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Chapter Thirteen

Ring of Bomb (4)  Golbeza Clad in the Dark (4)  Those Chosen by the Planet (7)  Rivals (8)

[Admiral Mendoza]
    A large, fist-sized stone suddenly pierced the clean, clear, and peaceful blue sky. It rocketed through the sky, and was quite noticeable due to its deep, almost coal-like black color. A red glare outlined its diamond shape, probably because of its vast speed at which it was traveling. So fast was the speed of the object that the landscape below--which included prairies, lakes, forests, small villages, mountains, and other terrain--that it sped by in a flash, and everything blurred together.
    "QUACK!!!!!" screeched an angry duck that almost got hit by the speeding rock, and was forced down to Earth: vexed, but not seriously harmed, which was better than the alternative, death, as the object could have easily ripped through the duck, because of the sheer force from its speed, and killed it. For many long minutes it continued to travel at speeds equaling that of sound almost, passing towns, castles, and every other form of land you could think of, until suddenly, it just stopped. It hovered above a small mesa that was contained in a large, unassuming, and rather unfriendly-looking desert. On the mesa was a single form, standing very tall, over seven feet, and completely wrapped in a black as midnight cloak; one would think that the individual inside the cloak would be baking, as the sun was beating down upon the land with intense fierceness and the heat was sweltering at best. At the exact moment it stopped, the red glare disappeared from the stone, and it was quite out of place in the bright and bleached desert that had sparse salt brush here and there scattered throughout the region. Then, the figure raised its long arm, pointed its finger at the stone, and lowered the arm with startling quickness; the stone fell down inches away from the figure. Step by step, the figure went to the stone, when it was close enough, the figure reached down with its amazingly long arm and picked the stone up, and brought it to its face, looking at it with devilish red eyes.
    "So good of you to show up Mr. Xythar," boomed the voice of the figure. "But I did not send for you; why have you come and disturbed me?" asked the figure. "And in your soul stone form."
    The inside of the stone glowed a bright red, and a reply in a deep voice said, "There is..." It broke off, and the bright red glow vanished.
    "What, what has happened?" demanded the figure.
    "Well...there is a slight problem," began Xythar, the red glow flickering in intensity with his speaking. "My host body has been killed, and the spell book has fallen into the hands of some rebels opposed against my host." Xythar was speaking in a rather nervous tone.
    "WHAT?!!?!?" shrieked the figure. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S FALLEN INTO THE HANDS OF 'SOME REBELS'? THIS IS INTOLERABLE!"
    "But...it wasn't exactly my fault..." began Xythar, but he was broken off by the figure, which was now looking at the stone with glowing red eyes of pure malice.
    "Whose fault is it then?" screamed the figure.
    "Well...I...maybe I should begin at the beginning?" asked Xythar, his soul stone continually flickering with his speech.
    Quietly, the immensely dark and shrouded figure said, "Yes, I think you should..."
    The stone flickered quite violently for a second; apparently Xythar had cleared his imaginary throat. "You see...since my last report..."
    He was interrupted by the figure, "Which was about a month and a half ago, correct?"
    "Yes."
    "Where you reported all was well, except that there might be some rebel faction forming in the woods just north to your empire to fight against you...I mean, Marley. Shortly after your host's soldiers found the book."
    Xythar began again: "Well...the rumors did indeed prove themselves to be true..." He stopped. The figure continued to look at the stone with his intense red eyes, as if saying something to Xythar. "Yes... I know your orders were quite clear: Use my host's resources to locate the book, get it, and once I had it...report to you as soon as I could and wait for you to show up and we would proceed from there. But...just mere days--not even a week had passed by--after Marley's men got the book, three rebels attacked the castle and managed to steal it, killing several men. They then proceeded to run into the woods near Marley's castle, where Marley's men followed, but one of the men was a spy, Cyclinbear, and turned against the others. Also, they had the rest of their group nearby hidden in the trees to back them up. After that, the spy Cyclinbear took them to a fort hidden within the forest, controlled by the ranger 2 dope. I had sent out the notorious bounty hunter Flea to capture Cyclinbear..."
    Again, the figure interrupted. "Why did you send a bounty hunter after a worthless spy?"
    "One of Marley's soldiers found Cyclinbear out and reported it to Neo--Marley's finest general--who then reported it to Marley. I authorized the use of Flea's services at the advisement of Neo to capture him..." said the Xythar stone.
