Speed - Galaxy ~~ Grand Re-Opening!

[The Host]

 The ship in which Dolphin stood rocked violently as it was blasted by multiple bombs from neighbouring ships. Dolphin's navy of subs and efensive ships had all dropped back, and were presently bombarding the enemy with any attacks they could to hold them off. As the enemy was slowly driven away, Dolphin's subs pulled forwards, keeping the enemy at bay as the defensive ships pulled their walls up, shutting the RainShield off from all navy attacks.
 Dolphin shouted out commands to her army, directing them in their counter assault against the unknown enemy. As she did, she came to realise the cease in enemy fire, and quickly ordered a cease fire to re assess the enemy's power. Once she was sure that their was no more fire, Dolphin began to search the radio waves for a signal from the commander of the other side. Finally, she tuned into an airspace, and quickly growled out orders for the other end to respond.
 ..."Who... who is it?"
 The transmission cut out for a second, then dead air came back on, the sign that the enemy still wished to speak.
 "...Who... who is it? What do... do you want?"
 The transmission ended, this time leaving open air, allowing for Dolphin to respond.
 "The is Dolphin, commander of the RainShield, leader of the FreeAllianceNavy, also known as FAN. You called in earlier ordering me to surrender my forces. Now I'm asking you to surrender your forces to me, or I'll be forced to kill every living being on board your ships!"
 Dead air, then the line opened again, only to be filled with the man's voice once more.
 "Can you... see my ships? I ask only because... I have a gun trained on your head, and if you so much as... give a simple order to your forces... I'll shoot to kill... We're not done yet... miss Dolphin."
 Frusterated, Dolphin watched as outside, her forces drew back, giving her forces only a small area of sea to defend.
 "You see," the voice came back over the air, "I've told your navy what's happening, and now they're under my influence. What I say goes. They'll only rebel if I tell them to capture you. They'll do whatever it takes to protect you. Not that it matters much. You're doomed, I win."
 Dolphin dropped to her knees, crying out in anger and frutration.
 "Let my people go, they aren't worth anything to you. Just, take me..."

[The Host]

 "... So you've... given up?" The voice that came over the transmission was weaker than before, but still had a sting of cruelty and pride in it.
 Dolphin brought the mic to her mouth, and began transmission. "No... I've realised who you are... and I can't give up now... "
 "You seem... so sure of yourself... all of a sudden... Does my prsence give you... a jolt of power..."
 "No, that's not it. It's the fact that you can't shoot me anymore that will allow me to win. This whole time that we've been talking, my second in command has moved himself infront of me. You didn't order him to stop, nor did you give any sign of dismay that he's blocking me now. You were bluffing!"
 The line went dead for a minute, then the voice came back on, a small laugh starting the speech. "My dear lady. You are wrong. Completely wrong. You see... I can't shoot your face... but I can shoot you're back. And if that man with the black hair moves an inch, I will destroy your ship completely. I will tear you... limb from-"
 "What the hell just happened? Why'd you cut out?"
 The line was silent, then, "Sir, Captain Grelacta, respond!"
 'Who the hell are you?" Shouted Dolphin.
 "What? You're Dolphin, from the RainShield. Captain Grelacta is dead. He was shot. It was your doing!" The line closed completely, shuttuing Dolphin off from any further responce. Then, suddenly the voice returned over large speakers from the enemy ships.
"This is Commander Seril. Captain Grelacta has been shot, and has died. All foot soldiers get into boats and raid the enemy's ship. War ships, provide cover fire. We're taking the RainShield and its occupants in one final all out attack. Destroy everyone but the commander. Bring Dolphin back alive, even if she's only got one limb left. I want her for my own purposes. Kill them now!"
 Dolphin shuddered, moving away from her position and back to her seat. Shouting orders into the mic, she began to command the ship's occupants, but was stopped by her second.
 "The enemy has destroyed the com system. We need to give orders by direct confrontation."
 

[The Host]

 Taverna peered over the edge of the large hole, looking into the depths that lead to Hell. Beside him, Crioone shuddered as she viewed the dark tunnel. But before the two deamons could completely explore the hole with their eyes, they were pulled back by the ghost deamons. From within their large group, a sinister deamon that looked nothing like the dead deamons had emerged, and stood before Crioone and Taverna. Looking the two deamons over, the sinister deamon gave out a noise that sounded somewhat like a laugh.
 "The great Craiyo awaits you in the Chamber of Hell. Move back, and make your way into the grip of death." The deamon backed away from Crioone and Taverna, then snatched one of the ghost deamons that Crioone and Taverna had not been able to grasp. "And if you are wondering who I am, well, I am known as the Bringer of Ghosts. My true name was lost long ago when Craiyo took me as his slave. But I was lucky to survive, and even as his slave I became more powerful, and the ruler of the ghost like beings you see around you. But enough from me, go forth now and confront with Craiyo. He will decide whether or not to open the gate for you, for that is what you have come for, is it not?"
 Crioone looked at the Bringer of Ghosts with a fearless face, then nodded. "We'll be going now, but we'll return one day to uncover the true secret of this desert. Until then-" Crioone's claw ripped the skin from the Bringer of Ghosts' face, and as the deamon cried out in pain and anguish, Taverna plunged his fist into the deamon's chest pulling out a small flask containing a green coloured liquid. Seeing the flask, the ghost deamons backed off, dispersing wildly. The Bringer of Ghosts looked at Crioone with hate, but it was all he could do before he died.

[The Host]

Interlude Eleven
Exaltoskull's Story

 Blinding light flooded through Exaltoskull's eyes, and as the deamon warrior cried out, the light dissapeared, only to be raplaced by darkness. It had been a week since Exaltoskull's soul had been removed, and the deamon warrior was becoming restless. His soul, the only part of himself he could control, was trapped in the Chamber of Soul belonging to Tyranac, and the two souls had come to a stalemate fight in the chamber. Each soul had its own instict to battle off another soul that resided in a Chamber of Soul, and it was all Tyranac could do to influence his own soul not to kill Exaltoskull.
 Exaltoskull's soul, a formless mass of dark matter, absorbed a stab from the sword held by Tyranac's soul, and as the sword plunged through Exaltoskull, so did Tyranac's soul. This process had gone on like this for a week. Tyranac's sword should have been able to cut through Exaltoskull, but the willpower from the mind of Tyranac allowed Exaltoskull to survive. But there had been times when the sword had hit Exaltoskull. The pain had been excrutiating, and was always followed by a blinding light, then darkness.
 Blinding light flooded through Exaltoskull's eyes, and as the deamon warrior cried out, the light dissapeared, only to be replaced by a darkness darker than any before. Exaltoskull cried out in shock, but his voice was muffled, and his vision slowly faded out of focus, causing Exaltoskull's soul to be wrapped in a darkness that was even darker than the darkness in which he floated. This darker than darkness was Death. It was also a Deamon Shadow, a Reaper of Death. Exaltoskull cried out in pain, this time his cries exploding from out of Tyranac's body. Exaltoskull's soul was launched out of the ancient deamon's body, causing the formless dak matter covered by the Deamon Shadow to emerge in plain daylight.
 Hands emerged from the formless mass of matter, tearing at the Deamon Shadow in an attempt to remove it. But Exaltoskull's effort were useless. In only minutes the Shadow had taken over, the Exaltoskull's soul was reduced to a ball of darkness, with rings of gold spinning around it. Red eyes appeared on the soul, and a large hole in the back of the ball was opened. A light brighter than any other that had ever existed or would ever exist came out from the hole, and the Deamon Shadow let out a noise that could be interpretted as a cry of pain. Then, when the light was gone, the ball that was Exaltoskull's soul closed, the red eyes remaining. The Deamon Shadow spread itself apart, covering the ball, then wrapping itself around the ball, muffling all noise. Once wrapped around, the Deamon Shadow dissolved into Exaltoskull's soul, creating a human form, than that of the body of Exaltoskull. The Deamon Shadow ended by creating a mix of the two forms, and once the shape had been created, darkness covered the universe, only to dissapear once again, revealing the true form of Exaltoskull, Deamon Shadow...

[The Host]

Chapter Eleven
Burn in Hell

 Taverna pulled Crioone back from the dead deamon, protecting her from the sudden wind that sucked them towards the seemingly bottomless hole. The Bringer of Ghosts' body slipped slowly into the hole, chunks of blood seeping out of his stomach, and bones protruding from his arms and legs. The skin on his face peeled back, revealing a white skull, with small bug like deamons crawling over it. The bug like deamons, known as Yits, appeared on powerful deamon's bodies the second they died, extracting as much energy as they could from the dead deamon before it was all lost. Most died in the process from an overload of power, but those who survived simply moved onto the next prey, duplicaing themselves using the energy they had gatheredto ready themselves for the next death.
 Crioone turned around, looking away from the horrible sight, only to be greeted by a sight which scared her half to death. Moving towards them, the ghost like deamons floated through the air, their claws extended. But their was something different about them this time.
 "They're not ghosts any more... that other deamon was simply a controller of matter. He made them untouchable and ghostly, but once he's taken care of, the rest of them are just normal deamons." Unluckily, Taverna was only half correct. The deamons were now actual matter, but they were not ordinary. These deamons were an elite form of normal deamons, created and modified to be the ultimate deamonic warriors. The ghostly blue colour had now become a metallic blue, and their skin had been removed. Bones and muscle moved akwardly, but the power behind their attacks was immense.
 In only minutes, Taverna and Crioone were pushed back to the outer limit of the hole. And when the deamons struck once more, Crioone fell back, followed by Taverna. Even with wings, the two deamons allowed their defeat, knowing that the dead deamons would only fly after them, and eventually capture them. It would only cause them to lose energy, and the place they were headed would require all of their energy...

