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Post by rollzero on Feb 11, 2013 1:37:42 GMT -5
My first fanfic directly off The Slayers, takes place about a year after the events of Evolution-R. This one's mostly a free write and there's no real chapters as I'm just writing it as it comes to me in bits, and just stop whenever pretty much. So some posts for this fanfic might be short and others long. -------------------------- "Xelloss..."The trickster priest smiled his usual grin at the crimson haired woman laying on the bed, the sheets covered with her splattered blood. "Now Miss Lina, this will only take me a moment. It is a good thing we discussed everything ahead of time, I fear you would not have enough life left in you to state all your terms..." Lina Inverse glared through her weak eyes. "... Just... Shut the hell up... And get on with it." she coughed, a bit more of the red liquid escaped from her mouth. Xelloss waved his forefinger, leaning his head close as he placed the finger upon her lips. "I will not allow L-sama to claim your soul, Lina-chan." his Mazoku eyes slowly opening, piercing through her as death was creeping closer. "... For it belongs to me." he placed a violet jewel into her hand, and the world exploded in black sparks of magic. " Now, let's go save your sister shall we?" ******** Two Days Earlier ******** One of the great temple shrines of Cepheid was crumbling down by a deep crimson haired woman standing, watching as it came down. "... Still running out of time..." Luna Inverse hissed. "My, my, my... What happened here looks like somebody's having fun." The voice loomed from a black shadow above. "Get lost, Xelloss." growled the Knight of Cepheid. A black tornado came from the shadow and touched down to the ground, it slowly took the known form of the priest Xelloss standing before her. "I'm afraid I'm here on orders. Your recent actions are stirring up some questions in the monster realm." "Tell Beastmaster to mind her damn business." Luna spat. "Well I'll tell her you said that, but that doesn't satisfy my curiosity." Xelloss spoke, slowly opening a single violet eye. "Since when did you turn on Cepheid?" "You really want to know, priest?" she grinned a bit, then reached out and grabbed his hand. The burning sensation of holy magic pierced through his Astral Form. He quickly jerked out of her grasp, black smoke escaping from where she had grabbed, turning part of his arm black like the color of his true form. "... If you were cross with me, you merely had to say." he said in a mocking tone. "Are you really that stupid or a glutton for punishment?" Luna growled, her eye twitching under the hair that covered them. "That, would be a secret!" Xelloss waved a finger with a chuckle, then his face hardened. "... I knew this day would come, I had wondered why you turned Filia down... How long until...?" "... I don't know." she merely answered. "Does Lina...?" the priest began, and immediately was silenced by the powerful had at his throat, her fingers burning through. "Bring her into this, and I will kill you myself, priest." Luna growled, tightening her grip as her magic flowed and continued to damage his form. "I know the Mazoku already have her on their radar, this is my problem." she slowly let go and turned around. "Just remember our bargain." "Oh I have not forgotten, but I must say some things have changed since I met your darling little sister." Xelloss mused, opening both eyes with a smirk. "And I know Lord Beastmaster will be ordering me to see her again soon." Luna turned to face him. "... If it is anything like what Hellmaster wanted tell her I-" Xelloss raised a hand to silence her. "No. My mistress has no intention of summoning the Golden Lord. She only wishes to help balance the scales of power back to normal, as the monster race has taken a dive with losing 2 lords already." he shrugged. "Though the Demon Dragon King and Hellmaster got too greedy I'd say." "What is she planning then?" Luna asked quietly. "That-" "Is a secert." Luna had cut him off, which made the priest pout just a bit. "It can't be good if she's keeping it from you." "Well, it wouldn't be the first time." Xelloss rubbed the back of his neck. "But I have my theories." "Will she threaten Lina's life in anyway?" the Knight of Cehpeid pressed. "No, she wouldn't dare." Xelloss said this a little too darkly. "... But I think Dynast and Dolphin might." "I wouldn't put it past those two." Luna shook her head. "... Do you need me to come with?" Xelloss waved his staff as he shook his head. "You are quite busy on your own, Miss Luna. But if I may, where are you headed next?" "... Seyruun." |
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Post by rollzero on Feb 11, 2013 1:38:51 GMT -5
“I have returned, Lord Beast Master.” Xelloss arrived in the throne room of his mistress on Wolfpack Island on his knee in a bow.
