Slayers Fan Fiction ❯ Slayers For the Future: The Prophecy of Inverse ❯ Ruby- Eyed Lord….The Pieces of Darkness ( Chapter 11 )

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Chapter 11

Ruby- Eyed Lord….The Pieces of Darkness

"I feel sick. I hate boats." Filia grumbled, her face a slight shade of green, finally in her spare clothing. The group had expended most of their energy using magic and Filia's wings to reach the docks before the boats left early that morning. She'd nearly walked to buy tickets before she recalled she had no clothes on.

They were all tired, except Zelgadis. He never got tired, but one thing was common among them. They were all confused and worried. It had only been a day since they met the Dark Priest Onyx, a man claiming to desire the resurrection of Shabranigdo and would be doing it soon. For almost a century, all the group had lived for was revenge, to get back at Luna Inverse for murdering Hiero Inverse in cold blood.

Now the world was being threatened, which would deny them all their personal stakes in hunting Luna down. They had to solve this problem before continuing after Luna, for if Onyx succeeded, nothing would be able to stop all seven rejoined pieces from swallowing the world in absolute darkness.

"And further more, without the world, there's no more us, no more treasure, no more avenging, and most importantly, no more food!" Lina spat out, and everyone who had serious looks on their faces dunked their heads down in disappointment at the mention of food. They were all hungry too.

"Be serious, Lina. The end of the world is more important than your stomach." Zel chided. Val just looked terribly weak and tired. He'd barely eaten in the last town they were in, so he was in the worst shape. How he managed to speak regardless.

"It is more important to save the world, but I don't know anything about what Shabranigdo and Cephied were. Mom never told me any of that stuff and neither did my tutors. They just said there was a big battle between the two and they both got sealed up, neither one winning the battle. What the heck is this demon king capable of?" he asked, rather weakly.

Lina and Zel stared at Filia, who blushed. "I was merely protecting him. I didn't want him thinking about long dead wars. He was going to be a swordsman, not one of magic. I wanted to leave that to the mages and priests." Filia spouted defensively. Val just pouted, then sneered at the distrust his mother had in him.

"I'm not him anymore. I can't remember my first two lives. I'm not going to explode about the war between Cephied and Shabranigdo either. So, at least to humor me. Spill, Mom. I'm not a little kid anymore. I'm an adult." Val grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Fine, but we're only saying this to pass the time. We'll be arriving back in the outside world by morning, at best. And Val, keep you mouth shut for once or it'll be chewing a fireball the second you forget that." Lina chided, giving him a scornful look. Val just sighed and rolled his eyes, then nodded.

"Filia, you better back me up, you know the story just as good as me, ok?" Lina piped, looking over at the dragon maiden," Now Val, tons of years ago when the Lord of Nightmares created the 'staffs' on the Sea of Chaos, our world and the three other worlds she created a Demon King and Dragon King, Ruby-Eyed Shabranigdo and the Flare Dragon Cephied. Its unknown how long they fought for, but the battle ended about 5,000 ago since both were equally matched in power. Shabranigdo was split into seven pieces, those rubies on Onyx's talisman, sealing him away, but not obliterating him. Cephied was too weak to continue on as well and split himself into four parts, or rather dragon lords of Earth, Fire, Sky, and Water before sinking into the Sea of Chaos. Shabby made five Mazuko lords to continue on for him while he remained trapped, those being Beastmaster Xellas Metallium, Hellmaster Phibrizo, Chaos Dragon Gaav, Deep Sea Dolphin and Dynast Grauscherra. So basically, these leftover parts continue the battle while both kings remain sealed. Filia?"