***

 The sun rose up over the cold desert of Craiyo, and the powerful deamons that had roamed the desert during the frozen night sunk into the warm sands, sinking to the bottom, where the sand always remained cold. And there, a deamon with a beautiful white hide stood before a throne. Beside him, a dog like deamon growled quietly as the dead deamons rested their bodies in large tubes. Bellcast smiled a cruel, evil, yet genius smile, and rested his hand upon his pet's head. "Follow my words, and the prophecy will not come true... the deamons who have discovered it have only discovered a part of it, as I planned. They think they are the heroes in this prophecy, and yet, in reality, the prophecy goes against them.
 "Alkyra. Geminest. Hardok. Illyare. Ninmeko. Omnimega. Arrange your battalion forces. Line up at Central Peak. The west side. Bring forth the Tower of Millenia once more. There will be the site of expulsion. I will be retiring to the Fog until the time is right. Until we meet again, Queen Lyela is in charge. She will appear once I am gone. She may look human, but her magician side is more powerful then Axerion the fake. Take good care of Anlatta until I return. And the beings from Craiyo... kill them all. They are no use to me anymore. Act two of phase one is done. The king is killed, the deamons lured. Ahead to act three, the ultimate act of phase one..." And with his last words, Bellcast shimmered out of existence, leaving in his place a hooded being with long flowing hair, and a spiritual pressure that made the six remaining warlords shudder. As Queen Lyela sat down upon her throne, the six warlords, as well as Anlatta-the dog deamon- rushed forwards, destroying the tubes in which rested the Craiyo Desert deamons.
 As the warm sun beat down upon Craiyo desert high above, the temperature changed, and a warm, almost happy, feeling came acroos the desert...

***

 Craiyo, a monstrous deamon, keeper of the gate to Hell, closed his mouth. The large hole in the desert shut, the gate had been closed. In a heart beat, the two deamons that had entered were gone from his presence, their bodies roaming the endless sea of desolate islands that was known as Infinitora. But that didn't bother Craiyo. His task was done, the gate was closed, and only those who had needed to go through had gone through.
 Then something terrible happened to the great deamon. His heart skipped a beat, then another. The beings that kept the main body alive, the ghostly deamons, were dead. Craiyo's life force slowly escaped his body, and the desert he housed shook violently. The deamons of the day scattered quickly, the sand beneath them suddenly becoming too hot to bear. Craiyo's body spasmed wildly, shaking loose any rocks from his body, and the sand upheaving, creating sandstorms. Any deamons still in the desert of Craiyo died immediately. And then, the last deamon to die lost his life. The being known as Craiyo faded away, leaving a pack of Yits to scavange his body. In only seconds, Craiyo Desert sunk into a large crater, shaped like a large deamon...

[The Host]

 A small child stood infront of two bewildered deamons, one of them blue, the other green. The child looked at them, then raised them into the air, using her magical power of her magician side.
 "Who are you? And why have you come here?" The two deamons stared at the child in awe, and then, exerting a minute of power, each deamon freed itself, blasting the female magician with power strong enough only to mildly hurt her.
 "I'm Crioone, from the planet Speed. This is Taverna, also from the planet speed. We came here looking for a deamon."
 "A read one," added Taverna.
 The girl looked at the two deamons, then stepped back, putting her hands at her sides. She immediately grew in size, into that of about a teen. She then unhooded herself, revealing her face and hair. "I'm Renee. I came here trying to get to a deamon's home land, but something went wrong. We crashed here, and then he died, leaving me here with another magician. Except she's gone now. Leaving me here by myself."

***

 Whisps of smoke, mist and vapour swept up against Bellcast's body. The white coloured deamon stayed silent and walked forwards, into a land filled with darkness. Coming from around him, many Attalna surged forwards, surrounding him and clinginng him. The eye like deamonsfloated loyaly beside their master, preparing themselves for the battle that was to come...

[The Host]

 Renee walked ahead of the two deamons, leading them across yet another mass of land, towards a place she called the Tower of Infinitora. It was there, apparently, that one could locate any being in Hell. Using her magical powers, Renee had found the tower, and put the three beings on the correct route to to get there. The land of Infinitora was mostly dry land, with fallen trees here and there. Once, the land of Infinitora had prospered, and the land had all been connected as one. But then, one day, a deamon with the power to tear islands from the sea, and uproot trees by breathing in had come to the land. As the deamon walked through, he broke the land, bit by bit, and spread the smaller islands all around the area, causing them to float. But then, the montrous deamon known as Craiyo left, seeking another area in which he could reek havoc.
 "So, how long will it take to get to the tower?" asked Crioone, looking around in awe at the place called Hell. Renee looked at her, then at Taverna, and answered,
 "If we can move faster, then the journey won't take too long. A day or two at most. At which point, we should be standing infront of it."
Taverna immediately spread his wings, floating up into the air. "Can you fly?" he asked Renee.
 "Of course. Just, not the way you two can." Renee raised her left hand, and at the same time, murmurred a few words. At once, Renee was lifted into the air by an unseen force, and then dissapeared. Only to reappear a second later fifty feet away.
 "So... shall we get going?"

***

 Lyela watched with mystefied eyes as the six deamon warlords tore through the ghost deamons bodies viciously, ripping bones and gut long ago dead from their remnants. At her side, Anlatta growled, a sign that it was time to move on.
 "Stop. Bellcast has planned a most intriguing plan. Let phase three begin. Move out, and destroy the seven towers of Speed. Once that is complete, return here, and prepare for the ultimate act"...

***

 Hawk stabbed the body of a human once more, and then, using his magical energy, forced the soul from the body, and stabbed it as well. "Its come... to this... has it..." Using his last  bit of magical energy, Hawk healed the human body, then slipped his soul into it, and immediately pulsed a message out to everyone he had called earlier.
 "The plan has changed. The meeting point is Celestial Valley, Terra Eterna. I am currently on Terra Eterna, but I won't be at the meeting area for a week or so. Jet and Dolphin, my brother and sister, are in danger, and must be saved. This is Hawk. Out."
 Hawk reached his hand out, adjusting to his new body. His muscles flexed, and the sheer human power from them was amazing. His body was powerful, tall, and physically fit.
 Taking the bloody knife from the ground, Hawk pocketed it, and kicked the empty, half human hlaf deamon shell, then exited the alley, running towards the outskirts of the city...

***

 Dolphin was in a bad situation. The enemy ships had closed in, and the RainShield was the last ship in the Freelance navy. As if things weren't bad enough, the com system was down, and the people onboard the RainShield were in complete disaster. There was no more order upon the ship, and the enemy was beginning to board the RainShield in mass numbers. And then the worst shock came to her.
 "Hands up Dolphin. It's game over for you." The voice came from the second in command, who held a pistol to her head. "It's over Dolphin. I'm doing this for your benefit."
 "Actually, you're not going to kill her. I'm going to kill you."
 The pistol clicked, and a bullet fired out. But not the way the second in command would have wished. The bullet came out the back of the gun, and hit the second in the head, killing him instantly. Dolphin cried out in shock as the second fell into her body, the blood from his head wound gushing out all over her body.
 "Hello Dolphin, long time no see. My friend here is Patrick. He's a part magician. You may remember me as Jet. Your brother. My flying squad has moved in, and the enemy has been conquered. I've been ordered to rest our position here until Hawk arrives. Then we pull out."

[The Host]

 Things had gotten bad in the galaxy known as Infinitora. The deamons long ago perished, as well as the lost souls of humans had launched an assault upon the weaker dead among them, and for some unseen purpose, the dead had seemed to form their own leagions, each on set out upon another. But that was not the most distrurbing thing. Uproars came about often in Hell. The disturbing thing was that, in this most destructive uproar, the dead were dissapearing, fast. The lost souls were quickly being destroyed, their last remnants of the world as they knew it were being torn away from them.
 Meanwhile, Crioone and Taverna had also been caught up in the uproar, and as the deamons fought back against the oncoming mobs, each one thought the same thought.
Is Nara still here, or is she...

***

 Renee scrambled as she fumbled around trying to grip the rock cliff she had tumbled from. She had been flying with Crioone and Taverna, deamons and sworn enemies of human kind of so long ago, and yet, now her only means of survival. That was when the deamons who inhabited Hell had struck her two companions by surprise.
 Crioone had immediately ordered her to flee and get to safety. But Renee had other ideas. She did flee, but not in the way Crioone had wished. Taverna had cursed her name as she flew off in the direction of the Tower of Infinitora.
 But Renee had been followed by a lone deamon, and had been whipped into the side of a mountain and left to die. But it was the attacking deamon that would die. Renee's cold eyes had looked at the deamon flying away, and within seconds, the deamon's body had exploded from the inside, splattering bits of dead flesh and blood over the ground and Renee's cloak.
 The female magician had immediately gotten up and continued on her way, when she was struck by vertigo. She had tumbled down the side of the cliff, slicing a large gash up the side of her arm, and effectively breaking her right arm. The knife she had carried when she had been on Terra Eterna slid out of her pocket and dropped to the ground far below. Her vertigo dissapeared, but she was wounded, and the smell of living blood had attracted a hunter who's teeth had long ago shred the bodies of thousands of deamons to death. The hunter had destroyed any deamon who had come in his way.
 Upon the hunter's head lay a shattered crown, and his wrist still held the shackles that his opponent had confined him to. Forna looked at the gril in the distance with nothing but hatred. After all, she was a living, torturing his dead body with the warmth of life...

***

 Patrick watched as Jet and Dolphin had a quick reunion, then shifted his position to directly infront of Dolphin. "Change of plans. We have to go," he said bluntly, extending his arm to a small protal that was slowly closing. Jet nodded, but Dolphin shook her head.
 "This is my ship. I can't abandon it."
 Patrick grumbled, then closed his extended hand, causing the boat to dissapear. Pulling his hand back in, the portal moved towards the three humans, and in a split second, they were gone...

***

 Hawk walked into the open desert area just outside of the town where he had just murdered a man. His eyes closed, blocking any tears that tried to come out. Even after all of his years as a deamon prisonner, he still had human emotions. That was a good thing. But he was a murderer, and how could he live with himself now.
I know.. I will finish this war that I've started, and once the deamon who enslaved me is dead, I will kill myself. Ending my life is the only way to atone for my actions...