“Excellent.” Said Zelas Metallium, the Greater Beast, as she sat in her chair. She had short spiky orange hair with wolf ears and amethyst Mazoku eyes. Her build was extremely slim wearing a purple one piece suit with a black vest. She blew a puff of smoke from the cigarette in her mouth. “Report.”
“The rumors are true… Cepheid is on the brink of manifestation.” He lifted his head to show the damage on his neck from where Luna grabbed him. “His powers are flowing like mad out of the Cepheid Knight, it may not be long before he resurrects through her.”
“Then we have a problem.” Zelas spoke as she held her cigarette in her hand. “If she cannot get the Flare Lord to reject her, we will need the power to get him out of her.”
Xelloss looked up at his mistress, his amethyst orbs opened wide. “… My lord… You aren’t suggesting that we…?”
“I already know Dynast and Deep Sea Dolphin are considering it, it would be best if we offer her first.” Zelas stood up and placed a hand on her hip. “And by we, I mean you, pup. Lina Inverse does seem a little attached to you, you might be able to convince her.”
“… She will not accept the pledge easily, my mistress…” Xelloss lowered his head, not moving from his bow. “She will only take the best offer that will benefit her. Though I do think that she will do anything to spare her sister’s life.”
The Greater Beast rubbed her chin. “… Very well then, you have my permission to proceed with your suggestion from before. Just make sure you don’t promise too much, my pup.” She reached out a hand, slowly brushing her fingers through his violet hair.
“I will only offer what you have approved of, Lord Beast Master.” Xelloss replied. “If I can offer her this before Dynast and Dolphin do, their interference might aid in her swaying to our offer.”
“… Or succeed where we fail.” Zelas added. “Or worse… We all lose and they destroy her. I know Dynast, he won’t take a refusal lightly… He might be stupid enough to kill her out of rage, if she doesn’t cast the Giga Slave before then.”
“Then I best hurry, mistress.” Xelloss slowly stood.
“One more thing, my son.” The Greater Beast still had her hand on his head. “Don’t let that taint waste you, I put far too much into making you. Sometimes I curse our nature, and sometimes I really wish I hadn’t loaned you out to Phibrizzo and you met that woman. What is it about her that appeals to you? To the degree you’re willing to do this?”
The priest closed his eyes and smiled. “Ahhh mother, that would be a secret… One that you very well know the answer to.” With that he shifted to the Astral Plane, leaving the Greater Beast to just stare as she took another puff from her cigarette.
“… I just hope your Soul Touch doesn’t drive you to insanity, my Xelloss…”
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Post by rollzero on Feb 11, 2013 1:39:16 GMT -5
“Bring on the next course!” shout Lina Inverse as she slammed her fist on the table, while fighting her traveling companion Gourry Gabriev for the last piece of meat on the table.
“Seriously Amelia, sometimes I wonder why you foot the bill for these two at times.” Grumbled Zelgadis Graywords, sitting back in his chair to get far enough away from the brawl.
Amelia Wil Tesla Seyruun shivered in her seat. “Miss Lina is far too scary when she doesn’t get a meal, I’d hate to see what she’d do to get the money for food otherwise.”
Sylphiel Nels Lahda rubbed her head as she sat at the furthest chair from the group. “I see not much has changed in the past year, Miss Lina and Dear Gourry still fight for their meals…” she sweatdropped. “I’m glad I ran into you on the way to Seyruun.”
“How are things going with rebuilding Sairaag?” Zelgadis asked.
“Very well actually, I did put a few things on hold to help Prince Pokota with Tarforashia and now the people of there are assisting me.” Sylphiel said with a smile. “Along with the help from Seyruun.”
“Is that why you’re on your way there Ms. Sylphiel?” Amelia asked, sweatdropping as the waiter brought in another tray of food and Lina nearly ripped it from his hands.
“Actually no, your father sent for me.” Sylphiel shrugged slightly. “He said he might be in need of my help as there have been several shrines to Cepheid been targeted as of lately.”
“Isn’t. *Much* That. *Chew* Why. *Growl* Phil. *Chomp* Asked for me?” Lina spoke with her mouth full of food, grinning victoriously with her foot in Gourry’s face.
