Larpa was, as the messenger had said it would be, in total ruin. People lay dead or dying in the destroyed streets, and though no monsters roamed the streets, Ghaleon sensed a very dark presence. "We must be careful," he said. "I don't think we're dealing with a mortal being here."
"How intelligent," came a cold voice. "You guess correctly. And who might you be?"
"Identify yourself first, bastard!" Ronfar bellowed.
A tall black-armored figure appeared. "I am Gades, Sinistral of Destruction. But I was addressing he who sensed my presence. Who are you?"
"If you must know I am Ghaleon," Ghaleon said, his voice not even beginning to convey the rage that burned within him. A thousand years ago he would have liked to see Larpa in ruins, but now it filled him with great wrath.
"Ah, the infamous Magic Emperor," Gades said. "Arek has told me of your exploits. Might I offer you an alliance with the Sinistrals?"
"Cast aside your evil ways and then yes," Ghaleon said. "Until then however, you can take that alliance and stick it where the sun don't shine!"
Lucia could not move. The evil presence of Gades filled her with a paralyzing fear. She knew that immortal though she was, she would be hard pressed to destroy this being.
"I like your strong mind," Gades said, "It's a pity I'm going to have to obliterate it." Then he spied Lucia. "And here's dear sweet Lucia, Princess of the Blue Star. So why aren't you there protecting it?"
"The Blue Star is lifeless," Lucia said. "I cannot live in a lifeless world."
"Then you'd better leave," Gades said. "This world's going to be devoid of humanity when I'm done."
"That's it!" Leo growled.
"No!" Mauri cried.
Leo threw himself at Gades. He was only half human, and his other half must have taken over, because he lowered his head so that the horn it bore was leveled at Gades. "What the!!?" Gades cried. Leo's huge form plowed into Gades and knocked him backwards, but Gades was able to unleash a devastating energy wave that threw Leo back and sent him sprawling on top of the Destiny. "Anyone else want to try me?"
Ghaleon almost did himself, but checked his anger. "Let's get out of here," he said. "Gades is trying to provoke us."
Leo could have been killed. As he lay in his bed recuperating his sister Mauri berated him for his actions. "That's like trying to attack a feeding dragon!" she snapped. "Maybe that's not a very good analogy, but still!"
"Just leave it be, Mauri," Leo muttered. "I found out how stupid I'd been when he hit me with that energy wave. It felt like somebody punched me in the stomach with an iron fist. Besides, you were thinking it too."
"I was not!" Mauri cried, but Leo could tell that it was merely a defense.
"You were too," he said. "I know you."
"Well all right, so maybe I was," Mauri snapped. "but I didn't actually do it."
"Will you just drop it?" Ghaleon snapped from out in the corridor. "He knows he was stupid, so let it be! I'm trying to think here!"