"Then 1,000 years ago, Hellmaster Phibrizo and his Mazuko started the Kouma War to resurrect the Demon King in Lei Magnus, who had the seventh piece of Shabranigdo reborn within him. He welcomed it as it turned out, being called the Demon King of the North later on. They challenged the Water Dragon Lord and other dragons at Dragon's Peak. Phibrizo bided his time by increasing his Mazuko numbers in the onslaught, all to awaken the piece within Lei Magnus, a powerful human mage. Phibrizo succeeded in his plans and Shabranigdo within Lei attacked the Water Dragon, and while the battle went on, Phibrizo and his dirty Mazuko created a God-sealing field. This was what kept Lina, Gourry, Amelia, Zelgadis and most of the people born on their continent from coming to the outside world. Lina?" Filia breathed out, smiling as this caught Val's interest.

Lina just gave a toss of her hair and took a deep breath. "They did it by placing the four of the Mazuko lords at four points about surrounding our home continent, north, east, south, and western areas from the battle area of the Kataart Mountains. Doing this weakened the Water Dragon and to make matters worse, Shabranigdo used the fifth lord, Gaav, as a medium for the entire spell and greatly decreased the dragon's chances of overpowering the single piece of himself against the fourth piece of Cephied. The Water Dragon lost the battle, but Lei Magnus' body was frozen in a solid pillar of purest ice, making it impossible for him to move at all. This pretty much destroyed one of the power of the gods and that meant one way to fight the Mazuko was pretty much shot. No one has even been able to go to the Kataart Mountains without getting cursed or killed, like Dirrus II. Poor bastard got the hideous Raugnut Rusyavuna curse, a living ball of vicious flesh. How this Onyx guy got near that area without getting fried….assuming he went there at all, is beyond me. For all we know, he's got a piece of old Shabby inside him too." Lina explained.

"So in other worlds, if Onyx succeeds in collecting all of Shabranigdo's pieces, it'll be a veritable hell on earth for humans, dragons, and everything else except the minions of darkness like Xellos. The good races will be hunted down and tormented for eternity. Am I right?" Val breathed out, his face a bit squeamish about the entire story.

"In a nutshell, that's exactly what will happen. All thanks to Onyx, not that it matters why he's doing it. Why is not important, the fact he's going to go through with it is all that counts. He has to be stopped, and if it costs us a decent lead on Luna, well, I'm going to beat that little upstart man in black until his ass if up his throat. And then some." Lina said angrily, scrunching her face up to show it and tightening her slender hands into fists.

The group, even Zel nodded heartily in agreement, none the wiser to the shadowy figure perched above them, breathing so quietly you'd think he was dead.

~

Onyx just smiled, he'd been very entertained to finally hear his mother tell that story, even if Lei had gone over it in his mind a million times already.

It was good to see them all again, looking the same as they did the last time he saw them so long ago. They'd all changed, some for the better and some for the worse. He pitied his father, instantly going back into depression mode whenever he was emotionally crushed. Coming back to them would help make it go away, but they needed more than just a simple miracle of life. They needed to remember what they had and what they still had deep inside, the love he always heard on their minds and felt in their hearts when he was growing up.

'Still got the morals of damned priest and I'm the damn priest here, well former priest. I pinch girls whenever I get the chance. I'm related to this guy, for pity's sake. Why can't he be more open like he used to? He gives up to easily on himself. I'll have to work on that when I get home.' He thought, teleporting out of the lower decks to another room. The man on the bed sat there expectantly, not saying anything as Onyx approached him. The man couldn't speak anyway, he was Onyx's next target.

Renmazuo Talberd, born mute and no matter how many healing spells and potions had been forced down his throat, nothing healed him. The ruby piece of Shabranigdo was the reason for that, it was siphoning off the man perfection, his voice. As Rezo perfection would have been his eyes and Andavari's was his strength, Renmazuo 's was his soon to be perfect voice. Lei was the only human chosen by fate not to be afflicted with any retarding effects, to Onyx's knowledge.

The others were all in the outside world, just waiting to be rescued from the damnation they never did anything to deserve. He cursed L-sama for rebirthing the pieces into such people, ruining their lives before they'd even been born.