Sylphiel blinked a few times. “He asked for Miss Lina?”
Amelia nodded. “Daddy thinks the shrine in Seyruun is a target, already 6 shrines across the globe have been destroyed in the past year alone.”
“We can’t figure out who or what is doing this unless we investigate, but odds are it’s probably the monster race up to their tricks again.” Zelgadis said with his arms crossed. “… Which probably means we’ll be seeing-“
“Oh dear, Mr. Zelgadis are you often into accusing someone before having any evidence on hand?” a very familiar voice echoed in the room.
“… Speak of the devil.” The chimera hissed, rising from his chair. “Show yourself you bastard!”
“Hello everyone.” There was a purple flash at a chair just a few inches away from the group, and there appeared Xelloss, a cup of tea in his hand that he took a sip from. “Always have such a warm welcome for me, don’t you Mr. Zelgadis?”
“Mr. Xelloss!” Amelia cried.
“It’s you.” Sylphiel gasped.
Gourry finally lifted his head and spoke. “…. Who’s that?”
Lina though, finished the bit of chicken in her hand and glared at the Mazoku before them. “… What are you doing here, Xelloss? What the hell does the monster race want from me this time?”
“Oh dear, Miss Lina whatever makes you think I can’t just drop by and see you?” Xelloss asked with a clearly fake cheerful expression. It would be too suspicious if he just got to the point anyway.
“Well let's see, every time I see you you're either trying to make me doing something for you, or you're trying to kill me!” Lina spat at him, slamming her fist on the table.
“Now, now Miss Lina no hard feelings... Remember I was under orders to offer your life to Valgaav that one time.” Xelloss waved a hand carelessly. “I myself have never truly chosen to try and take your life. And as for our last encounter, my mistress had my lips sealed involving the shadow of Lord Ruby Eye.” He opened one amethyst eye with a smirk. “And don’t I get a thank you for protecting your group? While it may had been a shadow of the Dark Lord it nearly wiped me from existence.”
Lina’s eye twitched. “Yeah suuuurreee, I’ll give you a thanks. Give me 2 minutes to chant the Ragna Blade as I cut you into pieces and stuff you down Gourry’s throat!”
“… What do monsters taste like though?” Gourry asked, tilting his head to the side.
Xelloss chuckled, this was why he always enjoyed their company. Lina was constantly an explosive amount of negative energy as she was easy to set off, just spending a few moments with her was enough to power him for weeks without much effort… Then if he assisted in making her angry or frustrated it made it all the better. “Besides had Valgaav taken me up on that offer, I omitted the very reason why I would have gladly killed you, because I would have turned you into a Mazoku!” he added out of the blue.
Lina just glared daggers him, her fist tightened. “… You would have turned me into a damn MONSTER?!?”
Her rage was as delicious as ever. Xelloss had a wide smirk on his face as he took in her emotions. “Of course, since I could never refuse an order from my mistress, the only other option would be to turn you into a Mazoku as I’d have to kill you to do that. That way I still wouldn’t have been disobeying orders, and you’d still be alive.” He shrugged as if this option was perfectly normal.
“Get to the point, Xelloss.” Zelgadis hissed. “What the hell are you here for already?”
“Ever impatient…” the Mazoku pursed his lips. “While you are correct I am here on business from Lord Beast Master… My business here is with Miss Lina, not with any of you.”
Lina narrowed her eyes at this. “What does the monster race want with me now?” she had never met the Greater Beast Zelas, but she suspected the creator of Xelloss just had to be just as bad… Or worse. After all she already had met 2 out of the 5 lords, somehow in the back of her mind she knew it wasn’t going to be over yet.
“Does it have anything to do with the shrines?” Sylphiel suddenly spoke up. “… You wouldn’t think of trying to make Miss Lina destroy them for you?!”
“Nonsense, if we wanted them destroyed we’d do it ourselves.” Xelloss waved a hand carelessly. “In fact we of the monster race have nothing to do with that incident, but we are interested.”
“WHAT?!?” the whole group shouted in surprise.
“Ok now I know he’s lying!” Zelgadis hissed.
Lina shook her head, calmly closing her eyes. “… No, despite his damn secrets Xelloss usually doesn’t outright lie… But, you do know who’s responsible, don’t you?” she opened one crimson eye to look at the Mazoku.
