It was the start of a new school year and the university where some of the warriors, namely Warriors Saturn, FireStar, Pluto, Universe, Ganymede, Callisto, and some others went to school received four new students among the incoming throng of Freshmen, namely Lina Inverse, Gourry Gabriev, Sylphiel Nels Raada, and Zelgadis Graywords. Besides the regular courses for these four they had to train in sorcery, swordsmanship, and be prepared for anything that might come their way.
     A couple of months earlier these four and Amelia Will Tesala Seyruun traveled to Atlas City with Warriors Saturn, Callisto, Orion, Pluto, and Universe. There they battled the seven pieces of Shabrinigdo, which had managed to combine and more or less reform the dark lord. The outcome of this long battle was victory and one more shot at a relaxing vacation. But what they brought from that battle was a need for more training.
     "This is getting rather repetative," Lina said, casting a magically amplified Fireball for the tenth time that day.
     "You still haven't come close to hitting me," Alex said, floating a few feet off of the ground. Behind him stood a wall covered in scorch marks. "C'mon Lina, you and I both know that monsters don't stand in one place and wait for you to strike. Some move incredibly fast and require you to guess where they'll appear next."
     "Ok, fine," Lina growled, blowing steam from her nose, "you asked for it. Bomb Split!"
     "Wha... Oh NO!" Alex exclaimed, frantically trying to escape such a powerful spell. Unfortunately he tripped himself up in mid air and stuffered to be blown up. He landed, charred to a crisp, exhaling smoke in a long sigh. "Or you could just use an even more destructive spell and blow me up."
     "Sorry," Lina said, a large sweatdrop forming on her head, "I sorta got caught up in the moment."
     "How's the training going Miss Lina?" Amelia asked as she entered the training facility, accompanied by Warrior Orion. Upon seeing the extra crispy person she exclaimed, "Miss Lina, how could you blow up Mister Alex like that?!"
     "It was an accident," Lina stumbled, "honestly."
     "A likely story," Andrew said.
     "Well, it can't get any worse," Alex sighed. A moment later his communicator beeped. He groaned, answered the call and said to the others, "It just got worse."
     "How so?" Andrew asked.
     Alex booted up the holographic grid on his communicator. The image of a girl with ankle length brown hair and big brown eyes appeared. She had a petite figure and wore a tight white T-shirt, short tight brown shorts, red boots, and red gloves.
     "Hi," the girl said, waving to the other people in the room, "I'm Tiffa, a friend of Alex's from the arena. We're in need of his assistance."
     "What's wrong now?" Alex asked, slightly irritated.
     "A powerful android who calls himself #20 has recently come to the arena. We thought we would be able to fight him off, but he's zapped everyone except for Pookee and myself."
     "How was he able to take everyone out? Axi, Piccolo, Rei, and Dekar Zol are powerful enough, and you guys have your mechs."
     "Operative phrase is HAD our mechs. #20 found a way to lock them away."
     "How did he manage to take you out?"
     "He has a pair of energy siphoning lenses in the palms of his hands. He absorbed our energy attacks, increased his strength, beat the pulp out of everyone, then drained their energy and increased his power some more."
     "We'll be there as soon as we can," Lina said.
     "And we will fight on for justice," Amelia said. A sweatdrop formed on Tiffa's head.
     "A hahahaha.... just hurry up and get here!" Tiffa said, growling the last part.
     "We'll see you soon," Alex said, signing off. He turned to the other three and said, "Get Adderson, Zelgadis, Jason, Darren, and Tony and meet me on the roo of my dorm ASAP. We'll go from there."
     "RIGHT!" Lina and Amelia said, turning to leave.
     "And make sure everyone knows how to cast and use Ray Wing!"
     Lina and Amelia fell over when Alex said this.
     "That's one tall order," Lina grumbled as she regained her feet.
     "Just do it," Alex said, "We're all fast learners and I all ready know the spell."