***

 Vulture looked around at the scene around him. Small bug like creatures tore away at the largest bones he had ever scene. Being a scavenger himself, Vulture could not resist the temtation of food. Moving in on the meal, he quickly scattered the small deamons away from his, and as they watched him feast, they realised that this deamon did not only eat dead food, but also those who still lived, if he was able to capture them.
 The Yits acted immediately, attacthing themselves to his body, not to hram him, but to aid him. In only a matter of minutes, the Yits, combined with the body of Vulture, towered above the bones of the dead Craiyo. Vulture cackled with delight at his new appearence and power, and as he walked away from the meal he had finished, he did not realise that his death was imminent. He had interfered with a plan so precise that if his actions continued, the course of destiny could be altered.

***

 Lyela suddenly felt that something was wrong. The body of ancient Craiyo was empty of energy. Something had sped up the process, and if the timing of Craiyo's finishing was too quick, who ever had commited the act would pay. She was now alone in her underground base, as the six warlords and Anlatta had left to fulfill Bellcast's great plan.
Fine, she thought, then I'll do it myself.
 It only took a second. Anyone watching Lyela would have thought that they had blinked. One second, Lyela sat upon the throne, the next she was gone, the next she returned. But to anyone with an eye that could watch things at the speed of light, they would have seen Lyela draw out her sword, swing down, then return it. Of course, the sword swinging down was only an after image.
 What, in fact, had happened, was quite simple. Lyela had teleported her self to Vultures body, causing the Yits to disperse at the sign of an intruder. She had then swung her sword down, cutting with metal as well as magic to destroy the deamon caled Vulture. Then she had teleported back, the job done, the plan saved.
 Lyela laughed, a dark, eerie laugh. She had almost forgotten what she had been doing before Bellcats had called. "Ay yes... the girl... she must be taken care of." ...

[The Host]

 Crioone's wings spread apart as she dismissed the thought of Nara and took to the air. Next to her, Taverna had done the same thing, and in an attempt to shake the deamons of Hell away from them, Taverna had launched a massive wave of energy that tore through their ranks, sweeping the deamons back, knocking the human souls away too. Crioone began to fly away, but was stopped by a sight amidst the mob of deamons. A crimson deamon lay unmoving in the middle of the pack, the wings lined with dried blood. As Crioone continued to stare, Taverna caught sight of the deamon, and immediately took action.
 The emerald coloured deamon rushed the mob of deamons, his claws extended, his wings flapping madly, scattering deamonic energy throughout the area, causing multiple souls to take their last look at the world. Once he was sure the deamons were not going to launch an attack, Taverna touched down to the ground and walked toward the red deamon body. When he was only feet away from the deamon, a puff of smoke appeared, and the deamons of Infinitora backed up, bowing their heads to the coming being. Taverna stood stalk still, and Crioone floated down to join him.
 "What is it?" murmured Crioone, her breathing almost completely stopped. They had come so close, and the deamon they were eyeing could possibly be Nara. Without thinking, Crioone rushed through the cloud of smoke, grabbing the body as she passed. Taverna shouted a cry of warning only seconds too late. The bing who had emerged was a familiar being. One all to familiar...

***

 Renee blasted the oncoming deamon with a surge of power, causing Forna to suddenly speed up. Renee masked her presence, moving out of the way of the former king, allowing the deamomn to plow headfirst into the mountain. Renee then poured magical energy into Forna's body, causing the deamon to slowly overflow with power.
 What resulted was a cry from Forna of rage and pure anger. Renee unmasked her presence, and at the same time conjured a blade made of diamond to form in her hand. Renee drove the blade into Forna's neck, just as he exited the hole in the mountainside he had created. With a cry of overwhelming pain, the body of Forna slowly dissapeared, his legend and legacy finally over. Renee dropped to her knees, a sudden weakness coming over her.
 "You didn't think I had forgotten about you, did you?" The voice belonged to Lyela, Queen of Hell.
 Renee turned to face the magician, but instead found that her body was being forced to stand, and even forced to move towards the edge of the mountain side. "What you are seeing before you is the end of your life," said Lyela, smirking, "and the beginning of the end of the universe!"
 Renee looked over the edge of the mountain, and in the distance, she could see Crioone and Taverna fighting widly for survival, then saw them rise into the air, out of harm's way, where they stayed, transfixed by some unknown presence. And then Renee felt extreme pain, and her vision caught sight of the point of a diamond, tipped with red liquid. Renee coughed, but instead of air, being released, blood splattered over her chin and onto the ground. The diamond tipped with blood slowly receaded back from where it came from. Renee's eyes closed, and as they did, the diamond blade was pulled back by Lyela, and came out of the back of Renee's neck.
 "And what you see now, is your spirit departing its dead body, only to roam and burn in Hell for a short time, until the ultimate act is complete." ...

***

 Hawk was suddenly surrounded by three people, two of which he knew, while the other one was unknown to him. Hawk exchaged a glance with Jet, then Dolphin, then looked at the boy. "Hawk," he said, lifting his hand toward the boy.
 "Patrick," replied the boy, in the same tone, also extending his hand, shaking that of Hawk. Jet watched as each one analysed the other. Both were magicians, although their power's were quite different.
 Patrick's powers were still developping, and were, for the most part, non combat skills. On the other hand, Hawk's powers were almost fully complete, and were used in direct combat as well as for transportation.
 Dolphin looked at Jet, and then Hawk. "So, what now, where are we headed?"
 "Celestial Valley," replied Hawk, already beginning to open a gate.
 "Don't worry about that, brother, my friend has already opened one, and has stepped through," Jte said, laughing at his brother as he closed the gate.
 "Yeah well, we'll just see how he does in combat."...

***

 "Tower one is destroyed."
 "As is tower two."
 "Tower three has been taken care of."
 "Tower four... is no more..."
 "Tower five is like the rest."
 "The sixth tower is flattened."
 "The.. seventh.. tower.. destroyed... Returning.. to.. base.."

 The last voice belonged to Anlatta, who did not often speak. No one was at the base to reply to the messages sent out by the dog deamon and the six warlords, but the message had reached Bellcast. The white deamon stretched his hand out, the Attalna crawling over him retreating to the shadows of the mist. The time was coming, and in mere hours, Bellcast would arise, and the universe, and every living being, would belong to him. Bellcast closed his eyes, and as he did, the shadows around him dissapeared, revealing an area filled with nothing, with no floor, cieling, or walls. The area was simply known as-

To Be Continued...

[The Host]

Interlude Twelve
End of Exaltoskull's Story

 Exaltoskull's body phased into view, a powerful spine above an even stronger looking abdomen. Plates of shadow like armour shone in the part light that glimmered over the body of the Deamon Shadow. Claws sharp as the sharpest knife in existance protruded from his four legs, and wings blacker than night sprouted from his shoulder blades. His head was covered in golden armour, and his jaws were lined with teeth that matched the sharpness of his claws. His legs were powerful and aerodynamic at the same time, and his tail had become a powerful whip like tool for him. His eyes were no longer red, but black, containing the Deamon Shadow's essence in them.
 Tyranac's body changed from purple to white immediately, his form also changing into a blanket. Tyranac leapt up, draping his body over Exaltoskull, containing the new deamon creation. But Exaltoskull's power was exploding out of his body at an enormous rate, and even Tyranac's body could not contain the power. Exaltoskull burst out of Tyranac's containment, and cried out a cry out pure hatred.
 "Why? Why did you do this to me?" he exclaimed, even as the Deamon Shadow clawed its way out of its new body. Tyranac changed back to his stallion form, and spoke calmly, trying in vain to control the deamon.
 "You made the decision yourself-
 "Don't give me that bull! You knew the outcome, yet you failed to explain that to me. You only said I might die, not what I'd go through!''
 ''I did know that... something might have gone wrong... but what's happened here was... unpredictable...''
 Exaltoskull eyed Tyranac, but before he knew what was happening, the Deamon Shadow took over. An arm made completely of shadow emerged from Exaltoskull's body and made a grasp for Tyranac. Tyranac dodged, but the shadow arm was too fast.
 ''Agghhh!'' Tyranac's cry of pain deafened Exaltoskull for a moment, but before the deamon and his Shadow could fight back, Tyranac was upon them, slashing away madly at the two beings who had become one. And suddenly he wasn't. Tyranac looked around but the plain they had been fighting on was empty except for himself. Exaltoskull was gone, and even the presence of the Deamon Shadow was not present...

***

 A body darker than night emerged in an alien world. His eyes search the baren landscape, but he could see nothing, hear nothing, nor feel anything.
 ''Where... am I?'' Cried Exaltoskull. But he would not find an answer. No one would answer him for a while...

[The Host]

Chapter Twelve
Exiled / Betrayal

 "Your days of living are over, Crioone," said Renee, akwardly, as she drove the diamond blade straight at Crioone's head. Energy flared around Crioone, slowing the diamond blade just long enough for her to dodge and counter attack. Renee tumbled to the ground, putting her hand done at the same time as she forcec claws to extend from her fists to stop herself. Crioone moved in to attack, but Taverna's hand stopped her.
 "Why are you attacking us, Renee?" said Taverna, his tone harsh. The girl looked up at the emerald coloured deamon and laughed.
 "You never suspected me. I was the last person you thought would betray you. Well, here's why. As I made my way to the tower, another magician stopped me, and prophecised my death. And she also let me see the true way of the future: death and betrayal. Of course, I couldn't care less of what she has to say, but I realised that her words were the truth. And surprised her by retaliating, and killed her with ease. And now I'm coming to get you!"
 Renee slid back away from Taverna and Crioone, and at the same time conjured multiple stone soldiers to provide cover. Blasts of magical energy exploded from Renee's fists, pulverising the two deamons and at the same time pushing the deamons of Hell away from the battle area. In a matter of minutes, it was a two on one battle, and even though Crioone and Taverna were fighting together, they found it quite hard to land an attack as they were rained on with magical energy...

***

 The six warlords sat around in a circle, surrounding Anlatta. It was only a matter of time now, until the ultimate act wold be accomplished. Only a few more minutes. Anlatta barked one. The countdown to the end had begun...