    "Why?" the figure asked with a voice of annoyance mixed with seething anger.
    "So we could learn any info he knew about the rebels. Also, to try to keep him quiet about the book. Apparently, it was too late." Xythar's stone once again went dark inside. "Anyway, after Flea had captured him, and failed to report in--" began Xythar, only to be cut off by the figure.
    "Mr. Xythar, much as I would love to hear this story of yours, I would find it easier and quicker if I just absorb your memories and thoughts." And with that, he closed his massive fist around the stone, and a bright, white light emanated from the closed hand; it was blinding. Seconds later, it stopped, and the figure opened its hand again. "This is indeed disturbing..." was all the figure said. "I know of some of these people, from your memories...they are all very resourceful it seems...but I do not think they have realized the full potential of the book they carry. There may still be time."
    "Yes, it is disturbing," began Xythar, "but I don't have all the facts. I have no idea why the rebels stole the book from me other than that it might contain some strong attack spells to help them in the fight against Marley. I don't even know why the book is so important. In fact, I know almost nothing about the book at all. Neither does anyone else that has seen it; not even the ancient mystical witch Tiamat, who is still recovering at the town. God knows what'll happen if the rebels find her. She is still very weak."
    At this the figure's eyes brightened. Tiamat, thought the figure. So, she's still alive. He had been worried that she might have been killed...after he had lost contact with her life force signal...evidently, she was still alive. Excellent. The figure looked back down at the stone Xythar with his eyes ablaze.
    "You don't need to know that information, Mr. Xythar..." said the figure sternly.
    "Yes, I believe I do. Why is that book so vastly important to you? You're already powerful enough to take over a good portion of the world, if not the whole thing. Why do you need that book? What is so special about it?" asked Xythar impatiently.
    The figure repeated itself, which prompted this response from Xythar:
    "If you want my assistance, I need to know these things. Why won't you tell me? I demand to know...or else," he did the equivalent of a gulp, "or else, I'll...defect and take the book for myself. Or join the rebels and tell them what I know...or something else like that!" If he had a body, it'd be shaking in its boots right now. The figure eyes were as red as ever.
    "Really, Mr. Xythar? How do you propose to actually do these things? Do you actually think you could stop me from preventing you to do these things? If you do...well then...you are fool. But...you are quite valuable to my plans, and you have served me more faithfully than most have, and much more than I expected you to. Very well then, I'll tell you what you want to know," said the figure calmly, letting its eyes get darker. Xythar sighed with relief; he stopped when he heard the figure speak again, its eyes even redder than before.
    "But, if you ever have the audacity to try something like this again, I will destroy you without hesitation or remorse. Remember that well, Mr. Xythar. Now...what do you wish to know first? One question at a time, please."
    "Why haven't you told me anything about this book?" asked Xythar, a bit nervously, but also a bit boldly.
    "Why? Why...if you knew what you could do with the book, your loyalties might have changed...I couldn't afford the risk," said the figure simply.
    "But, I would never betray you...I honor my agreements!" stated Xythar with a hostile tone.
    "Perhaps...perhaps not, next question," said the figure.
    "Why is this book so important? What does it do?" asked Xythar.
    "I said one at a time, but I will answer both right now," said the figure. "The book is no ordinary spell book. It has spells in it that no other book does, it has things in it that no other one does; it also leads to something I want very badly. You see, my dear Mr. Xythar...it is the book that was created by Mathingrolk..."
    Xythar interrupted the figure, "The actual Mathingrolk? The wizard who fought the Trelitan beast? The wizard..."
    It's the figure's turn to interrupt Xythar now. "Yes, I'm sure you know of all his exploits and all the grand stories...but that does not matter. Now," the figure started, "if you'll allow me to finish my explanations to your questions?"
    "Of course, sorry."
    "Very well then. Yes, the legendary Mathingrolk...the wizard that has done many things that boggle the mind of everyone, be he normal or magical, man or beast. But there is something very few people know about: Mathingrolk discovered something. Something that frightened him greatly. Something he feared that if it fell in the wrong hands, it would be out of his power to control it or stop it. He found the power...not just any power...but the Ultimate Power...the power that could give someone the power of a God, the power left behind here by whatever force created this planet...maybe whatever force that created this very universe...God, a God, the Gods, I don't know, or care...all I care about is getting my hands on this power." He said this with such force, that it shook Xythar's nerves a little.