     Half an hour later Warriors Neptune, Callisto, Universe, Orion, Night, and Saturn, along with Lina, Amelia, and Zelgadis stood on the sun deck of the dorm where Alex resided. These nine knew that they had a mission before them and an important one at that.
     "How do we get to the arena?" Jason asked. Everyone turned to Alex, who said, "It's going to be one hell of a long flight and we'll have to stop and rest."
     "We're going to need maximum burn," Lina said, "no time to stop."
     "There is one person who I need to stop and visit, and it's a promise I made during my first trip there."
     "Ok, we'll stop and pick the person up," Lina grumbled, restraining herself from hitting Alex with a fireball, "can we get going all ready?!"
     Alex looked at the people who were going to help him, his eyes darting from face to face. First Jason, then Tony, Adderson, Zelgadis, Amelia, Andrew, Darren, and finally Lina before he put his right hand in the center of their circle. "Let's do this!"
     Everyone else repeated what Alex did, but not what he said, by putting their hands in the center of the circle, one on top of another. They all said, "Ray Wing!", magical auras forming around each person. They took to the night sky, their capes flapping behind them. Their direction was the same one that Alex took on his first trip: North by North East.

     After flying for a couple of hours at maximum burn Alex activated the mapping feature of his computer to see how close they were to Aeris' house. When he saw they were almost directly above it he began a dive towards the ground with the others wondering what was going on. They descended after Alex, all slowing as they neared the ground. Lina cast a light spell to illuminate the darkness and they saw the Gainsborough residence in its splendor: the beautiful trees, all of the flowers, the worn path and the asthetic appeal of the little home itself.
     "Is this the stop?" Lina asked, still in awe with the beauty of the small property.
     "It sure is," Alex said from the front door. He turned back to it and knocked. A couple of moments later a short, pleasantly plump woman opened the door.
     "May I help you?" the woman asked. She looked Alex over, her eyes windening with recognition, "Master Alex, it's you!" she exclaimed, hugging Alex, "How are you?"
     "I'm fine Mrs. Gainsborough," he said, hugging the woman, "though business calls me to the arena again."
     "Would you like to see Aeris?"
     "If she's not too busy."
     "She'll be excited to see you."
     Mrs. Gainsborough turned into the house and returned a moment later with a young woman in tow. The young lady looked at Alex, and smiling with recognition, ran and embraced him.
     "Oh Alex, I'm so glad to see you!" the girl said, leaping up and down, "What brings you out here?" she added, kissing Alex on the cheek.
     "Well Aeris, I and my friends," he said, waving a hand towards Lina and the others, "are off to the arena on business of dire importance."
     "Oh," Aeris said, sighing, "I was hoping you would teach me some of what you learned at the arena."
     "I was going to invite you to come along," Alex said, noting Aeris' reaction. Aeris leaped into the air, then into Alex's arms. She kissed him several more times, causing him to blush, before she ran inside to prepare. She returned a moment later with a large staff in hand, a small pack strapped over her shoulder.
     "Aeris, are you going to be ok?" Mrs. Gainsborough asked, worry clouding her face.
     "Yes mother," Aeris said, kissing and hugging her mother, "I have a feeling that Alex and his friends wouldn't let anything bad befall me nor any harm come to me." Aeris then ran to Alex, wrapped her arms around his neck, and said, "Let's go!"
     "Ok," Alex said, waving to Mrs. Gainsborough, "Ray WING!"
     The magical aura formed around Alex, enompassing Aeris as well. The others called upon the spell and took to the sky, heading towards the arena at maximum burn.

     Several hours later Alex, the Warriors, and the three Slayers approached the island where the arena was located. Aside from a few lights around the perimeter of the island, the arena and out buildings were dark and the air was deathly silent.
     "Mister Alex, I don't like this," Amelia said, "it's creepy."
     "I agree with Amelia," Lina said, "it's too quiet."
     "Well, we should land and try to find Tiffa and Pookee," Alex said, "they know what this guy looks like and could be helpful."
     "Let's just hurry up and do it," Darren said, yawning, "this spell is wearing me out."