[The Host]

 "The... time has.. come..." Anlatta said, his voice barely audible as a low growling sound also escaped his mouth at the same time. The six warlords stood at once, and Anlatta, howled a cry so awful and dark that even the warlords, accustomed to death and treachery were astounded. Attalna suddenly flooded the area, clinging to Anlatta as if he were giving off life energy in plenty. Six lightining bolts suddenly struck each warlord, and Anlatta barked once more. The area in which the seven of them had been standing crumbled to the ground, as did the city it had been in. In seconds, a city that had housed hundreds of deamons was flattened, and if any onlooker had gazed upon it, they would not have recognised it as a city.
 From amidst the rubble, a small head broke loose, and following it was a body with four legs and a tail, covered in Attalna. Anlatta growled, and lunged to the side, just as a being shot past him. The being turned around, but was not fast enough to escape blades of powerful steel, that slashed into its side. Anlatta growled again, then walked over to the fallen warrior.
 "You.. played a.. funny trick on... Anlatta.. and for that... you will... pay dearly.."
 The being underneath Anlatta struck a blade up, directly into Anlatta's flesh, laughing as he did so. Anlatta looked uneasily at the third warlord's eyes as they in turn watched Anlatta's pain.
 "Death.. to traitors..!" Anlatta broke away from the blade in his stomach, and with claws extending further than any deamon had thought possible, Anlatta drew blood from the deamonic traitor, killing the third warlord as if he were a weak and unexperienced deamon. Anlatta considered taking the warlord with him, but he figured it would be worse to leave him here to be picked at by scavenger deamons. Anlatta teleported from the seen immediately afterwards, and proceeded to the meeting place: Hell...

[The Host]

 "Taverna! We need to counter. We're stronger than her, especially with both of us. Give me just enough cover to unleash a deamoncic energy blast, then we pounce."
 Taverna immediately launched himself at an unsuspecting Renee, pelting her with beams of energy, only strong enough to blast her back. Crioone had meanwhile set herself onto the ground, and an aura of energy had gathered around her, slowly gathering more energy from the area around her.
 Renee countered Taverna's weak attacks with blasts just as frequently, but at twice the power. Overwhelmed, Taverna was forced backward, getting dangerously close to Crioone.
 Taverna bent his wings, forcing them to catch the wind and blow him towards Renee, all the while fighting back her blasts of energy. Renee drew back, then launched herself at full speed at Taverna, knocking him back in a surprised and vulnerable state. But there was something wrong. Taverna had fallen, and he did not appear ready to fight back. The diamond blade held in Renee's hand twitched suddenly, and that was when she realised what was wrong.
 "Gotcha."
 A fist plunged into Renee's back, grabbing her and holding her. The red hand was lined with deep blue lines-dried blood- and was attached to an arm Crioone had never thought she'd see move again. Nara had risen, and for some unknown reason, she was helping them.
 "You shouldn't have toyed with Taverna. He doesn't go down easily. I know, because I tried to kill him and Crioone, for their own sakes. But then-"
 Taverna's green body flashed infront of her, and in a flash of light the two were behind Crioone, who at the same time unleashed her completed deamonic energy blast. Renee toppled from the air, landing on the mountain top, only to be stabbed repeatedly by a thrashing Nara.
 "Calm down Nara... Just explain what the heck you did to us back in Metawar!" Screamed Crioone.
 "You freaking idiot, she's dead, just leave her body!" Yelled Taverna to Nara.
 Nara was about to respond, but was cut short. The three deamon were suddenly surrounded by six deamonic beings of extreme power. Each one looked at the three deamon, a slight grin on their faces, and then, one shaped like a dog stepped forward.
 "My name.. is Anlatta.. I have come.. to proclaim.. a false prophecy.. as well as.. your deaths." ...

[The Host]

 Anlatta leapt forwards, colliding with Nara in mid air, slashing her with powerful claws and gnashing teeth. Nara fought back with powerful blows from her clawed fists, and Taverna and Crioone each moved in to prevent any further deamons from advancing. But even then, the odds were still against them, and with six deamons of superior strength against three of medium strength, the fight was only a time buster, the outcome already determined.
 Within minutes, Nara was back to back against Taverna, and Crioone surrounded by two warlords. Anlatta and the other three warlords surrounded Taverna and Nara, and the mini combat was over.
 "...You did.. better than.. expected," said Anlatta, mis mouth opening and closing, his eyes showing no fear, only anger, "But.. in the end.. the weak and.. the strong seperate.. and the weak.. are banished..."
 Crioone looked over to her friend and her former accomplice, the bowed her head. "What shall our outcome be?" she asked, her eyes closed.
 Anlatta watched her, then responded in short sentences filled with pauses. "Our leader... shall come... and re-write history... a new prophecy.. shall be... created..."
 "Then what of the original prophecy?" the question came from Taverna, who had also given up for the time being.
 "Which.. original.. prophecy..?"
 "The one which we read long ago in Metawar... This one," said Crioone, and began to recite the word they had discovered in the chamber of Metawar.

 "...joined together...and vanquish their... The great one... into the fog... demise... destrought... destroyed...
When the... rose up once... conquered... the fog is only... are banished..."

 Anlatta looked at Crioone, then Nara, then Taverna. His claws extended, and as he looked at each deamon in turn, his eyes seemed to change, if only slightly. A note of sadness seemed to appear, but as soon as it appeared, the dog deamon banished the feeling from his mind.
 Omnimega looked to Anlatta for a sign, but the dog deamon leader did not give one. Alkyra and Geminest stepped forwards, most likely to aid Anlatta in an explination, but were stopped by Ninmeko. "Anlatta needs not our help. Bellcast is to return very soon, and then we shall see what is to happen."
 "Ah.. the prophecy of Bellcast.. is the one.. which you have.. spoken... Yes, that one.. is quite.. misleading..." Anlatta's voice trailed off, but a small smirk seemed to appear on his dog like face.
 Ninmeko then stepped forwards, and if any of the warlords had any intention of stopping him, none of them showed it. Of the five remaining warlords, he was by far the strongest, and quite possibly the most loyal, apart from Anlatta. Anlatta looked at Ninmeko, and even he realised that time was short. Anlatta nodded.
 "The prophecy which you speak is that of Belcast and the Attalna. It speaks of Bellcast and his army rising into power and killing the former king Axerion. Then banishing his enemy. The original prophecy, if I remember correctly, was written by Forna, who knew that one day Axerion would rise to power. It was then that Forna sacrificed his elite power and genius to create such a prophecy. The original prophecy read as such:
 
"A warrior clad in white joined together with deamonic beasts of the night to destroy and vanquish their ultimate foe, the king of deamons. The great one, known as the king of deamons, was banished into the fog leaving a world of demise, destrought, as well as a destroyed kingdom.
When the old king rose up once andtried in vain to defeat the warrior, he was once again conquered.It is written that the fog is only a part time graveyard. Evil doers are banished into the fog, and only with a miracle can they escape the alternate Mitora, the Fog."

 Ninmeko looked at the horror stricken faces of the three captured deamons, the stepped back behind Anlatta. Alkyra and Geminest stepped back to stand beside Ninmeko and Omnimega, and it was then that Illyare floated up into the sky.
 "I am Illyare, the fourth warlord of former Axerion and future Bellcast. It is now the time that King Bellcast shall enter our world once more, and banish the three deamons into the darkness of the Fog. Bow down if you love life, for Bellcast is the ultimate deamon in terms of mind, strength and speed. He is truly the ultimate king, and the most powerful deamon alive! Arise my lord, the time has come to set in place a new order of life! Bellcast, I call to thee!"
 A flash of light appeared, and as every deamon in Hell dropped to the ground, a being of raw power emerged from the window. Clad in armour white as snow, with eyes as deep as the oceans, Bellcast's presence was enough to weaken many of the deamons in the close proximity.
 As the king of deamons floated down, Anlatta rose up to his side, and millions of Attalna floated towards him from out of nowhere. The king of deamons was truly the closest being to a god...

***

 "Something is happening in the deamonic world!" exclaed Patrick, already opening a gate in which they could travel to see what was happening. Jet and Dolphin ran towards him followed closely by Hawk.
 "Brother, you must send out another mental message. Warn the people around the wrold of a cataclysmic event. Tell them to get to safety, and continue on their way to the meeting point. The four of us will assume a role of human warriors. We will enter Speed, and fight back the evil that is spreading throughout the universe. Something is happening, as Patrick has said, but what is happening is not good. We must go."
 Hawk nodded, and together, the four humans leapt through the window, with no idea what would happen to them. If they had known the outcome may have been different...

[The Host]