    After a few moments of silence, Xythar regained his composure and asked, "How do you know if this is even true? If so few people know about it, what makes you think it's true? And if it is, why is it that only you and a few others know about it? Why isn't it commonplace, as it is with so many other of Mathingrolk's deeds and tales of legendary quests?"
    "Do you keep forgetting how old I actually am? I am thousands of years old...so old even, that I was around at Mathingrolk's time. In fact, I was there at the time when he discovered the power. So I have firsthand knowledge on the subject. So that's how I am certain that this is true. He investigated something he found in a palace of ice on some island, which contained the maps and history and all that other stuff from an ancient culture. He discovered an ancient legend among the artifacts that could lead to some "Ultimate Power," a power that could make anyone a God. He then studied the legend--with me watching him from the shadows so to speak, for I too learned of the island--which he proved to be true. Let me let you in on something: him and me have...I mean had, history together. I was a rival of his...his number one nemesis you could say. A yin for his yang, a zig for his zag, well...you get the point. To illustrate it simply: he was good, I was evil.
    "When he found the gate to the power, it lead to the inner part of the planet which contains...well...you don't need to know how to get the Ultimate Power...so, suffice it to say that the power is not kept within the planet, but you must get down there to get on the right path to get to it. The process to get the Ultimate Power is complicated, and can best be described as steps. He studied the gate, using the ancient legends and books of the island people. It took him years to crack the whole thing, with me years of waiting and watching, but when he finally figured out how to open the gate, and how to do the rest to get to the Ultimate Power, and wrote it all down, I struck. I was too hasty however...for before I thought about it, I attacked the building that contained the gate without thinking about the possibility that he might have had set up traps. I guess my attack prompted him to think about what could happen if the Ultimate Power fell into the wrong hands, namely mine. So he destroyed all the information he had found, and all his notes...everything, before I got to the gate room, except one thing: the spell book.
    "Over the years, he had put everything he found of importance in that book, the most powerful spells from the island people and such...but he had also put the steps of how to get to the Ultimate Power. During my attack, he managed to protect the book with vigor such I have rarely seen before. Why didn't he destroy when he had the chance, you may ask. Simple: he wished that someday, when the right person came along and discovered the legend about it, and where it was, and found it...it would be used for good. Anyway, I tried to steal the book from him, but he evaded the attacks, and I almost had it. After a few minutes of fierce fighting, I had him beat, and he knew he would die, but before I could finish him, he transported the book to some strange land...and laughed at me, and said just before I killed him in my sheer rage, 'My book is now in a safe place...somewhere where you will never be able to get it. You've lost it forever...you will never be able to lay your evil hands on it. Somewhere one day, someone who is of good enough stature will get it and save the world with it, and use it to wipe out all evil, including you.' Then he spat at me, laughed his ugly face for the last time, and I chopped his pathetic head off. After the battle, I looked for hours around the place, hoping to find something that could be useful to me...but the old man had managed to get rid of everything, leaving me completely helpless to find the way to the Ultimate Power. Then I tried everything I knew how to open the gate, but that didn't work either. I then tried every spell I knew to try to get the book, but to no avail; the old man had put it somewhere out of my reach. I took consolation in the fact that I had defeated my most powerful enemy, the world's greatest wizard of good and light, and that I could show his body to those who might challenge my power.
    "And so I did. I showed his body and his decapitated head to the people of the world...and for a time, I ruled almost the entire world with an iron fist. Of course there were some resistance groups and such, but there were no major concern. I ruled the world for decades, crushing anyone that challenged me. This period is often called the Era of Darkness, when the evil ruled supreme. However, I was feeling an emptiness...like I had missed out on something so much bigger than what I had, something so much more important. So, I decided to give up my hold on the world, by allowing some of the rebellious empires and peoples of the planet think they had overthrown me. And after that, I started my search for the book. I tried to be as discreet as I could. Centuries I searched the four corners of this mudball...but nothing, not a single thing ever turned up. Mathingrolk had hidden it well. After about a thousand years had passed, I had almost given up completely. I cursed Mathingrolk...he had cheated me of the ultimate glory and power that I could have had. Then, I decided to get anyone I could find that I deemed worthy enough, to help me. For centuries more, I kept looking, recruiting more and more help, but still nothing turned up; wherever Mathingrolk had hidden his book, he had hidden it for good, it seemed. I tried everything I could to get it, but nothing ever worked. I'd been searching for the book for almost two thousand years when something finally happened that looked like it might work.