     The group descended slowly and silently, landing in the outer court yard of the complex. Alex activated a flash light and looked around the area, trying to locate a sign. He found the signs which he follwed the first time he arrived.
     "We should go right," he said, heading off in the direction he took for registration with other people in tow. They reached the building moments later to see a lamp burning within, only bright enough to cast shadows.
     "Hello," Alex called, sticking his head in, "is anybody in here?"
     "Who's there?!" a harsh female voice asked. Alex shone his flashlight towards the voice to see the woman who took care of registration. Her blond hair was pulled back in a tight pony tail, her clothes consisting of black cargo pants, a gray tank top, and black combat boots. Among her clothing were small weapons, in her hands a fairly large calibur hand cannon. When she saw who was standing in the door she let out a sigh, reholstered the hand cannon, and ran to the door.
     "Warrior Saturn, I'm glad to see you," she said, gasping for breath, "#20 is in the arena. Tiffa is holding him off, but she's growing weak. Pookee has all ready fallen in battle."
     "Excuse me for being rude," Lina said, "but who are you?"
     "I'm Myria," the woman, "Aximili's girlfriend."
     "Myria, could you lead us to the arena?" Zelgadis asked, stepping forward. Myria took one look at the chimera and her eyes turned to hearts.
     "Who are you?" she asked breathlessly, eying Zel from head to foot.
     "I'm Zelgadis Greywords," Zel said, blushing as Myria took his arm and wrapped hers around it.
     "Oooohhhhh," Amelia fumed, turning red with anger. Lina sighed and whispered, "Cool off Amelia. We need her help."
     "Come this way," Myria said, dragging Zel with her as she walked towards the arena. The other people followed, Amelia still steamed, Lina embarrassed, Aeris holding onto Alex's hand tightly, Alex trying to be brave, and the other warriors taking in everything around them. They reached the outer hall of the arena moments later.
     "We're here," Myria said, taking a flashlight from her belt and turning it on. She flashed it around, giving everyone a view of the immenseness of the arena.
     "Holy cow," Lina gasped.
     "What in the nine hells?!" Adderson and Andrew said.
     " ..... " Tony was speechless with awe.
     "Welcome to the virtual arena," a gruff male voice boomed. Lights flashed on all around them, bathing them in harsh artificial light. From the tunnel before them stepped an old man with butt length gray hair, a large flat topped hat with 'MM' in a red symbol on his head. His complexion was wrinkled and gray and had the look of wood. His blue eyes were filled with a look of hate. His clothes were most odd, for they resembled something out of the 1920's, with pinstripes and contrasting colors and wingtip shoes and a big, thick black leather vest.
     "That's #20," Myria said, dropping back and hiding behind Zelgadis.
     "His power level is rather high," Darren said, checking it with his VR visor, "at least five times that of Alex's or Lina's current levels."
     "So more have come to play," #20 said, smiling with his wrinkly lips, "come in to the arena.... I'm about to finish the last of the interloapers."
     There was a flash of light and the group found themselves standing in the middle of the arena, bodies strewen everywhere. Piccolo and Rei were at the bottom of a pile of bodies. Tiffa was in the middle of the arena, a rather large sword in hand, her body showing signs of stress and of the battle. She was in a crouch, gasping to catch her breath.
     "You'll never get away with this!" Tiffa shouted, leaping into the air, the sword above her head. She slashed downward and surely would have cleaved #20 in half if he hadn't teleported out of the way. #20 brought his foot down square in Tiffa's back, sending her crashing face first to the ground.
     "You are defeated!" #20 said, descending and picking Tiffa up from the back of the neck. Energy flowed from Tiffa's body and into #20. Once Tiffa went limp #20 flung the body to the side and turned to the newcomers. "Who's next?"
     "You animal," Tony said, producing his trident, "I won't forgive you for this!"
     "Hah," #20 laughed, "your energy isn't that high.... you'll go down soon enough!"
     "You won't be fighting just him," Lina said, stepping forth. She ran her fingers through her long red hair, "You'll be fighting me as well."