Extapologue
The Final Act

 Bellcast touched down to the ground. As he extended his hand, everyone around him froze, Bellcast's energy level paralysing them. As his hand extended, multiple Attalna shot out from his hand, covering his subordinates. Then, from Bellcast's mouth, seven larger Attalna emerged, each one containing three eyes instead of one. Strings of energy poured out from his mouth, attaching themselves to the larger Attalna.
 The Bellcast spoke. "What you are seeing, Crioone of Extapolis, are seven Alpha Attalna. Strings of energy from me control them, as they cannot be controlled simply by orders. As I release the Alpha Attalna, they will each choose a host which they will inhabit, either one of the six warlords, or you. And when this happens, I will have complete rule over the land of Speed. And once Speed is conquered, the rest of the universe awaits me.
 "For thousands of years I have worked under the eyes of others. Each one of my 'masters' has worked me hard, and almost to the point of death. But when I was hired to work for King Forna, it was then that I decided to rebel. I went to Axerion and injected him with the first stage of an Alpha Attalna. What he didn't know was this. From that point on, I controlled him. Every thought that he had was one of my own, put into his head as one of his own thoughts. Even when I killed him he thought it was he who had lost, when in fact it was simply me losing part of myself.
"The Attalna are a form of deamonic energy combined with a single cell from a deamon body. Combining them is the hard part. I had to take down multiple magicians from Terra Eterna until one of them finally lended their binding power. In return, I gave her control over Hell, as well as a first stage Alpha Attalna. She was also controlled by me.
 "And with her, I was finally able to build up an army of deamon that were undestroyable. With my army, you and all of your dreams, hopes, friends and enemies will be destroyed... eventually..."
 Crioone looked on helplessly, as did Taverna and Nara. Surprisingly, the six warlords looked on with no expression. Their leader had just told them that he had betrayed them, that he was exiling them to a life of slavery and an uncontrolled will. Then Illyare laughed. The fourth warlord's mouth moved slowly against the deamonic pressure of Bellcast, but the laugh was still there.
 "Crioone... the end has come for you... and yet... there is still more for you-" An Alpha Attalna latched itself to Illyare's face, and at the same time five others attacked the remaining warlords. "Gah! Gaaaaaaahhhhh!"
 Bellcast launched himself and the last Alpha Attalna towards Crioone, but at the same time, Illyare, using the last ounce of strength he had, knocked Crioone out of the way , shoving Anlatta into Bellcast's sight. The Alpha Attalna latched itself to Anlatta, and in seconds, Anlatta stood still, awaiting a command from Bellcast. The other warlords also stood still, awaiting Bellcast's orders. But Bellcast did not speak, nor did he send telepathic orders.
 A black armoured deamon with golden lining had entered the battlefield of Hell, and emenating from his was a Deamon Shadow. "Exaltoskull."
 "Bellcast," replied Exaltoskull, "the one deamon capable of creating the beastly Attalna.
 "And you, Exaltoskull, the deamon capable of defeating them. You have interfered to much, and you have visited the Fog. You will be banished there this time though, and to return, you won't simply be able to walk through the shadows. But I won't leave you there alone... My three.. friends.. will join you there." And with that, Bellcast launched his fists out, knocking Taverna and Nara to the ground, but instead of simply hitting the ground, they dissapeared, and as Exaltoskull realised what was happening, it was too late. The deamon warrior was slowly sinking into the ground, and at the same time being transported into a realm he had just left. Only Crioone was safe from Bellcast's attack. Illyare held her up out of the way of the portal, aided by a faint glow of light from within his body. That glow was Tyranac, protecting Crioone from the depths of the Fog.
 But Bellcast had not forgottoen about Crioone. "It seems that, you will not be accompanying your friends in the Fog, for they have already departed from the place they were dropped at. Instead... you will roam the Fog alone." Bellcast's last words struck Crioone like a rock, and as Bellcast launched himself at Illyare, ready to kill him, Tyranac left. In a way, he had betrayed Crioone, letting her fall into the Fog. but in a way, he had changed the course of destiny. Illyare, one of the warlords was dead. If Crioone and her companions were to re surface, they would have one less deamon to deal with...

End of Part Two: The Altered Prophecy

[The Host]

Part Three: The Fog

Chapter Thirteen
Exiled in the Fog

Part One: The Lake of Mist

 A harsh gust blew its way across the smooth surface of a large body of water, the Lake of Mist. With it, the gust acrried colourless leaves, black feathers, gray fur, and small pieces of dust. Each and every object carried by the gust had at one point belonged to the world of the living.
 But at some point in histroy, a deamon who was only spoken about in lore and legend was destroyed, leaving a small, ever growing rift, leading to a world the complete opposite of the living world. This world had been called the inbetween world, as it was a world in which the living and dead could go. Mitora.
 But when the deamon who had been destroyed regained life, he wished to destroy Mitora, as it was a place of lonliness, as well as a place he spoke of as: 'Unnatural'. But in is attempt to rid the universe of Mitora, he created yet another world, identical to Mitora in every way but one. This world could only be accessed through a series of magical and deamonic energy and power combined to open a rift in space. This new land was called simply The Fog. The Fog was geographically identical to Mitora, but the land was covered in eternal mist and fog, and each day that an unfortunate traveller spent in The Fog, a year went by in the land of Speed.
 The Fog was also subtly different from Mitora, as a rater in Mitora could be filled with water and be called a lake in The Fog. And if Mitora was a place of life and death, The Fog could be classified only as a place of death. And even in death you could not be free from The Fog's grasp...

***

 "There is only one way to escape The Fog if you have been banished here. Find the scrolls of Mitora and bring them together. They will lead to a fountain of water, ever flowing. The Fountain is called Speed Galaxy. Through the Fountain you will be replaced in the Galaxy of Speed. From there, simply follow the route of rivers back to Speed." Crioone replaced the tablet back on the alter she had seized it from. She had no idea what the scroll of Mitora were, but she presumed that they would be ancient instructions that would be necessary to her escape from this place. 
 Crioone turned to leave the altar she had been dropped onto, but was confronted by a large deamon shaped like a stallion. The deamon seemed oddly familiar, but Crioone could not place the deamon to her memory.
 "You must be wondering, Crioone, who I am. You met me in the real Mitora once before. I am Tyranac, the first deamon created. Follow me, we have much to discuss... I will lead you to your first destination, the Lake of Mist... from then on, I will be no help to you, but up until then Ican teach you things you never imagined... so come, Crioone, meet your true fate...

***

 It had been one 'day' since Tyranac had begun to lead Crioone towards the Lake of Mist. During that time, Tyranac had explained much about The Fog, as well as the origin of Mitora. Crioone had found it hard at times to concentrate, but at other times, she seemed quite alert, almost too alert.
 Everywehere Tyranac led them looked the same, a barren land shrouded in fog and mist. The gaseous vapor seemed uneneding, and when asked by Crioone about the fog, Tyranac had simply replied, "It's cause and origin are unknown".
 At last, Crioone grew tired of the constant walking and took to the air. Tyranac had immediately brought her down, shoving her to the ground cursing her. "If you fly up there one more time... it may... draw attention... unwanted attention."
 From that point on, Crioone had walked. And walked. And walked. The journey seemed as unending as the mist and fog itself...

***

 Nara growled at Taverna as the two sparred back and forth, claws, fangs and deamonic energy all out and raging. Exaltoskull stood in the background of the excitement, darkly pondering the future to come.
 "What the hell did you think you were doing back in the fortress? Trying to kill us and be rid of us? Having your unusual sence of fun? Huh?" Taverna yelled as he lashed out with a fury of fists and blades, slashing Nara's old wounds and reopening them for the upmteenth time.
 Nara allowed Taverna's next blow to hit her, hurling her to the ground. "I did it for our own sake, believe me! I sensed we were being watched, and I'm sure Bellcast was there with us. I tried to get out with you guys but I failed. Instead, I was launched in the opposite direction, and as soon as I regained my bearings I went in search for you!"
 "Yeah, right. The only reason I didn't kill you when I saw you was 'cause Crioone was there. Crioone forgives. Unfortunately for you I don't," shouted Taverna, driving himself forwards towards the grounded Nara. And with his claws exntended and deamonic energy flared out in the shapeof a sword, Taverna aimed to kill Nara once and for all in the depths of the Fog.
 "Not today Taverna.. if that is your name.." The words came from Exaltoskull, and as they were spoken, an awful feeling of sadness, hatred and darkness all combined flowed into the area. Exaltoskull pressed his clawed foot against Taverna's outstretched hand, pushing it aside. "I wasn't there when she did whatever to you, but I'm stuck with you now, and as I'm sure you know, three of us fare better than two, so let's move out and find a way out of here. I'm not sure how long I can stand to be around you two, and I don't want to find out..."
 Taverna growled at Exaltoskull, then returned his deamonic energy to his body and lowered his arm. Nara slowly stood up and started off, but Exaltoskull stopped her. "We're not going that way... we're headed towards Crioone's energy. A deamon named Tyranac told me about her, and I saw her just before we got banished here. We're going to find her, because according to Tyranac, we need her to beat Bellcast... my brother..."

***

 A breeze blew across Crioone's face, and as soon as it hit, Tyranac leapt forwards, sensing the change in the atmosphere immediately. Only feet ahead, a large pool of water sat still in a large crater. The Lake of Mist.
 "We've arrived at the first destination. I can help you no longer, or I would be stuck here too. Beneath this lake lies the first of many scrolls which will lead you to the exit of the cursed place.
 "I'll go in search of your friends now and hopefully point them in the right direction, but you will not see me anytime soon. Farewell Crioone of Extapolis. May our paths meet once more..." And with that, Tyranac dissapeared into the thick fog, his body gone within seconds...

 Crioone craned her neck over the edge of the lake, peering down into the murky waters below. The fog and mist in the area blocked any real light from hitting the water, which allowed her to view more clearly, but also not as far down. There was only one way to find the scroll below the water. Crioone hovered into the air, only for a second, then dove into the fridgid water. Darkness surrounded her, and beasts like none she had ever seen swam by her, most of which didn't give a care that someone new had entered. But there were other beasts amidst the waters that hungered for a live meal, and these beasts always got what they wanted...

 Beneaths the waters of the Lake of Mist, four eyes opened, followed by one large fifth eye. The beast of the sea opened its mouth, roaring a beastial roar that vibrated the waters of the lake. As the beast surged forwards, many smaller sea beasts swam out of its way, knowing that it was never good to get in the way of the beast who 'owned' the Lake of Mist. As the beast propelled itself through the water, its mind emanated one word, causing all sentient beings to become aware of its presence, and its name...

 Leviathan...
 The word struck Crioone like a fatal blow. In the land of Speed, the creature known as the Leviathan was said to have died out centuries earlier, although some deamons claimed that they still existed north of Eterna Peninsula. But extinct or not, the Leviathan was a dangerous creature. With five eyes, the Leviathan could see in all directions at once, and still process in the information. The Leviathan could also change shape from its massive form to a much smaller form, in case it needed to adapt to its surroundings.
 As Crioone pondered over the beast, she suddenly realised that it was slowly moving towards her. Whipping around, Crioone came face to face with a large shark-like beast. Only to see its blood spurt out as its bones and flesh were crushed by teeth the size of large swords.
 Who are you, small one of high power? You are like something I have seen before, long ago. You are... Deamon.
 Crioone stared at the Leviathan, wondering whether to marvel or cry out in shock at the sight of it. As the teeth grnashed about for her, Crioone decided that crying out in shock was the better idea, but that swimming away at high speed was the best idea. But she could only outswim the Leviathan for so long. The beast ruled the waters of the Lake of Mist, and Crioone was sure that its physical attributes were not the extent of its power...

