispered. No copy can have this much power.
"The city...the entire city, everyone," Sylphiel murmured with both Eris and Gourry supporting her.
"Re...Rezo-san! How could you do that! All of those people!" Amelia stammered.
"What's wrong, little Amelia? At least they died a clean death."
Amelia shuddered. "That...was the deed of an evil person! Though it strikes me deeply to go against one who is revered by our world as a great sage, I cannot deny justice its due! False priest, prepare yourself!"
Rezo simply looked bored.
"Diem Wing!"
The buffet of wind was easily cleaved by Rezo's staff.
"Fireball!"
It was extinguished before it even reached him.
"Blast Ash!"
"There she goes again with the black magic," Lina sighed. "Doesn't she have any idea who she's going against?"
"Then leave him to me!" Gourry shouted, joining the fray.
"Gou - " The blond swordsman drew out his sword of light. " - rry, don't." Lina sighed again. Why did she have to be surrounded by idiots?
Gourry and Amelia doubled against Rezo, one with sword, the other with spells. They would strike in turn, or together if they were sure that the other would also be struck. Rezo however was nonchalantly parrying their clumsy attacks.
"Both of you, get out of the way!" Lina yelled.
Gourry took one look at her, grabbed Amelia, and scrambled out of spell range.
"Dragon of darkness which sleeps in the inferno! Let your roar burn my enemy to ashes! Gaav Flare!"
The spell struck against Rezo's shield, diverted around him and destroying the land behind.
"...looks like you're the real thing alright," Lina said narrowly. "Let me guess, you transferred your mind into a clone's body?"
Rezo inclined his head.
Gods, if everything bad that she guessed kept becoming real, she was going to give it up.
"So this is all about revenge?"
"I wouldn't want to think of myself as that petty," Rezo smiled pleasantly, looking at them. "I'm simply clearing the path of road hazards."
"Rezo-sama! Please stop this!" Eris pleaded. "Why must you do all of this?"
"Dear, dear Eris. Do you still not understand?" Rezo held his arms out wide. "This is me. The true me. None of that altruistic garbage."
"Excuse me, I think I missed something. Did Lina just say this is the real Rezo?" Gourry asked.
"It's the real Rezo in his copy's body."
Gourry blinked.
"That's the real Rezo without the Demon Lord sealed within him!"
"Oh, okay."
"What? Is that all you have to throw against me?"
"Not by a long shot Rezo! How about this!" Lina quickly chanted a spell to low for anyone to hear but some sort of spear-like object flew forth from her hands.
"But spells don't work!" Amelia whined.
"Where's Lina?" Gourry asked, looking at her empty outline.
"Lina-san! What are you doing?"
Lina barely heard their yells as she ran in the wake of her spell toward Rezo. Hopefully, he'll be too busy trying to block it to notice her. Sure he could block spells if he saw them coming but what if he got by one point blank? One Lina Inverse Dragu Slave Special coming up.
"Foolish girl." Rezo planted his staff into the ground. She was only rushing toward her own death. Well, he'd make sure it would be a slow and painful one.
Lina was nearing the last of the Chaos Words for the Dragu Slave chant when she realized something was wrong. Rezo was looking at her and smiling widely. This must be a trap!
She began to turn aside and that was the only thing that saved her as the spell she was chasing hit Rezo's shield and reflected back at her. The barely visible spear of energy ripped through her. As pain clouded her mind and eyes, she wondered if it hadn't just ripped off part of her.
People were screaming her name but it was getting more distant. Odd how cold it could get during the summer. There was something wet spreading through her side, down her back. Why was it getting so cold?
"Iyaaaaaaa!"
The scream of pain was ripped from her throat as electricity tore through her body.
"You bastard!"
"Stop, you'll kill her!"
"Rezo-sama!"
Rezo only kept smiling at their anguished reactions and let another Mono Volt course through the dying sorceress body. If he really wanted to kill her, he would have used a Digu Volt. But where was the fun in that? After all the trouble she's caused him, this was the least he could do.
"Get away from her!" Gourry roared, nearly cleaving the Red Priest in two with his blazing sword.
Careless of him, getting so carried away with his perverse joy that he forgot about these other gnats. One of the girls, the late Mayor's daughter wasn't it, was picking up the bleeding sorceress.
"Dark Mist!"
A dark wind blew through the area, obscuring everything with a deep black mist to prevent detection. Hadn't this happened before? Oh yes, when Zelgadiss barely escaped his first, and almost last, encounter with the Sword of Light. As before, Rezo's chimes dismissed the spell before its time, allowing him to catch a glimpse of the quickly retreating people.
He always did prefer live game for target practice. Rezo closed one eye to be sure he was aiming correctly as he pointed his staff at their backs. With just a single blow then -
A hand forcefully pushed the staff aside, ruining Rezo's concentration. The Red Priest scowled at the interruption.
"You'd better have a good reason for this," Rezo said tightly. They were already gone out of visible range.
"You cannot kill the girl," Alpha said evenly. "The master has ordered that she live."
Rezo sneered, yanking his staff out of Alpha's grasp. "You Mazoku are all so high and mighty on your own, but mention one of your masters and you become spineless slime."
Alpha didn't raise to the barb.
"Whatever. If I can't kill her, then how about if I kill everyone else around her?"