Xelloss nodded. “Correct. And while it’s not the main reason I’m coming to you now, it is a factor into the reason my mistress has sent me.”
“You know who?” Sylphiel gasped. “Who is doing such a vile thing?”
Xelloss chuckled and waved his index finger. “Now that is a secret!”
“…. Saw that coming.” Lina grumbled. “So get on with it Xelloss, what are you here for?”
“Well as you know Lina, due to recent events and the Monster Lords falling slowly in power, you're obviously on both the most wanted to join our race list, and also most wanted dead… So Lord Beast Master wishes to make you an offer before the remaining lords either decide to try to destroy you or make you join them…” Xelloss slowly opened his eyes as he spoke, his amethyst orbs staring right at her. Everytime he opened those eyes it often sent a shiver down Lina’s spine, because they showed the true nature of the Mazoku… But that also meant whatever he was going to say next was very serious…
“… So what exactly did Zelas send you to offer me?” Lina asked, arching her eyebrow.
The purple haired Mazoku smiled. “I’ve come to offer you The Pledge of Immortality, Lina Inverse.”
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Post by rollzero on Mar 29, 2013 21:24:45 GMT -5
“M-Miss Lina! Please! Hear me out!!!” Xelloss gasped as Lina Inverse had him in a choke hold, wrestling him on the floor after she sprang out in a furious rage from his offer.
“WHAT KIND OF A FRUITCAKE ARE YOU??? YOU HAD TO HAVE KNOW I TURNED DOWN SEIGRAM’S IDIOTIC OFFER!!!” Lina screamed into his ear, her arms so tight around his throat had he been human she would have broke his neck. “This had better be a BAD JOKE Xelloss or I swear I’m gonna kick your ass worse than Valgaav and Gaav put together did to you!”
“B-but I don’t mean it in the same way Seigram offered!” Xelloss squirmed, his eyes closed. “Y-you don’t understand there’s so much more on the line this-GAH!” she had punched him with a Visfarank.
“Lina would never make a deal with a monster! Mr. Xelloss you should know better than that!” Amelia growled, glaring down at the Mazoku.
“Well, I don’t know about that… I mean if they offered her enough I’m sure they could temp her into considering it….” Zelgadis mumbled.
“Can I ask something?” Gourry spoke up.
“What is it, Gourry dear?” Sylphiel looked at him confused.
“…. What’s this Pledge of Immortality thing again?” the blonde asked, making everyone in the room sweatdrop.
“STUPID JELLYFISH BRAINS!” Lina snarled and hurled a Fireball that he quickly dodged.
“Mr. Gourry how could you forget about that?” Amelia cried.
“Well it sounds familiar, but I can’t place my finger on it…” Gourry rubbed his head as he came back up from hiding under the table.
“Basically I am asking Ms. Lina to pledge herself to Lord Beast Master for immortality and other compenstations.” Xelloss chimed in, seeming unfazed now by Lina’s arms still around his throat. “Besides, haven’t you ever heard of don’t kill the messenger?” he opened his eyes about half way.
Lina twisted her mouth into a frown, then slowly released him. “Guess you have a point, you were ordered to offer it to me. It’s not like Zelas might have listened to you if you told her I’d turn her down.”
“Which in fact, I did.” The Mazoku admitted bluntly. “Her first offer was clearly just to ask you to join us, and I warned her that would only get me a Dragon Slave to the face.”
“Well I’m glad you’ve paid attention at least.” The sorceress smirked, her hands on her hips. “… But what does Zelas want with me anyway?”
“Hmmm… Well that…” Xelloss closed one eye, waving his index finger. “… Is a secret!”
An anger vain popped on Lina’s forehead. “Darkness beyond twilight… Crimson beyond-“
“WHOA WHOA MISS LINA PLEASE!” Xelloss waved his arms frantically, both amethyst eyes wide open. “What I meant was it’s a secret to everyone else in this room!” he extended his arm to the group still at the table. “As I stated before my business is with you and you alone. Mistress Beast Master does not wish me to reveal everything to your comrades just yet.”
“Get lost Xelloss.” Zelgadis growled. “Lina already turned you down, and if you’re hiding the very reason for her to join it has to be a bad one.”