***

 The Leviathan shot forwards towards Crioone, creating a small whirlpool behind it. As Crioone turned to calculate her position, she found the waters empty behind her. The beast had blinked out of existance. And yet, something didn't fit.
 The realisation of what the Leviathan had done shocked her, but she realised that being shocked was not the right thing to do. Crioone shot herself up and out of the water just as a small speck of dust in the water grew to the size of the beast of the water. Using its shape-shifting power, the Leviathan returned to its original state, then lunged out of the water, shifting again, this time into a humanoid figure.
 "You are Crioone... What are you here for... Crioone?" asked the Leviathan, as it hovered just above the water.
 Crioone stared at the beast, never taking her eyes off of the beast as she responed. "I'm here because I was exiled from the land of Speed by a deamon of purely evil intentions. This lake contains a scroll that I need. You know where it is?"
 The Leviathan stared back at Crioone, taking in what the deamon had just said. "If you are truly on a journey to defeat this evil, you may have the scroll of the sea. But let me ask you three questions first.
 "Who is the evil? Respond honestly, or I will be forced to destroy you."
 Although Crioone was unsure if the Leviathan could beat her, Crioone was honest in her responce. "His name is Bellcast. He leads an army of deamon like beings called Attalna. He is able to control deamons almost at will."
 "Why did the evil one exile you?"
 "He had no need of my interference. But before I was exiled, Bellcast was betrayed by one of his followers, who spoke of my future as necessary to rebuild the world after Bellcast's destruction is over. I am apparently essential to the universe."
 "And finally, how do you, Crioone, plan to defeat Bellcast?"
 Crioone stared at the Leviathan, with a saddened expression upon her face. "I don't know."
 The Leviathan looked at Crioone, then spoke softly. "Your honesty has granted you my scroll, the scroll of the sea. It will guide you to the next step to leaving this place. But let me tell you something you may find interesting. Regarding the future.
 "Although I am unsure as to your purpose in life, I can tell you that it is not to defeat Bellcast, but simply to weaken him. The one to defeat Bellcast will die in doing so, but I am unable to see who has that unfrotunate destiny. The future is as clouded as the land we are in. But one thing is for sure. I will be with you during the final confrontation, as will my brother. He will be essentiel to Bellcast's downfall. You will eventually cross paths with him. He is a dragon, an ancient dragon, the last to live. And his name is Ragnon."
 "A dragon... how does one still exist?"
 "All will be explained... later. But you, Crioone, must continue your journey. The Fog is not a place of peace. I am but one of the many guardians in the realm of The Fog. I ask only for truth in answer to my questions to obtain the scroll. Other guardians will not so kind as to let you off easily. Now go. Seek out the next destination. When all of the scrolls are obtained, a map will be revealed, and will point you to the exit. Farewell."
 And before Crioone could respond, the Leviathan was gone. Only one word pulsed into Crioone's mind, and as the word repeated itself, Crioone was sure she had just learned the name of the Leviathan, only after it had left.
 Vialien... Vialien... Vialien... ...

***   ***   ***

Part Two: The Sphere of Stone

 A single stalagmite stood in the center of a large cavern. Around it, many strange markings were scribbled on the ground, as well as a few pictures. Standing above the stalagmite on a floating stone, a fierce dog like creature growled a low growl, only to be repeated twice more, and the a shriek. Three heads turned as one to face a being shaped like a human, but with wings and a beak. The being, called an Aporactyla, floated above its pet, a cerberus. The Aporactyla settled itself onto the ground, standing beside the stalagmite. The being reached its hand towards the stalagmite, and amazingly, the clawed hand passed through the stone. The cerberus watched with a look of doubt on each face as stones from around the cavern were pulled together by a force unknown to any living being.The Aporactyla sneered, the closed its eyes as the cerberus and itself were surrounded by stones. In the Aporactyla's hand lay a scroll. The scroll of unknown...

***

 Nara thought back to the times when she had been a simple deamon without a care in the universe about what went on around her. Her life had been simple, easy going, and best of all- not life risking or being utterly whipped by one of your best friends. Unfortunately for Nara, those were times of the past.
 The first day that King Forna had become ruler of Speed marked the day that Speed fell into destruction. Forna had been better than Axerion and Bellcast, but he had still been a power hungry deamon who set aside his people for the greater evil. But Forna lost his title to Axerion, who dropped a blanket of shadow over the land of Speed.
 Manipulated by Bellcast's mind, Axerion had allowed legions of Attalna to enter the land of Speed, and under Axerion's watch, Speed was turned into a land of baren dunes, bloody cities, and long ago beautiful forests and springs were the ugly and dried up.
 But a light had shone in the distance, a light that Nara could not name, but one that had called to her, claiming an escape from the darkness that was Bellcast's rule. The light had told her that if she was to find a way to return the land of Speed to its prosperous way, she had to journey alone to a tower in the southeast region of Speed.
 The light had also mentioned Crioone, although the words that had come to Nara concerning Crioone were vague. Something about a portal to a world in between life and death, where all things would come together. The light had mentioned that the portal resided deep within Fortress Metawar, and that when the time came, Nara would have to betray her friends in order to seek out the light in person. The time would also be when Crioone was nearest to the portal.
 Nara's thoughts turned back to the present, just as Taverna's fist conected with her jaw. Blood spurted out from Nara's mouth as her teeth clenched down on her inner cheeks. Nara swore, the lashed out a kick that connected with Taverna's legs, dropping him to the ground. Energy purged from Nara's body, slamming itself into Taverna, holding him down.
 "Enough! We go now, or I'll be forced to kill you both."
 This time the two feuding deamons both stopped, turning their attention to Exaltoskull.
 "She's near our position. I think. We head out for her and-"
 Exaltoskull was interupted by the appearence of a stallion of pure white colour. Tyranac.
 "I found you, finally. Although with the amount of energy I felt from those two, I'm surprised every being in the Fog hasn't found you. But on to what's important. Crioone must go through the Fog alone. You musn't help her. make your way to the Desert of Sigma, far to the west of here. You will find your escape from this place there, but you will also be confronted by one of the remaining warlords there. Beat that lord and you have escaped. Lose, and your life is no worse than right now. Any questions?"
 Tavena looked at the stallion with awe. "It's... you... from Mitora. I knew you were familiar. Now, why can't we help Crioone?"
 Tyranac stared at Taverna with eyes of no emotion. "She was sent here alone, she must face this world alone. Besides. She is also doing something different than you. Your time here is limited. You have only three days to reach the Desert of Sigma. After that... goodbe. Crioone has unlimited time here, but her requirements to escape are quite different from yours. The Fog works in strange ways, but me talking will only lower the amount of time you have here. May we meet again."
 Exaltoskull began to talk, but before the words left his mouth Tyranac was gone. Exaltoskull turned to Taverna and Nara.
 "There's something you should know before we go on. When I said Bellcast was my brother I wasn't joking. We're twins. He has the power to create life, and I have the power to destroy it. Funny thing though. You'd think I'm evil and he's good. But we use our powers differently.
 "Creating Attalna and different breeds of them is all he creates, and is all that I destroy. If we meet Bellcast -ever- on our journey, stay back, or even better, run away, flee at great speed. Because when we meet again face to face on even ground, it will be the last time we meet like that."
 Taverna and Nara stayed quiet. Exaltoskull turned away and begun walking in the direction Tyranac had showed. Taverna and Nara didn't speak or fight along the way. The mood had changed. Exaltoskull's Deamon Shadow may have been controlled, but his emotions were changing him. In a bad way.
 The dark deamon warrior walked ahead of his companions, none of them speaking, none making noise. The Fog was changing each of them... for the worst...

***

 As Crioone moved further away from the Lake of Mist, the fog around her became more dense, and her visibility was greatly lowered. The ground beneath her feet was even hard to see due to the amount of vapour in the air around her.
 Above her, soaring through the bleak sky, montrous birds squawked at one another, ernestly searching for a way to hunt the beings far below. Sensing the danger the birds could bring to her, Crioone emmited a thin layer of deamonic energy, covering her and blocking her scent from the predators above. If anything, dying here in The Fog was the last thing on her list of things to do.


 A wind from the west pulled sand from the ground beneath Crioone's feet away from her, a sand from infront of her was whipped into her face. The journey was long and treacherous, but it was necessary. The scroll Vialien had given her instructed her to move westwardly towards a series of mountains. There she would fnd a cave, and within the cave a beast would welcome her, not with open arms, but with a open mouth and extended claws. The beast was an Aporactyla. Savage, fearsome, and never in a good mood.
 Crioone continued walking through the ever long mass of fog covered ground. But not all was right with Crioone. Her body was weakening as the hurs and days went on. The Fog was not an area of safety, and even if Crioone had an unlimited amount of time to complete her mission, the mist that was spread throughout the land was not gentle and kind. It was filled with a strange substance remotely resembling toxic. And it was injuring Crioone's body, one painful cell after another...

***

 "Who are you?"
 The voice belonged to a large Aporactyla, who, at the moment, was deciding who would win in a fight, the blue deamon or itself. When a wave of deamonic energy whipped out of Crioone and lashed the large bird, the Aporactyla made its decision.
 "If you don't speak, maybe Helrades will be good for you," said the grotesque bird. And then, the Aporactyla struck Crioone with a knife-like talon, the dragged her through the dark sky towards a large mountain range. Helrades would have to see the specimen...