     "A mere girl?" #20 said, laughing, "go play with your dolls!"
     "Grrr," Lina snarled, blowing steam from her nostrils, "Dragon of darkness that sleeps in the inferno, lend your roar to burn my enemies to ashes. Gaav... FLARE!"
     Lina hurled a sphere of blood red flames at #20, engulfing him. Unfortunately #20 absorbed the flames and, upon finishing, said, "Magical energy is so delicious and yet so rare."
     Lina swallowed convulsively when she saw this, "When I fought Shabrinigdo I tried the same thing and he absorbed it but spit it back."
     "Let's get ready to rumble!" boomed over the loud speakers as each combatant struck a battle stance.
     "Aeris, what's your limit break?" Alex whispered.
     "What's a limit break?" Aeris asked.
     "It's an attack or power or talent you use when you feel really angry or hurt."
     "It's called Great Gospal. It heals and revives the fallen."
     "Use it when you can and try to bring some of these people back. Until then hide with Myria."
     "Yes, come with me," Myria said, taking Aeris' hand and dragging her off into the shadows. Once Alex knew Aeris would be safe he turned to #20 and said, "Prepare to get your butt kicked. Ray WING!"
     Alex took to the air, Adderson and Darren with him. The three surrounded #20 and began attacking.
     "Freeze Arrow!"
     "Fireball!"
     "Damu Bras!"
     #20 laughed and simply teleported above the action, allowing the low level spells to cancel each other out. The three warriors kicked it into over drive themselves, dodging any attack that #20 threw at them. In order to cease all the flying about Adderson invoked one of his powers.
     "Gravity Flip!"
     The personal gravity of those people in the air was reversed so they plummeted to the ground and stayed there. Unable to fly away, #20 resorted to teleporting up behind people and sucker punching them.
     "This wasn't the greatest of ideas," Lina said, throwing punches that had a connect rate of 0.00001%, "We have no maneuverability."
     "I agree with Miss Lina," Amelia said, "Mister Adderson, can't you cut off your power?"
     "If you like," Adderson said, snapping his fingers. The effects of the power wore off moments later. Lina took that moment to take to the sky.
     "Hey ugly, bet you can't catch me!" Lina taunted, making faces at #20. The old android took to the sky and teleported up behind her a moment later. Lina gulped before performing a flip kick, planting her foot squarely on #20's nose. Lina propelled herself forward, taking a steep dive towards the ground. Unfortunately for her #20 teleported to the ground and punched upward, catching Lina in the stomach, knocking the air from her.
     "Lina gasped as the air was forced from her body, her head swimming, her body going limp. #20 found her to no longer be a threat and simply tossed her off to the side.
     "Lina!" Zelgadis shouted as his red headed companion was discareded like yesterday's trash. He grit his teeth and shouted, "You'll pay for that. Rah TILT!"
     Blue - white flames erupted around #20, engulfing him. Unfortunately it was ineffective, as #20 stepped unscathed from the flames. A sweatdrop formed on Zel's head. "Go figure," he said, "he's human, not monster, so it wouldn't work."
     "That tickled," #20 chuckled, advancing towards Zelgadis.
     "Dynast Breath!" Amelia shouted, smashing an energy sphere into the ground. Ice erupted  from the ground, racing towards #20. The ice quickly over took him and wrapped him in an icy prison. The princess ran to where Lina lay, only to find the sorceress slowly regaining her feet. "Miss Lina, are you going to be ok?"
     "Yeah," Lina said, coughing  a couple of time, "He should *cough* learn it's *cough cough* not polite to *cough* hit girls."
     "You want me to finish him off?" Alex asked, aligning his emeralds.
     "Go for it," Lina said, still regaining her breath, "I would, but my mind is still foggy."
     "Lord of Darkness of these four worlds, I call upon thee. Grant me all the power that you possess."
     As Alex chanted the spell for magic amplification the chaos emeralds in his gauntlets glowed with energy. He then began his spell.