“Zel’s right, you monsters are obviously up to something and I don’t feel like being a pawn in your games this time.” Lina hissed, turning her back to him. “Now run back to your master and tell her my answer is no.”
Xelloss sighed and closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Miss Lina, I really think you should hear me out…”
“Not hearing ya.” The crimson haired sorceress started walking away.
Xelloss grit his teeth, at this rate he was going to lose her… He had no choice, he had to reveal some sort of detail that would lure her back… But which detail that wouldn’t be disobeying a direct order? He took a moment to process it, and immediately he knew what he could say discreetly enough that would spark her interest. “It involves the Knight of Cepheid.”
Lina froze mid-step. Her body became ice and her eyes wide. “…” she slowly turned her head to face him, as for once the priest had her ear. “… What about my sister?”
The Mazoku smirked, he had her now. His amethyst orbs meeting her crimson as he spoke. “That we must discuss in private. I swear by Lord Shabranigdo no harm will come to you even if you still refuse, just I believe the information I am offering just for you to hear my request is compensation for your time?”
“The Knight of Cepheid?” Sylphiel gasped. “What would she have to do with this?”
“Are you saying Lina’s sister is in danger?!” Gourry gasped.
Xelloss lowered his head, his hair now covering his eyes. “… Correct.” Well, his mistress didn’t say they couldn’t guess what was going on, just that he couldn’t outright tell them.
“Are you saying the Mazoku are threatening her in some way?” Amelia shivered.
“You bastard! You wouldn’t actually try to blackmail Lina into this would you?!” Zelgadis growled.
“My, my Zelgadis I’m hurt you think so low of me.” Xelloss pursed his lips into a frown. “The truth is the Mazoku are not the threat to Miss Luna’s life. But we do know what is, and the solution involves Miss Lina here.”
Lina took one step towards the purple haired priest, her eyes fixed on him. “… If I come with you, you’ll tell me everything you know, no secrets?” she growled, pointing her finger straight at him. “I want to know EVERY detail, and you don’t get to leave a single bit out.”
Xelloss lifted his head, his eyes meeting hers once again and he felt a slight shiver come from her. “I will answer all your questions regarding your sister’s situation. After that, I will explain the terms of Lord Beast Master’s offer.”
“… And you’re not here to kill me you say?” Lina arched an eyebrow.
Xelloss shook his head. “Killing you would only worsen the situation. I cannot force you to take the pledge, it must be willingly anyway.”
The sorceress took another step closer. “In other words, I still have the choice to turn down your offer… Which means you aren’t the only one that’s going to be offering this are you?” she smirked slightly.
Xelloss’s mouth twitched for a moment. “… I suppose you could say that. Lord Beast Master assumed you’d be most likely to listen to me before… Others come along.”
“Others?” Sylphiel shivered. “But if you’re representing Zelas why would others be coming…?”
“You mean Mazoku followers of the other remaining Dark Lords, don’t you?” Zelgadis asked.
Lina narrowed her eyes. “Dynast Grausherra and Deep Sea Dolphin… Nice to know I’m so coveted.” She said with a smug expression on her face.
“I’m afraid I cannot say anything more.” Xelloss chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Otherwise Lord Beast Master would be very angry with me.”
Lina crossed her arms as she closed the distance between them, finally just a few inches away from him. “Alright Xelloss, I’ll listen to what you have to say.”
“Miss Lina you’re not really going to?” Amelia gasped.
“If it involves Luna, I’ll end up getting involved in someway.” Lina turned to the princess with a scowl on her face. “Look how she got me involved with Dark Star. I might as well find out all the details ahead of time.” She then turned her glare at the priest. “This doesn’t mean I’m considering the pledge, you know.”
Xelloss waved his hand carelessly. “Oh I was sure of that, but I am only following orders.” Ok that was stretching the truth a bit, but he figured letting her know what he was planning to offer with everyone around wasn’t a good idea. “Shall we?” he extended his hand.