    "I met someone you know of; I won't say who she is just yet, but I'm sure you have already figured it out using Marley's memories. She was something...a real piece of work. She was a very powerful person with magic...she joined me when she was only five hundred and seventy-eight years of age. She was the one that gave me the idea of using emperors, kings, and rulers as allies. Powerful rulers, she deducted, would have many resources and such to help in the quest to find the book. However, I kept her in the dark, and still have kept her in the dark, about the true nature of the book. So don't feel to bad Mr. Xythar. Well, I decided to do it, using her as the person who would join the empire or kingdom and offer her services while telling them a story about a powerful book, not letting them how she knew, and what the book could even do, or anything like that, for she couldn't, as she herself didn't know. Just a generic tale about an all powerful spell book that could help them become a very powerful person. However, even doing this still yielded nothing, until, when she was fifteen thousand and forty years of age, we discovered Marley. He was only twenty, and already a powerful king of a vast empire. She sensed something in him that told her that he could be the one that could get us what we needed. So, she went and told him the story and joined with Marley. Then, for almost forty years, she worked with him. He was one of the most brutal kings ever that the world has seen. A real chip off the old block, I often thought him as, for he was so hateful and evil. Even with the extensive power that Marley's empire had did not help in turning up anything...until about a year ago.
    "It was a real shock, and a real lead...an actual lead after thousand of fruitless years wasted searching for it. We had almost given up on Marley, and were about to move on when the news came. One of Marley's knights who was staying in some small, sleepy village for a few days to monitor it for signs of rebellion found out about an old town tale of a far away land defended to the hilt by creatures of all sorts: Dragons, Cyclopes, three-headed dogs, all those kinds of things. When the knight asked what they could possibly be defending, and why anyone would need that kind of protection for something, he found out that they didn't actually know; it was just a rumor. But they did know the rumor incorporated my old rival in it. After he was done monitoring, he came back to the capital and reported it to Marley, who then called a session for only the most important people in the empire: my informant, Neo (of course you would include your finest general on such a matter), some of the most important officials, and some other generals. They discussed it long into the night, most of them, including Neo, thought it was just some stupid folk lore, and that no such land had ever been discovered to date that matched a description even remotely like that...but my informant talked Marley into investigating it, as it had to do with Mathingrolk. It took much persuasion on her part, but it finally worked, and all agreed that it should be looked into. The town officially came under direct imperial rule, and was put under the charge of General Marakiss Jameroon, one of the best generals Marley could spare. He learned as much as he could about the mysterious land, of which even I knew nothing about, and found out that it lay just outside of the Delbar empire, a vast and powerful rival of Marley's empire. It was near Cadissan's Mountain; a certified death trap.
    "Well...it took them months of searching around the area before they finally realized that the only place this mythical land could be was nearby...in Jiwathro Lake. So Marley sent out my informant and the rest of his greatest spell casters and wizards and the sort out to the area to see what they could do. After a few weeks of studying it, they concluded they could combine their powers together and drain the lake. Just before they proposed it to Marley, I dropped in and saw my informant. I told her not tell Marley or let anyone else know until I had dealt with him. Why, you may be thinking? Because...I had been watching him, and at the discovery that the legend may be true, he went crazy for the power it could give him. I realized then that his lust for the Ultimate Power could impede everything I had striven for. So, I decided I needed someone to control his body for me to assure that my objectives were carried out. It was only about seven months ago that the knight discovered the tale, and about three months later when the mythical land was found out to be in the lake. It took me no less than a week later to find someone eager to help me, two days before my informant was ready to make the request...you, my dear Mr. Xythar. Not for the Ultimate Power, of which I said nothing to you about; I didn't want nor need another Marley who wanted the book for himself. But for revenge against Marley...the man had racked up many enemies in his lifetime. I had already devised a plan to control Marley...a soul stone. All I needed was someone who would help me against Marley, ask no questions, follow my orders to the letter, and allow himself to be placed in a soul stone, with the promise that I would keep his body in a safe place...in a trance. And then you came and filled the bill. And during the night on the eve of the request from the spell casters, I put you in Marley's body and gave you the power to control him completely. You know the rest."