     "Darkness beyond twilight, crimson beyond blood that flows. Buried in the stream of time is where your power grows. I pledge myself to conquor all the foes who stand, against the mighty gift bestowed to my unworthy hand. Let the fools...."
     As Alex was about to finish the incantation the icy prison shattered, #20 flying right at him. The android drew his fist back and swung, catching Alex in the stomach and knocking him clear across the arena and into a pillar, which crumbled on top of him.
     "You'll pay for doing that to Alex," Tony said, the watery blade of super sonic water forming at the tips of his trident, "Tidal Blast!"
     When the command word was spoken the blade increased in size. Tony charged at #20, a blattle cry issuing from his throat. #20 stood stock still, a sardonic grin on his face. When Tony swung downward he met resistance from a Ragna Blade, which #20 managed to cast. With one swift move #20 shattered the watery blade and knocked the trident from Tony's hands.
     "You're mine," #20 said, advancing towards Tony, one hand held before him, the energy siphon shining in the light.
     "Wrong," Adderson an Darren said, slashing at #20 with their swords. #20 blocked with the Ragna Blade and with a swift motion disarmed the other two. Tony took this time to attack.
     "Neptune Tidal Wave Submerge!"
     A large ringed ball of water energy sailed at #20, only to be stopped single handedly by #20's powerful grasp. The energy siphon in that hand glowed as the attack was absorbed, much to everyone's shock and amazement.
     "Oh crap!" Tony exclaimed, backing up rather fast until he was up against a wall, "I'm toast."
     "You certainly are," #20 said, returning to Tony. He wrapped his hand around Tony's throat and siphoned his energy. Moments later Tony lay sprawled on the arena floor, drained of all energy. #20, once satisfied that Warrior Neptune was no longer a threat, turned to the remaining four warriors.
     "We need to take him out," Andrew said, drawing his sword. He held the blade before his body, charging it with energy. He then leapt into the air, the sword above his head. "Orion Star Sword Slash!"
     The energy beam which was released from the end of the sword struck #20, only to be absorbed by the android. Andrew poured more energy into the attack in hopes of overloading the android. A moment later he flopped to the ground, completely exhausted of energy.
     "Oh brother," Jason said when he saw Warrior Orion go down for the count, "we're screwed, aren't we?" Darren and Adderson shrugged.
     "Maybe if we tried a triple team?" Darren said, forming a tornado between the palms of his hands, "Star Solar Winds!"
     The winds in the area began to pick up. Darren hurled the tornado at #20, spreading his arms as he did so. The tornado widened in size, engulfing the android in super heated winds. Jason formed a small cloud of silver - blue above his head. From the cloud came a stead stream of crystalline shuriken.
     "Spinning Shards!"
     The shuriken penetrated the tornado funnel, adding something sharp to the flames. Adderson formed a sphere of gravity energy between his hands, which he hurled like a basketball into the tornado.
     "Gravity Collapse!"
     The tornado shrank into a sphere, which exploded a couple of seconds later, sending the three sailing across the arena and into walls, cheap seats, and out an exit. Standing in the middle of the arena stood #20, his clothes changed to thick plate armor, a large samuari sword in his hands.
     "Hey ugly!" Lina shouted from atop the judge's booth, "here's some action coming right at ya. Ragna BLADE!"
     The black blade of darkness erupted from Lina's hands as she dove at #20. The android met her in mid fall and they began sparring, striking wildly at one another.
     "You're one strong little girl," #20 said, "I'm impressed that you can still cast spells of this magnitude after I punched you in the gut."
     "Don't get over confident," Lina said as they landed, "many have lost when their egos got too big."
     #20 thrust upward, catching hold of one of Lina's talismans with his sword. The talisman flew across the arena and into a pile of bodies. The Ragna Blade disintegrated a moment later, leaving Lina defenseless.
     "You're mine now," #20 said, wrapping his hand around Lina's throat.
     "Astral Vine!" Zel shouted, powering up his sword. He slashed downward, severing #20's hand and saving Lina's life. In the blink of an eye #20 had Zelgadis in his grasp and was in the process of rapid energy extraction.