Lina narrowed her eyes at him. She knew not to trust this damn monster well enough that he going to exactly tell her everything, but she knew whatever he would end up telling her would be the truth – that was one thing about Xelloss, he was strangely truthful for a Mazoku. If he said her sister was in danger and it wasn’t the their race after her, then odds were that really was the case. But if something was threatening the Knight of Cepheid, why would the Mazoku care? Wouldn’t they want Cepheid’s greatest asset out of their way?
She closed her eyes, letting out a sigh. “I’ll be back guys, trust me.” She winked, reaching out her hand to Xelloss and grasping his firmly. He smiled strangely at her, and before she could speak they vanished from sight.
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Post by rollzero on Mar 29, 2013 21:25:21 GMT -5
The whole world changed around Lina as Xelloss teleported her away from her friends. The very next thing she knew that she was in what seemed to be the same area as before… Just everything was extremely dark and there wasn’t a soul around. The tables were all empty, and Xelloss was gone.
“A pocket dimension…” Lina thought out loud, it had reminded her of the time she and her friends were attacked by the Mazokus with Zuuma. “Xelloss where are you?”
“Forgive me Miss Lina, I was checking the area around first.” The Mazoku’s voice echoed throughout the area. “I wouldn’t want eavesdroppers by chance.”
Lina spun around several times trying to locate him, that’s when she stopped a large black cone suddenly behind her. Slowly it was taking the shape of a human, to that of the priest who had brought her here. “Trying to impress me with your true form, Xelloss? That’s unlike you.”
Once Xelloss finished his appearance, he gripped his staff and opened a single amethyst eye. “I assure you, that was not the reason for it. To create a dimension like this, I had to shed my physical form obviously.”
Lina’s eyebrow creased. “In order words, you were setting up a barrier to make sure we’re not interrupted.”
“Observant as ever.” Xelloss mused, taking a chair. “Sit, please.”
The crimson haired sorceress crossed her arms, but decided to sit across from him at the table. “Alright then Xelloss, what is going on with my sister?”
“How much do you know about the situation with the Knight of Cepheid?” Xelloss inquired, leaning back in his chair and opening his other eye.
“Not much to be honest, just that my sister holds the power of Cepheid.” Lina shrugged. “She never was very forthcoming about it….”
“I see, well you are aware of what the Knights of Cepheid are I assume?” Xelloss pressed.
“Of course I know that fruitcake, they’re pieces of the Flare Lord like the piece of Ruby Eye that was inside Rezo, that’s what makes them so powerful.” Lina huffed, crossing her arms.
“Yes, but what makes you think Lord Shabranigdo is the only one that wishes to manifest back into this world?” the priest asked with a dark glare. “And just what might happen if he were to choose to do so in the current knight?”
There was a sharp gasp from Lina as her eyes went wide. “… T-then what happened to Rezo would happen Luna and she’d…”
“Cepheid would absorb her life energy completely and be truly awakened into this world.” Xelloss finished. “And begin the purification, a perfect world as far as the Shinzoku are concerned. I believe you can guess what kind of world that would be like?”
“A world without chaos, completely in order with peace as they say without any negativity…” the crimson haired sorceresses narrowed her eyes. “A boring world.”
“I’m pleased you share my mistress’s view on it.” Xelloss chuckled, waving a finger. “Balance is needed very much, but due to the loss of 2 Mazoku Lords and that ghost of Lord Ruby Eye did in fact drain a good amount of our power that it drew on… The Flare Lord is preparing to appear and finish us off.”
“But he won’t just stop at the monster race…” Lina muttered. “He wishes to ‘cleanse’ the humans as well doesn’t he?”
“Exactly. After all what better way to weaken the Mazoku then by ridding this world of negative emotions that humans give us the most energy from?” Xelloss explained, shrugging his shoulders. “Positive emotions while we can feed off them, they taste even more bitter than the time you had that fake dragon cuisine. They’re not really best suited for our energy and only considered a last resort to feed on.”
Lina blinked twice at that. “… Wait a second, does that mean you were FAKING it that time Amelia and the others held you off?!?”
The priest’s eyes closed with a groan. “I wasn’t pretending that I felt nauseated with Amelia screaming ‘Life is Wonderful’ into my ear.” He waved his finger when she was about to protest. “I never said positive emotions effect me like you all theorized, I just never told you. It makes me ill about the equivalent as a human can get food poisoning, I just actually didn’t want to fight them right then and used it as a distraction to steal the Dark Star Weapon from you.”