***

 Helrades' eyes opened, but the stones that surrounded him prevented him from eyeing the intruder. The Cerberus that stood below him had a different reaction. Its eyes glowed, and it grolwed a low tone- a sign that the intruder was not harmful, but another Aporactyla.
 Helrades patted his pet, then reached his arm out, manipulatiing the sphere of stones to form a hand shape. Using the Cerberus' eyes and his own power, Helrades grabbed the bird below, flinging it out of the cave but retaining the captured deamon.
 "Speak, deamon from the surface world. Why are you here?"
 Crioone's eyes fluttered open, and a shocked appearence came across her face. Their was no being in the cave, only an oddly shaped collection of rocks and a few bones here and there. Standing up, Crioone looked around the cave, seeking out the being that had spoken with her.
 "You will not find me with eyes such as your own. I am Helrades, leader of the Aporactyla tribe, hidden within the rocks of The Fog. I have introduced myself, now respect my wishes and answer for yourself."
 Crioone looked at the collection of rocks, and the realisation of the power of the being she was dealing with caught up to her. "My name is Crioone. I come from the planet Speed against my own wishes. I was banished here. I have been told that If I collect scrolls from this place I can find my way out. You have what I'm looking for."
 Helrades reached out his arm once more, this time making the rock hand grab Crioone. "You think you can just walk into my lair-or get taken here in your case- and expect me to give you my scroll. Think again, deamon from Speed. You'll have to prove yourself."
 Crioone stared at the rock, and began to reply. "I fully expected a response like- "
 But she was cut off by the shattering of the sphere of stone. A bird flew out of the rubble and landed infront of Crioone, holding out the scroll. "This is what you came here for? Well then, I'd like you to meet Cerberus, my pet. Beat him in battle and you win the scroll. Lose to him, and you're no worse off than before. You're dying anyways." Helrades stepped back, then vanished into the ground beneath him, only to be replaced by Cerberus. The three headed dog growled, and the showered Crioone with flames. Knife-like teeth shot out from the third head's mouth, heating up in the flames and cutting Crioone all over.
 Crioone summoned her willpower, then covered herself with stone from the ground. The Cerberus noticed the change and ran forwards, batting the stone with its clawed paw, tearing the rock away from Crioone. But Crioone was no amateur at battle. Shooting herself at the Cerberus from behind and encasing it in energy.
 The Cerberus howled in pain as the energy from Crioone's blast entered its mouths and exploded on the inside. Crioone watched, a grim look on her face. Then, as the Cerberus collapsed on the ground, Crioone floated towards the pile of rocks from which it had emerged. Within, Helrades looked at Crioone with a look of hatred, but also shock. But Helrades was honest and proud by nature. The Aporactyla raised its hand, giving the scroll to Crioone, who put it next to the first scroll- in a small sack attached to her neck.
 Helrades looked at Crioone, then spoke. "You are different from others who have attempted to come by me. Your presence is odd. Your soul feels more alive, and yet dead at the same time. I wish you luck on your journey, and although I hate to say it, you have free passage within the ranks of the Aporactyla. Maybe one day we can fight head to head, ad we shall see which of us is the stronger..."
 Helrades dissapeared into the ground, and then reappeared, sitting inside a group of transparent rocks. "No," said Helrades. And Crioone knew what he meant. The rocks were not transparent. Her eyes had changed. She could see in a completely new way. As Crioone turned to leave, the Cerberus- or at least, the remains of it, changed into dust. Crioone's job here was complete. As she took off into the sky, the land in which she was seemed to brighten, if only slightly, as if a layer of fog had been removed...

***   ***   ***

Part Three: Deamon Graveyard

 A cool breeze blew across the the endless sea of sand, the Desert of Sigma. Taverna stared around himself in awe, as did Nara. Exaltoskull was the only one who did not seem amazed about the desert in which they stood.
 "So what the heck do we do now? Tyranac said that we come here and we're freed, but nothing's- " ...
... ... ...
 The desert of Sigma was empty. It had held three deamons in its grasp only seconds earlier, but it was now empty. Fog rolled over the Desert of Sigma, and other than that, there was no sign of there ever being anyone there. Ever...

***

 Crioone stumbled over a small pile of rocks. As she looked up, she was surprised to see a shadow that moved towards her. Suddenly, a hoard of circular shaped shadows appeared around her, and a humming sound accompanied them. From afar, a voice barked out orders to the unseen army of beings. Crioone shut her eyes, and immediately she saw that she was surrounded by many large deamons, each of whom stared at her with hatred. Then the leader appeared to her in the form of a dog wearing a crown made up of dry bones and dried flesh.
 Anlatta.
 The dog deamon stared at Crioone, then spoke to Crioone in slow phrases, taking long breaths in between.
 "You have gotten... further than lord... Bellcast had predicted. ... But in order to... fulfill his orders... you must die... here and now. ..."
 Still with her eyes closed, Crioone was now able to see how Bellcast's dog was controlling the deamons- or in this case, long dead deamons, now merely ghosts. Many Attalna had placed themselves within the heads of the deamons' souls, ultimately controlling the dead bodies. Anlatta controlled a large legion of Attalna, and they followed him as strictly as the followed Bellcast.
 "How appropriate... is it that this place... is named the... Deamon Graveyard. ... I control a dead army... and you will soon... join my army," said Anlatta, cold sneer coming across his face. "Attack the blue deamon. Kill her."
 The dead army of Attalna infused deamons jumped towards Crioone, claws stretched out, teeth gnashing, screeching and crying out as they attacked. Crioone flashed out of view, only to reappear behind Anlatta, claws around his neck, deamon energy pouring out of her onto Anlatta. "You'll have to be faster than that to get me," said Crioone in reply to Anlatta's feeble attack.
 Anlatta smirked, and Crioone choked back blood from her neck. Anlatta's forepaw had punged itself up through his body and into Crioone's lower neck. Anlatta laughed. "Pain is just one... of the many duties... invloved in fighting... for Bellcast. ... Winning is another part... slightly more important."
 Crioone caughed, releasing Anlatta from her grip. She fell to the ground and was immediately surrounded by the dead army. But it was not Anlatta's blow that had caused her sudden pain. The fog in the area was entering her body rapidly, and was destroying vital organs in her body. Unless she could escape from The Fog soon, she would die.
 In a last attempt, Crioone purged deamonic energy from her body, blasting away the front lines of dead deamons, ripping through the back ranks. Sidestepping Anlatta's kick, Crioone twisted her body away from a follow up attack, but Anlatta's third kick landed on her side, knocking her back to the ground. Anlatta laughed again, and with a wave of his paw, the Attalna came out from their hosts, returning to Anlatta's side.
 "Give up, Crioone... you cannot defeat me."
 "I don't need to. All I need is the last scroll. Once I have that I can escape from this place." Crioone melted into the sand, hoping that Anlatta would follow her. He did. That was his mistake.
 Upon entering the sands of the Deamon Graveyard he was pelted by punches and kicks flying at high speed from Crioone. In a matter of seconds the dog deamon was breathing deeply and did not show signs of getting back up. "You may be the leader of an army of deamon like beings awaiting your orders, but you're still stupid and ignorant. You think you're strong and powerful and smart. You're wrong on all three."
 Crioone returned to the surface, and just as she did the Attalna sunk into the sand, seeking their leader. Like a pack of weak animals. They can't survive without the leader, thought Crioone to her self, before running towards where Anlatta had come from. She was sure the scroll would be nearby.

***

 Anlatta had come from a nearby valley. Crioone knew this because waiting in the valley were hundreds of Attalna. In the center of them all was a large tree, the only thing with colour in the whole area. For some reason, Crioone knew that the tree held the last scroll. She did not know why, but something about the treewas odd, and different.
 But there was no longer time to think. Only to react. The Attalna from the valley had sensed Crioone, but not their leader. Anlatta had not been such a fool as to leave his last legions without order. The order he had given was simple. Kill Crioone. No matter what the cost was. Make sure it was done.
 The Attalna floated towards Crioone, emotionless, yet embodied with a sence of anger towards Crioone. But Crioone could not go on to fight. Anlatta's loss had only been partial. He would accomplish his job, and pain was just one of the things that made up the job. Overall, he would succeed.
 "Move, you fool!" The voice was familiar. Crioone struggled, but a wall of Attalna was still infront of her.
 "Get up! If you start to move, I'll open the way for you!" Crioone began to move once more, but the fog in her internal systems was slowing her down. And in her mind, she struggled to grasp the name of the deamon who was speaking to her.
 "I can only hold them off for so long! After that, they'll be on you like a pack of wolves on a young deer. You'll die before the fog kills you! Once you get moving I'll begin to hold them off! I'm your only option, so don't doubt now! If you stand there waiting you'll die from either their attacks or the fog. If you go in and I'm lying you'll end up with the same result, only faster, maybe. But I'm not lying! Go Crioone, now!"
 Illyare. It was his voice. Trator to Bellcast, somehow alive-or dead- in The Fog. Crioone knew his words were true. Either way she put it, she was dead, unless he could stop the Attalna long enough for Crioone to retrieve the scroll. With a last burst of energy, Crioone pushed herself towards a wall of Attalna. And the wall broke apart, and continued to break as Crioone pushed on. Illyare had kept his word. Crioone arrived safely at the tree. The scroll was right infront of her, sitting in a branch. Crioone grasped it, just as Illyare stabbed her with his claw. Crioone began to drop, and Illyare prepared for the final stab.
 "Why?"
 "I am a traitor by nature. I let people get so close to their goal, then betray them. It's funny, really. The look on their faces when they get stabbed or lose their prey. Or even if they get crushed beneath a falling wall of a fortress..."
 "Nara? ..."
 "Huh? Oh... no, I'm not Nara. I'm her brother!"
 Crioone dissapeared. Illyare cried out in surprise. "What the hell?"
 But no one answered his question. Illyare had not completed his task that needed to be accomplished to escape The Fog. He had failed to kill Crioone, and now he would finally die. He would live on in death in hell...

[The Host]

Part Four: Universal War

Interlude Thirteen
In Between the Worlds: The Fountain

 A light shone through Crioone's closed eyelids. The light was great, beautiful, natural, and deadly. Crioone groaned in pain as she tried to look up at the source of the light.
 Stay down. You are not meant to see me, only to here my words and listen to them. Learn from them. Fronaly will care for your wounds. You must only listen to my voice, and you will be freed.
 Crioone obeyed the voice, even if she had been betrayed only a few minutes ago. Or atleast what felt like only minutes ago. Laying her head back down, Crioone relaxed herself, shutting out all other noise and thoughts, only letting the being's voice who emitted the light into her head.
 You are in a place where magic and deamonic energy have collided. You are Crioone, the only one who can eventually save our universe. You know this. But what you don't know is how you got here, and when you save our universe. The former is your only concern at the moment.
 After retrieving the third scroll of Mitora you were immediately transported here. It is a secret of The Fog. Even I do not know how a place such as it works. You are here because The Fog tasked you with retrieving the scrolls and entering the Fountain. This world holds the foutain. You have survived Crioone. You are now in Mitora...