     "Zel!" Lina exclaimed.
     "Mister Zelgadis!" Amelia cried, "Elmekia Lance!"
     The lance sailed through the air, but instead of striking #20 it struck Zelgadis. #20 reappeared above the arena, laughing maniacally.
     "You're gonna pay for that," Lina said, taking Orion's sword of light, 'I'm only going to get one shot at this so please let it work.'
 
     Meanwhile, in the control booth above the arena, Myria and Aeris watched the deathfest down below in shock.
     "Our guys are losing," Aeris gasped.
     "Stupid system," Myria said from a computer console, "let me have access all ready!"
     "Whatcha doing?" Aeris asked, looking over Myria's shoulder.
     "I'm trying to access #20's subsystems and disable his teleport."
     "What happens if you disable the wrong thing or if it doesn't work?"
     "Then we get blown up," Myria said, chuckling. Aeris stared at her in horror. "Relax," Myria said, smiling, "it was a joke. I'm one of the galaxy's greatest computer hackers. There is no way I can mess up."
     As Myria said that the computer terminal beeped. She looked at it and grinned with excitement. "Yes! I'm in his system." she booted up a long list of protocols and searched for some that may put the others at an advantage.
     "Ok, disable the teleport," she said, touching part of the screen, "and disable the energy siphon," she added, touching a different part of the screen. "There, that'll give our guys an advantage. What's happening on the floor?"
     "Alex is unconscious and buried. Neptune and Orion are down for the count. Night is unconscious in the cheap seats, Callisto is against a wall, and Universe is no place to be seen. On top of that the cute guy with the blue skin is out cold, the black haired girl is running around screaming, and the red haired sorceress is charging up for some sort of attack."
     "Go and resurrect the fallen," Myria said, "use your limit break."
     "Ok," Aeris said, taking her staff and exiting the control booth. Myria watched the girl leave and sighed, "May the light protect you."

     On the arena floor Lina began to charge Orion's sword with dark energy.
     'I know Sylphiel told me what an out of control Giga Slave could do, and I'm aware that if I miscast we're all history, but without my other talisman this is the strongest spell I can use,' was the thought that flashed through Lina's mind before she began chanting the spell. "Sword, give me your strength," she said, the bright blade turning inky black with darkness, "Darkness beyond blackest pitch, deeper than the deepest night. King of darkness who shines like gold upon the sea of chaos. I call upon thee and swear myself to thee. Let the fools who stand before me be destroyed by the power you and I possess! Sword accept this darkness and obey my command."
     As Lina chanted the spell, #20 regenerated his hand and increased in size.
     "What the hell!?" Lina exclaimed, holding the sword full of dark energy berfore her. #20 then sprouted demon like wings, causing Lina to freak.
     In the control tower Myria looked at the options one last time before she was locked out of the system. "Crap!" she exclaimed, "I must have missed that option or subdirectory. Looks like they're on their own."
     On the arena floor Aeris emerged from one of the side entrances, a serious look of determination on her face. She ran to where Alex was buried and where Tiffa, Piccolo, and Rei lay unconscious. She pulled the bodies of the combatants from the pile and dragged them over to where Alex was buried. When she was pulling Rei's body from the pile a talisman bracelet fell to the ground. She bent down and picked the object up before continuing.
     "This must be Lina's bracelet," Aeris said to herself. She looked at Lina preparing to cast a Giga Slave before saying, "She doesn't look like she needs it at the moment." She clipped it to her wrist before beginning her limit break.
     'Holy spirits that rule sky and earth,' Aeris prayed, her hands clasped, 'Come before me and deliver these warriors back to us.' She spread her hands before her while calling, "Great Gospal!"
     White light washed over the area, filling the three fallen warriors and breaking through the cracks in the rock. A blinding light filled the area, which revealed Tiffa, Rei, and Piccolo on their feet and fully recharged as it died away.
     "What the hell?" Rei mumbled, holding his head, "The last I remember I was doing battle with some old dude."