She pursed her lips together. “That reminds me, I still need to pay you back for attacking me.”
“Oh come now Miss Lina, I was merely following orders and had I not reacted they might had severely wounded you.” Xelloss rubbed the back of his neck.
Lina closed her eyes for a moment in thought. “… But having only positive emotions in the world would mean your powers would all be weakened, also with only 3 lords remaining there’s no guarantee they can stand up against Cepheid… But that’s what you mean by you monsters are not what’s treating my sister’s life?”
Xelloss merely nodded. “Killing Miss Luna could possibly just trigger the Flare Lord’s revival quicker. Right now she is the only thing stopping him as she is trying to get him to… Reject her body as the perfect host.”
“Reject?” the crimson haired sorceress opened her eyes, blinking twice.
The purple haired Mazoku smiled. “How would you go about getting the Flare Dragon to consider you a tainted host?”
Lina raised her eyebrow, rubbing her chin. “Well… I guess I’d associate with the Mazoku and… AH! It’s Luna that’s destroying the shrines and temples isn’t it?!?”
Xelloss snapped his fingers. “Bingo!”
“But what does this have to do with me, Xelloss?” Lina shrugged her shoulders. “What can I do to help my sister if she’s already having this much trouble?”
“Well my mistress believes it would be motivation.” Xelloss explained, shifting his staff to his other hand. “Luna seeing you on our side would further her denying the Flare Lord, as she would never want to fight you. Second is possibly with your powers along with some we will lend you after the pledge you might be able to gain enough power for a magical fusion spell with Luna to seal Cepheid’s power inside her, so that either he will leave her body or be trapped until the next reincarnation.”
“And what happens to me afterwards though?” Lina pressed, her eyebrows creasing together.
“That I cannot say, the pledge would allow you to live forever, and Lord Beast Master says you would be allowed to keep the addition power…” Xelloss turned his head for a moment. “… But you would be subjected to possibly being needed for assistance in the future.”
“In other words it wouldn’t be much different than becoming one of her Mazoku.” Lina sighed, shaking her head. “Forget it Xelloss, I’m nobody’s pawn. I don’t take orders and wish to live my life as I choose. I’ll find a way to save Luna myself.”
“I told her you’d turn this down.” Xelloss chuckled, holding up a single finger. “But I was ordered to make the proposal.”
“Why’s she so set on me joining you guys?” Lina rolled he eyes. “It’s not like I’m going to go join up with the Shinzoku, I use far too much Black Magic for their taste.”
“Oh it’s quite the opposite Lina.” Xelloss wagged his pointer finger. “… Cepheid sees you as a threat.”
Her eyes went wide from that response. “W-what?!”
“Chaos follows you wherever you go, Miss Lina.” Xelloss explained, a grin on his face as he explained this. “You attract many Mazoku due to this fact even myself as you’re a great source of energy and amusing. Also you are quite drawn to violence and are of the traits the Flare Lord wishes to remove from humans. Because of this, he believes you could easily be swayed to the monster race, in thus tipping the scale in our favor. Cepheid would rather destroy you first so that cannot happen, that is also why your sister is retaliating against him.”
Shock, horror, and several other emotions crossed Lina Inverse’s face. Luna was trying to protect her? And she never had any intention to join the Mazoku, yet the Shinzoku view her as a threat? Well, it would be hard for them to misunderstand, after all what did the Ryuzoku do when they felt something could be a treat? The Golden Dragons murdered the Ancient Dragons out of fear, and it seems Cepheid was willing to do the same out of fear of her. “… So Zelas wishes to get me before I’m lost to death, which would be a waste of all my powers is that it?”
Xelloss nodded with a chuckle. “Exactly. That and Cepheid isn’t the only one to jump to the wrong conclusion. Dynast and Dolphin also believe if you do not join us you might join the Shinzoku if they made a deal to spare your sister, which I highly doubt they would. That’s why Lord Beast Master insisted I get to you first, as they will not hesitate to kill you. I was ordered to see to your protection until you give me an answer on the proposal.”
Lina frowned at that. Had she known she might had postpone rejecting Zelas’s offer just to use Xelloss as a shield as the other lords might come along. After all it would be nice to make him useful for a change. “But I already gave you my answer, so why are we still here?”