    The figure ended it's long story.  Xythar looked in on his thoughts, where he played out the rest: after he had been given control of Marley, he followed through with the orders given to him, which was to authorize the spell casters to drain the lake, and to send the whole of Marley's vast and powerful army to the lake; for the town tale had told of many beasts and such defended the treasure. The tale was right, it took months of bloody battle to slay all the defenders, in which many men were lost, Jameroon and other of the greatest generals killed, all except Neo it seemed, and most of the spell casters wiped out. But eventually, Marley's men came out victorious, and they retrieved that which they fought so hard and had lost so many friends to get: the spell book. And it was brought back to the capital, and brought before Xythar's (Marley's) very eyes by Neo and Tiamat themselves...the only real great general and spell caster left in the kingdom who had survived the battle, or were not in critical condition. They also had to deal with a good portion of the Delbarian army...they had been dispatched to watch Marley's people, and when they saw what they did and the coming of all those monsters, they engaged both Marley's men and the beasts. Marley's people had to fight them off to prevent them from possibly getting the book. Bloody it was, indeed. And that all happened about a month ago. Shortly after that, a few days later...the three rebels attacked and stole the book. And then the rest: the sending of Flea, the injuries that Tiamat received from her mind link with the rebel Spyder, the talks with Neo, the showing up of Belisarius at his castle to pay his respects, the attack...everything that Marley's body was exposed to...including the death, where Marley had almost managed to spill the beans on him...and the plan, or what he knew of it. And now here I am, thought Xythar. The figure had kept his gaze on the stone Xythar the whole time, and as if reading Xythar's mind--which was entirely possible--asked Xythar about what Marley knew and what he told the group and his own men, including Neo.
    "I did," was Xythar's reply. "I kept Marley under my complete control...and I'm one hundred percent sure that he died before he even had time to say anything about me even." Xythar's voice was one of disappointment and confusion, mixed in with a little excitement. Disappointment from the loss of the book and Marley's body, and the confusion and excitement from finally knowing what the book did and what it could mean for him if he could get it for-- Xythar's train of thought was broken off by the voice of the figure.
    "I take it that you let Marley know everything about you, and you forcing him to do the same?"
    "For the most part, yes," Xythar replied, "Things about the plan, you, other things of a personal nature. It's a pity that his body was killed so soon, I really wanted to keep him longer for my amusement and so we could torture him so much more. However, I thought it best we cut off all lines and leave no evidence to be found of us."
    "You're absolutely sure he died before he could say anything?" asked the figure with a harsh suspicion in his voice.
    "Yes," Xythar hesitated for a second, "though just before I felt his life force extinguish, I felt he managed to sputter the beginnings of my name. Which wouldn't matter much anyway...few people know of me, and the rebels weren't any of them. Although Neo may be a concern...but in no way would anyone link me to you anyway, so all is well...except for the book. You know, I really wish you had just told me about it, then I would have put a much higher value on it, and gave it better protection. Then it wouldn't have been stolen." Xythar finished with a sigh. The figure continued to beat down upon the stone that encased Xythar's soul with his red eyes.
    "Your folly has cost us much, Mr. Xythar," began the figure. "It shouldn't have mattered what I told you about the book...you should not have let your guard down thinking it was just some worthless artifact that I was willingly to pay you whatever you wanted for. You should have concentrated more on the book, not your revenge. Also, you should have kept the battle more secret...and the control of the town." He stopped for a second, then asked, "How's Tiamat?"
    "The witch?" Xythar blinked an imaginary eye, then searched Marley's memories...he had already guessed that Tiamat was indeed the informant. "She's in bad shape," he said after a few seconds of searching, "resting in town, her own house, I believe."
    "Good, she is still alive," the figure said with a slight touch of enthusiasm. "This is good, we will need her assistance to carry out my new plan."
    "Err...about the book," Xythar said reluctantly. "There are spells in there that I have never seen before in my life. Also information about things I've never heard of..." He broke off.
    "Yes, Mr. Xythar, I know of this, and so do you after my narrative tale. Why are you entertaining me with your questions about the book again?"
    "Well...I was just wondering, there wouldn't be any spells in there that deal with time travel, would there?"
    "Yes...actually there is...one of the only ones ever to be known to exist is in that book, near the end. Just a little behind the spell that unlocks the creature from deep underground. But, an un-savvy person in magic would mistake it for a beast of power or a demon or something of the likes, it actually has to deal with the Ultimate Power, a step in the process. Why are you asking me this?"