"Lay down, you'll be making your ladies in waiting swoon when you sing for them, milord. Just try not to scream. This is going to hurt." He told him in a hushed tone. The man nodded happily with his kinky blonde hair and green eyes, taking off his shirt to lie down upon his bed.

Onyx stuffed the shirt in his mouth to prevent the screams that were sure to come. He then took out his sword and slit his right hand, the last scar long gone, letting blood dribble out of his wound onto the man's chest before making the pentagram symbol with bloodied fingers.

Life had hurt this man, not being able to speak or communicate with others as well as those gifted with speech, but he'd found the man leaving the country to kill himself at sea. This was when he told Renmazuo that he knew what was causing his ailment. Onyx made him a deal, if he could restore his voice, then Renmazuo would go on living and use his voice to the fullest. If not, Onyx would kill him in the most painless fashion, to let him go down with honor rather than a tragic suicide.

Onyx just took a deep breath as he held his hands over the pentagram symbol and chanted," I pledge myself to thee, oh lord of the frozen north. I cleanse myself for thee, oh maiden of the deadly seas. I bleed of my free will for thee, oh mistress of the beasts. The dark power unchallenged of thy ruby-eyed king, with a heart of ice and eternal soul, I praise thee, to launch the becoming of the soul! Divine Hand!"

Onyx quickly shot his bare fist into Renmazuo's chest as he'd done with Andavari and kept it there for a few seconds before pulling it out, not bothering to look at Renmazuo 's pain wracked face. When it was done, the man relaxed and Onyx put the fourth piece of Shabranigdo on his talisman, a soft glow erupting as the piece merged with it. "You were better than the last one. He screamed like a girl. Do you have anything to say to me?" Onyx asked very politely.

Renmazuo was testing his voice, making a humming sound for a few minutes before attempting speech. "Than…..k y….y….you." he said rather slowly, getting the feel of his newly freed voice. He was crying now, clutching his throat in total wonder. "Take it slow, Renmazuo. Just practice from that book I gave you and you'll be singing beautiful sonnets to the ladies your court in no time. I promise. Enjoy your vocal freedom. I must be off…." Onyx told him, offering a shadowy smile before vanished from the room.

~ The Outside World ~

Onyx made sure he was the first one to hot the pier once the ship docked in the harbor, his hooded cloak whipping wildly behind him as he ran off with such speed even a chimera would be jealous. He was pleased to see they'd arrived earlier than Lina had had surmised, the dawning light had not even come up yet.

'Father would be proud to know I take after his senses and speed, but I'm more like Mom. I love a good adventure, especially when it pays.' He thought, racing past onlookers who were standing at the beginning of the pier. Before he could actually reach it, he stopped short, seeing the one face he really was in no mood to deal with….Xellos.

"What are you doing here, namagomi!?" Onyx growled, deciding to put Filia's words to good use against the smiling priest. The crowd about him had already started backing away as both young men were coming alive with dark energy. "That's a new look for you. I guess someone called you fat and you got incensed? Hmm?" Xellos asked sweetly.

Onyx just crossed his arms over his chest. "It was cold back there and its not cold right here. Besides, this is easier to move around in. I'm not with those grubby thieves anymore, who cares why I even ditched my robes?" Onyx spouted, turning his head away from the trickster priest. "Oh….well, I have something to take care of right now. Ta-ta!" Xellos said, walking right past Onyx, smiling like an idiot.

Onyx was puzzled, but then again, why bother questioning Xellos when he never said what he was doing anyway. Onyx took a step to test Xellos, to see if he'd get stabbed in the back for mowing, but instead he heard a very childish scream, and familiar as well. Onyx cringed as he turned, pulling out the Sword of Light to defend himself. He nearly threw up when he saw who Xellos was killing.