     "Likewise," Piccolo said, shaking the cobwebs from his mind, "do you think we're dead."
     "It's possible," Tiffa said, stretching the kinks out of her back, "however, there is something really big at the center of the arena and a little girl fighting it."
     "That's no little girl," Aeris said. The three combatants whirled around to face her. She giggled nervously and said, "Hi, I'm Aeris, the one who saved you from death."
     "Who's the girl fighting the big thing?" Rei asked, picking some dirt from his teeth.
     "Like I said, she's not a girl, but sorceress supreme Lina Inverse."
     "LINA INVERSE?!" the three exclaimed. A sweatdrop formed on the pile of rocks near them. From the pile came a mumbled cry and then an explosion. From the smoke stepped Warrior Saturn, coughing and wheezing from his ordeal.
     "WS," Tiffa said, taking a moment to elbow Saturn in the gut, "took you long enough to get here."
     "Nice to see you also Tiffa," Alex said sarcastically. He looked at Piccolo and Rei, then over to Aeris, "you chose well Aeris, but why did you pick Rei?"
     "And what's wrong with me?" Rei growled, getting in Alex's face.
     "Just the fact that you drive me absolutely CRAZY!" Alex growled back, a fanged smile forming on his face, "Mess with me, weretiger, and I'll make you into a rug!"
     "Save your anger for the android," Piccolo said, stepping between the warring factions. He turned his head to Aeris and said, "Thanks."
     "You're welcome," Aeris said before running off to safety.
     "How the flipping hell could that damn android get so big?!" Tiffa asked, digging into her pack and pulling out the Zamba sword.
     "He must have absorbed my super art for Rei Form ZERO," Rei said, a sweatdrop forming on his head.
     "And the armor?!"  The other three shrugged.
     "Maybe he got that after absorbing all the magical energy that he did," Alex said, pondering the scene of destruction.
     "Well, we really should go help Lina," Piccolo said, taking to the air with his cape billowing behind him.
     "Onward!" Tiffa shouted, taking a drying pole from her pack as well as the Zamba sword and running after Piccolo.
     Alex and Rei looked at each other, shrugged, and followed the Namek and the girl with the wild mood swings into battle.

     "Giga SLAVE!" Lina cried, swinging downward. The dark energy was released as a massive energy bolt, which arced upward before coming down upon #20. The spell would have worked had #20 not blocked with his demon wings. The energy was absorbed by the wings, leaving Lina low on power.
     "So Miss Inverse, you still haven't quit?" #20 chuckled, "And yet your friends have lost. What a pity."
     "Prepare to get hit with the hammer of justice!" Amelia shouted, leaping into the air, "Burst Rondo!"
     Multiple energy blasts struck #20, dealing no damage whatsoever, but giving Lina a chance to escape and recharge. When the dust cleared Piccolo swoopd down and punched #20 in the face, knocking the helmet clear across the arena. Tiffa leapt into the air and rammed the drying pole into the back of #20's head before bringing the Zamba sword down, slashing one of #20's demon wings off. As Tiffa fell she slammed the blade through the back of the armor and held on for dear life, swinging back and forth, driving the blade deeper.
     Alex and Rei arrived in time to see Tiffa performing her fly on the wall or knife in the back attack. Alex picked Rei up and said, "Prepare for a fastball special!"
     "WHAT?!" Rei exclaimed before he was propelled through the air. He caught hold of Tiffa's leg, flipped himself onto the blade, and catapaulted himself into the air. Dark energy flowed around him as he changed into Rei Form ZERO. The dragon cat roared a blood curdling roar as it swooped down and engaged in mortal combat with #20. Tiffa took that moment to free the sword from the armor and fall to the ground and land next to Alex.
     "He hasn't teleported out of this situation," Alex said, taking a piece of materia from behind his back, "hopefully Ridley can do some good."
     "Oh no you don't," Tiffa said, taking a 3 pointed star from behind her back, "Leviathan is going to take care of him!"