    "Just that...well...I managed to sneak a few peeks at the book myself before it was stolen, and I happened to see a strange spell, from what I know of magic, I managed to figure out it had something to do with time. I was thinking, that if one of the rebels figures it out, that they could possibly use it, and I thought that might be bad."
    "Very good observation, Mr. Xythar...yes. That would be very, very, very bad indeed. It would impede all my plans of getting that book. If anyone did use it, and went back in time, or forwards...it could ruin everything, I won't say how; there are millions of possibilities. This should make us further our efforts of getting the book."
    "And what if they should get to the part with the steps of getting the Ultimate Power on it?"
    "Even if they did, they wouldn't be able to decipher it; Mathingrolk wrote it in such a way that only a master wizard of the highest degree could read it."
    "Ah...I see, such as yourself, I suppose?" asked Xythar, already knowing the answer.
    "Yes, Mr. Xythar, yes," replied the figure, already knowing that Xythar knew the answer.
    "One more thing," said Xythar.
    "What, Mr. Xythar? Time is of the essence," replied the figure.
    "You are already so powerful that you could take the world over right now, you are a legend in your own right, and you have powers that are already on the verge of being God-like; why do you need the book?"
    "Several reasons, Mr. Xythar. One: it's the principle of the thing; you always reach for more and the best. Two: the fact that Mathingrolk is involved, nothing more needs to be said there. Three: I was cheated out of having it, and I will have it. Four, and finally: there are still a few who could possibly challenge and rival my power, I will not allow that. I will become the strongest being in the universe...I will not be stopped!" shouted the figure at the end to signify his desire. He continued, "There is no more time for talk, Mr. Xythar, the time of discussion has ended, here is the new plan: I will send you back to your body, where you will be restored with it, the you will proceed to go to Tiamat and wait for me."
    Xythar did something that could be synonymous to a gulp, "Yes, sir, but what will you do? They have the book, I think it would be..." He was broken off by the figure once again.
    "Yes, Mr. Xythar, I know of your fears. You feel that they might have already cracked the book's puzzle and are now in a position where they could beat me...and I agree. From your memories, it seems these rebels have some rather experienced spell casters among them. The one named Roland seems to be the most advanced...and though I do not think he is advanced enough, he may be able to crack Mathingrolk's code. What is needed here is stealth, not brute force. Therefore..." he suddenly dropped Xythar onto the ground, which drew out an "OUCH!" response from Xythar. Then the figure grabbed the end of his cloak with his huge hand, waved it around, mumbled an incoherent string of words, and a big flash engulfed his huge frame, smoke streamed from everywhere, and when it finally cleared, there was a small, but fit man standing in place of where the figure was. He was about 5'9'', with brown eyes which flashed a red tint every once and a while, and brownish hair; not the most handsome fellow, but presentable with work. He was dressed up like some sort of sea admiral. Xythar did an imaginary blink.
    "Sir?" was all he could muster.
    "Yes, it is still me," responded the man, but with the voice of the figure. "I've just used a body form from an old...'friend' of mine to avoid detection. Mr. Xythar, I would like you to meet Arch Admiral Clark Mendoza, Chief Supreme Commander of the entire Arillacus Navy."
    "Very...interesting..." was all Xythar said.
    "Now, go!" And Mendoza raised his arm up violently, and following his gesture, the stone suddenly flew up off the ground and headed back in the direction it came. "Follow your orders to the letter, Mr. Xythar! I will rendezvous with you soon!" shouted Mendoza. Long after the stone was out of view, Mendoza turned around and looked aimlessly at the darkening desert (they had been talking for a few hours), thinking of how close he was to achieving the ultimate prize. Then he thought of the rebels, and all others that had stood in his way, and what he had done to them... "And what I will do to these pathetic humans...they will rue the day they messed with me. They will regret the day they crossed paths with me. They will pay dearly for interfering with me!" He kept raising his voice with every proclamation to the emptiness of the desert, until finally he was at a shout so loud that it shook the very mesa he was on.
    "THEY WILL KNOW THE WRATH OF ZARRIVEX!!"
    And as he shouted this, he waved his hand pass his face, and as he did, it flickered from Mendoza's face to that of the hideous, demonic face of the figure. And his eyes pierced the darkening sky with red, and then bathed the night sky in it. And then, the sky was nothing but red as blood.

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