"Renmazuo!! You namagomi bastard!!" Onyx shouted, not noticing Lina and her group were charging out from the boat. Xellos had run the poor man through with his staff, right in the chest first, judging from the gaping and bloody hole that was there, but now the staff was in Renmazuo's dying throat. When the body convulsed its last, Xellos obliterated it in a flash of dark light. "Yes, so what?" Xellos spouted, right before a mace came crashing down through his purple-haired skull.

~

"YOU NAMAGOMI! MURDERER!! WHAT IN THE NAME OF CEPHEID ARE YOU DOING!?" Filia screamed, bashing Xellos endlessly with her mace, Val helping her by kicking him in the face. Lina and Zel just watched Onyx, who looked about ready to join in on the sport of Xellos killing.

Other than the same hood they'd seen him in before, he was dressed pretty much in the same kind of outfit Zelgadis wore, but it was black and his boots went up to his knees. He wore two brown belts with gold buckles on his tunic, the Sword of Light accenting the clothing and the only visible features the hood couldn't cover from the mouth down to the nape of his creamy neck. His left hand was still gloved while the right was bare, only having Xellos' Demon's Blood bracelet on that wrist.

"I suggest you all jump or something, people. I will not forgive this, not by a long shot!" Onyx growled, snapping his body straight like line in place, legs together and both hands in the air, the Sword of Light held high. Zelgadis just cast Ray Wing about himself and Lina and held his ground. Val had been shoved in with them but Filia went on bashing Xellos. "Argh, beat it, dragon lady!" Onyx shouted, casting Ray Wing at her and sending her shooting backwards into the boat," Now, while you're mush. Elmekia Lance!!"

The lance of light formed quickly in his hands and in seconds he tossed it right into Xellos' body, and the Mazuko screamed out his agony. Then, Xellos fell on his back unconscious. "Now that's a warning. Do that murderous crap again and you'll get Dynast Breath and Brass right up your smiling ass! Adieu, I have no time for such petty ridiculousness!" Onyx scolded, wagging his finger angrily at the sleeping Xellos. He put his sword away as the others tried to move towards him, but shook his head at them and vanished into a cloud of dark light.

"Shamanism too….black magic was bad enough. How much could he know? You have to be very skilled and old to understand both at the same time, so he can't know more than what he's doing. Can he? " Filia said while Zel cast Flow Break on her bubble, freeing her to land in an indecent manner on the pier.

"Who knows, who cares? Xellos killed that guy….for what? Onyx even knew who he guy was, maybe he had a piece of Shabranigdo inside him and Xellos tried to stop him from getting it." Val piped up, giving the still Mazuko a swift kick in the groin, and then another, taking pleasure in the slightly pained expression on Xellos' face.

"No, Xellos did it for fun, to taunt Onyx." Zelgadis said quietly. "Why do you say that, Zel?" Lina asked. He looked at her, pain evident in his eyes. "I saw that Onyx had four ruby pieces on his talisman, not three like before. He got the piece he wanted, but Xellos paid him back for outsmarting him by murdering someone who he'd released from the curse of Shabranigdo. It's as simple as that, petty revenge for humiliation. Not like us." He said as quiet and withdrawn as ever.

"That means Xellos was just being Xellos, an ass and Mazuko. That means Onyx followed us too. Why? Who the hell knows. Its not like Xellos would tell us who had what within their souls and Onyx knew that. Xellos probably knew Onyx was near us, he just conveniently forgot to tell us." Lina said curtly, smacking the back of Val's head as he'd started kicking at Xellos' face," Grow up, you can kick him all you want after this is done, Val. We've wasted enough time pondering, let's get out of this place before the local law starts bugging us."

"Yes, Aunt Lina. I'll carry….the thing around until he can open his damn eyes. Then he can crawl for all I care." Val sighed, picking up the unconscious Mazuko and flinging him over his shoulder. He walked down the pier, giving everyone that stared at him menacing looks and growls. Filia was being helped along by Lina and Zel, her rump still sore from her landing. The group plodded out of town and into the wilderness in search of Onyx, hoping they could beat him to the next piece.

To Be Continued….