***

 "Who are you?"
 The voice was gone, leaving no answer. The only name she could come up with was Fronaly. But she was unsure as to whether that voice was the voice of her savior.
 Ahead of Crioone was a pool of water. The water sparkled, its surface gleaming. Crioone walked towards the fountain, and as she neared it the fountain of water grew in size. Crioone stepped into the fountain.
 Crioone was hurtled through space into a world she was quite familiar with. It did not seem changed, and yet, it was different. But Crioone could not place the difference, or undifference.
 She was home, and that was all that mattered...

[The Host]

Chapter Fourteen
The Quest For Ragnon; Part One

 Patrick looked around at the surrounding area. The area was a bleak wasteland with devastation written across it. Behind him, Jet, Hawk and Dolphin stared around in amazement and shock. None of them had imagined Speed to take on this appearence.
 "So. We're here, what now?" It was Dolphin who spoke first. None of them really felt like talking. Speed was not what they had thought of, and it didn't make any of them feel comfortable in the alien world.
 It was Hawk who replied. "How much magic can each of us use? Before we can go on we need to figure this out."
 Patrick shot a ball of fire straight at Hawk, then manipulated the flames to make it go around Hawk's body, reforming as soon as it passed around. Then the ball of fire was gone, replaced by a sheet of metal. The metal plate came back to Patrick, wrapping itself around his left arm, moulding into place.
 "That's what I know, and there's more."
 Jet looked at Patrick in amazement. He then stood in place, then teleported a few feet, reappearing behind Dolphin. Dolphin moved her hands around, and in a matter of moments, a small portal was opened. Steeping through, Dolphin was gone for several minutes. She then reappeared in the same place, unhurt and smiling.
 Hawk looked at each one. Then he spoke. "Okay. It seems that Patrick is the strongest one of us, and also the best suited for hand to hand combat, as well as mid distance combat. Jet, you're a distraction. You keep moving around, landing a punch when you can. Dolphin, can you put other people through your portals?"
 "I guess. I've never tried it on a deamon though."
 "Doesn't matter. It should work on anyone. You're a distraction, but also a wall. You lead predators away from us. That leaves me. I am telepathic. Other than that I don't have many powers. I have limited flight, and I can speak in the old deamonic language, although I am unsure as to whether that will help. I also have similar powers to Patrick, although at a much lower level."
 Patrick looked at Hawk, then asked the obvious question. "So? What do we do now?"
 "We head towards the source of all evil. His name is Bellcast. He will not be happy to see me alive, but we must face him and defeat him. He is the source of evil. If he is defeated, evil will be vanquished. We will win."
 No. That is not your duty. It is the duty of only one being. But do not be put down. You have your own tasks. As I speak to you, the universe is being torn apart by an ancient evil, greater than anything you have ever seen. Your world is dying. Ocean levels are rising, earthquakes shatter large cities. Volcanoes erupt, spreading flames across the land. Hurricanes tear trees from their roots, and lift buildings from their foundations. You are needed there. Your task is saving humanity, not the universe. There are others for that job.
 Hawk looked around for the voice that was delivering orders. But he was forced to stop as a brilliant and blinding light burst into his eyes.
 Do not seek me. The time for that is not right. Three of you must return to the world of the living human, Terra Eterna. But one of you will not accompany your friends. It is not written in the illuminated stars. You have another destiny. But I cannot say the words when others are around.
 Begone, Hawk of the land, Jet of the sky, and Dolphin of the sea. Your duties await for you in your homeworld.
 Patrick was left standing alone. If his companions had been standing along side him still, he would have heard their cursing and cries of despair. But he was lucky enough not to have to suffer.
 "Who are you? And how do you know the destinies of everyone?
 I have said, the time is not right for you to learn of my person. But I will tell you this. When destinies are created, the creator knows them all...
 But onto you, Patrick. Your sister came here, did she not?"
 "Yes..."
 You wish to save her, no?
 "Yes... I came here, in part to seek her and save her..."
 There will be a time for that. But as is my name, the time is not right. You need aid to save her. Alone you are powerless. Bellcast's army will not fall easily, and a few fireballs and shields of iron will not take him down. You must seek power. You must seek out a deamon by the name of Crioone. She will understand you problems, for she has encountered your sister. Hopefully when you find her your sister will still be alive...
 And just like that, the voice was gone, leaving Patrick alone to ponder the words of the being of light.
 "Crioone... where are you?"

[The Host]

 It had been a month since Patrick had left on his quest for Crioone, but the deamon had been either in hiding or gone from the universe. As the young magician journeyed through the land of Speed it soon became clear to him that his powers were much greater in a world dominated by magical and deamonic energy. At times he encountered deamons of weak calibur and found that with the wave of his hand he could do anything from shoot balls of fire that were hotter than anything humans had ever encountered to being able to transform his entire body into a form that suited the terrain better.
 In his current form, that of a wolf, Patrick scoured the land that he was sure was the north of Speed. The area was covered in tall trees and cool ground, with rivers flowing freely in every which way, sometimes crossing over each other. Even when Patrick encountered deamons that were strong and could speak to and comprehend him the only answer he got in return from them was that the deamon he was searching for was dead, killed by the King of Deamons for treason and rebellion. It soon occured to Patrick that the voice that had told him to search for this Crioone may have been lying to him, and he was searching for his own death with every second he spent in Speed.
 After another week of searching for the deamon Patrick gave up hope. Crioone had left no trace of where to look for her, and Patrick was tired. In despair and anguish he transformed into a flacon and flew overtop of Speed, searching for something else to look for.
You have stopped your search?
 Patrick stopped flying and turned to find where the voice had come from. He swore when he realised it was the same being who had sent him on his chase.
Do not be mad. Under normal circumstances and times you would have succeeded with your journey. Quest. Whichever you choose to call it. But times, as you know, are not normal. Crioone is not where I expected she would be. In fact, she does not even know where she is, although from her position she can see you.
 Patrick looked around for the being who spoke to him, but the same thing happened when he looked this time as he looked last. Blinding light was all he could see.
It is useless to seek me. I will reveal myself when the time is right. But as I was saying, you may not see her, but Crioone can see you. Infact, she has been following you this whole time. You see, the two of you, as odd as it may seem, are intertwined in each other's destinies. When you came into the Land of Speed Crioone also entered at the exact same time. In the place where she was, time was distorted, and the land she walked upon was different also. So even though she left after you arrived, she returned to Speed when you arrived. It is hard to understand, by I speak correctly. Even the others, who were banished from Speed before her and left their exile before her, they have yet to return, because in the place they were, time is different for everyone.
 "What are you seeing? What does it matter what time we arrived in Speed?"
Actually, it is not only the time that was the same. It was the place. Your destinies are intertwined, but at no point can they be the same. But you two conflicted with that. By being in the same place at the exact same time with bodies, souls, and destinies that cannot do that according to the laws of the magical and deamonic beings, one of you had to be eliminated. In order for you to find Crioone and take down Bellcast you must fulfill the first part of your own destiny. Once you do this, the being you find will be able to seperate the two of you from each other and you will be able to continue with you own respective jobs until the time comes for you to work together.
 Patrick suddenly felt alone, and when he called out for the voice to return he found it was gone. "He, or she, does it again. Leaves me wondering what to do next, with no clues as to what to do!"
 Ragnon
 The beings presence was back for only a second, but the voice had been there too. And it had spoken the one word that Patrick needed to know. He could begin his search for the beginning of his destiny now.

[The Host]

The sea of sand that had loomed infront of Patrick for the past weeks began to fade, but that still meant he had a long journey ahead of him. Many deamons in the area had heard of Ragnon, and once Patrick found out he was looking for a dragon the answers he recieved from deamons began much more numerous. Yes, there were still deamons who knew nothing about dragons or Ragnon, and others who knew about Ragnon but would not give any information.
It was these deamons that caused Patrick the most pain, for they were generallystrong and did not go down easily without a long fight. But these fights also allowed Patrick to grow in both mind and brawn. By the time he had gathered enough information to begin his search for Ragnon, Patrick had the build of a grown man with powerful muscles and a well toned body. His mind had also enlarged mentally to hold more information and detail, a side effect to living in Speed.
As Patrick glided across the top of the desert his wings brushed the sand ever so slightly, and as he rose the sand followed him. A deamon is disguise. Patrick flipped in mid air and reverted to human form, blasting searing flames towards his attacker and sucking the air from inside his attacker at the same time to create a vaccuum inside the predator and enlarge his fire on the outside. The deamon gave a sharp shrill cry and its body dispersed into thousands of tiny micro-organisms surrounding a larger bloodthirsty looking deamon.
"You fool! You cannot simply remove my power from em like that!" cried tha Deamon.
Patrick transformed once more, this time into a sand coloured wolf, and in seconds his fur was blended in completely with the desert sand. "Who are you?" he cried out to the deamon.
The micro-organisms gave an answer to his question. Alone there voices were unhearable, but with so many of them in such a close proximity the answer was clear. "He is Vulture."
Vulture clawed his way towards Patrick's sound and the Yits, the tiny micro-organisms, returned to the host body. Patrick struck out with a sword formed completely of sand but heated to the melting point. The sand struck Vulture and the deamon rolled to the ground, the Yits remaining motionless upon his body. The sand cooled at once, but because it had struck Vulture and bent and curved at many moments the sword was not shaped well. The Glass Sword  was shaped like a wave, and Patrick decided that it may be useful sometime on his journey for Ragnon, so he stowed it in a bag he crafted from the fur on his back. Then he advanced towards Vulture.
"What do you know about the name Ragnon?"