“Ahhhh, you gave me an answer on my mistress’s proposal…” Xelloss smirking, opening both of his amethyst eyes and waving his forefinger. “But you’ve yet to hear mine.”
Lina was taken aback completely by that. “Wait… WHAT?”
“Why the surprised look, Miss Lina?” Xelloss tilted his head to the side. “After all I am the highest ranking Mazoku outside of the remaining lords. I can easily perform a pledge…. I’ve just never had the use for it.”
“B-but wouldn’t this be like backstabbing Zelas? I mean you’re going for exactly what she wants!” Lina cried, waving her hands hysterically. Out of everything she expected him to say, she never saw that coming.
“Actually I have Lord Beast Master’s permission to do this.” Xelloss chuckled, leaning closer to her. “After I told her I was 98% sure you’d turn her down, I asked if I may make an offer and she accepted. She is that desperate for this plan to succeed and to not waste your talents by getting killed by either Cepheid or the other lords. While she would prefer you taking her offer as pledged under me you would not be subjected to her orders, she will be pleased.”
“And what’s to stop her from ordering you to order me?” Lina narrowed her eyes at him.
“Oh don’t worry, a pledge doesn’t mean you have to obey the Mazoku, you saw that yourself.” Xelloss shrugged. “I’ll even add it to our terms as my mistress agreed she can never order me to make you do anything, and I will never order you to completely do something against your will or the pledge stone will break immediately, destroying the contract.” He lifted a finger. “Also, by being pledged to me while I am highly skilled I am not at equal power to Lord Ruby Eye, if you really wanted to you could destroy the pledge stone with a Dragon Slave, if not the Ragna Blade.”
She looked at him suspiciously. “Why you are telling me all this?” she unconsciously moved closer to him, staring into the depths of his eyes.
“Time is of the essence, Miss Lina. And I only keep secrets when my mistress orders me to do so. That and I am hoping you’ll choose to take my offer after I explain all the terms.” Xelloss chuckled, and suddenly kissed her on the cheek!
Lina’s face turned scarlet as she was having a flashback of the last time he did that. She fell back into the chair all flustered until it snapped into her brain what she should be doing to that blasted priest right now! “Y-you bastard!” she leapt from her chair and knocked him over, her arms tight around his throat in a headlock. “How dare you assault an innocent girl you ass!!!”
Xelloss was just laughing under her choke hold on him. “Ahhh Lina you never fail to amuse me, no wonder you’re my Soul Touch.”
Lina’s arms suddenly loosened around his head, her crimson eyes wide in slight shock. “… What did you just say?”
Xelloss smirked up at her, and looked like he was about to answer playfully… When suddenly his face hardened. When the red haired sorceress looked up there was nothing there… But suddenly she was standing up, held tightly against Xelloss’s chest with his mantle wrapped around her. He must had teleported them as she saw the spot they were in just a second ago, and a huge explosion had erupted from there!
“W-what are you doing? What was that just now?” Lina cried, looking up at the Mazoku as he held her close. His eyes were extremely serious and looking out ahead.
“It appears I’ve been careless…” he spoke after a moment. “Someone did sneak in after all.”
“Impressive you managed to sense me, Xelloss.” A young female voice giggled in the air. “But I guess that’s to be expected from the Greater Beast’s General Priest.”
“Sherra.” Xelloss hissed with a low growl. “It’s very rude to interrupt you know, I’m here on business and you’re meddling.”
From the smoke of the explosion a female figure walked towards them. As she emerged, Lina could see she had long deep blue hair in a ponytail, green eyes, a formal blue outfit that had long selves that stretched down to her white gloves, a black belt and white pants. Attached to the belt was a sword with a stone-like hilt. “I overheard, and I’m here on business too. Lord Dynast sent me personally… To offer Lina Inverse to join the Mazoku.”
“Dynast?” Lina gasped. “… Does that mean that she’s…?”
“His general… Don’t be fooled by her appearance she’s much more powerful than the followers of Gaav you defeated.” Xelloss growled, his tone actually worried Lina as there was a hint of loathing and detest from him… Usually the priest kept his cool around people, but something about this Mazoku unnerved him… Just what was it?
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