     "Somebody hurry up and do something!" Rei growled as he shrank back to normal size, "Crap, I'm out of time!"
     Tiffa and Alex looked at each other, shrugged, and held the items of summoning to teh sky. There were a pair of flashes, one of flame, which brought forth Ridley, the other of blue light, from which Leviathan, the sea dragon, came. Ridley opened its mouth, a large sphere of fire forming, which it belched at #20. Ridley spat a beam a moment later, which struck the sphere, causing it to explode into a wave of solar level heat. Leviathan swished its tail, causing a tidal wave to crash over #20. The two espers vanished a moment later.
     "No visible damage," Piccolo said. Tiffa and Alex sighed.
     "Hit it with everything you've got," Tiffa said, lobbing several fireballs at #20. The fireballs, though, were absorbed by the armor.
     "If I remember correctly," Rei said, taking on his weretiger form, "superheat the armor, then cool it off right away and follow up with electricity."
     "Which will end up shattering the armor," Zelgadis said, a sphere of blood red forming between his hands, "Gaav FLARE!"
     "Solar Flare!" Alex shouted, hurling a beam of 10,000 degree flames at #20. The beam struck and exploded into hundreds of waves of heat and flame, which washed over #20 and heated the armor to white hot temperatures.
     "Beam Cannon FIRE!" Piccolo shouted, releasing an energy beam from his fingers, which struck the helmet that #20 had recently replaced and cracked it.
     "Freeze Arrow!" Lina shouted, hurling several large icicles at #20. The icicles struck several points on the armor, cooling it rapidly so that it cracked.
     "Demona Crystal!" Amelia shouted, releasing an icy blast of arctic air which engulfed the mid section armor which #20 wore. The armor around here cracked, large pieces breaking away moments later.
     "Elemental Wrath!" Tiffa shouted, smashing her fist into the ground. Pillars of fire, lightning, and ice energy erupted beneath #20, engulfing him and shattering the armor. What was beneath the armor was no longer the old cyborg that they began fighting, but a dark and quite evil looking version of Rei Form ZERO. #20 arched its back, regrowing the wing that Tiffa had sliced away and growing two more inky black wings. Large shoulder spikes formed and #20 grew a pair of curved horns on his head.
     "Oh brother," Lina groaned, "what will kill this guy?!"
     "The most powerful attacks we have," Tiffa said, charging energy into her fists, "here I go!"
     Tiffa charged at the demon beast, leaping off of pillars and large jagged rocks until she was airborne. She drew back her right fist, which was aglow with energy, and screamed, "CRUSH!" before punching forward. There was an explosion as her fist connected with #20's right shoulder. The follow through caused bone to shatter and skin to tear away. Moments after Tiffa landed on the other side of #20 the arm fell to the ground behind her.
     "He's not so strong without the armor," Darren said, a tornado forming between his palms, "Star Solar Wind!"
     He hurled the tornado at #20, spreading his arms apart. The tornado increased in size until it completely engulfed #20.
     "Now what?" Rei asked, puzzled by what was happening. He got his answer soon enough.
     "Sandstorm Blast!"
     The winds in the arena instantly kicked up to force five, spraying sand everywhere. Alex centered the winds to meet with the tornado, creating a windstorm that could strip a cow to bone in just seconds. #20 emerged from the top of the tornado funnel, flapping its wings and sending the sand loaded whirlwind at the crusaders below.
     "Talk to the hand," Darren said, holding out his hand, "Galaxy Aura Barrier!"
     A dome of dark energy formed over his body and around the others, shielding them from the deadly twister. Amelia crouche behind Zelgadis out of fear for her life. Lina grabbed Alex by the collar of his undershirt and cried, "Do something! Part of that is your attack!"
     "I can try," Alex said, forming a small twister in his hands. He held it above his head and shouted, "Tornado Strike!" before hurling the twister outside the dome. Alex's twister quickly grew in size, striking the other tornado and cancelling it out before cancelling itself out. Darren dropped the shield and the combatants took to the air.
     "Have a blast!" #20 said, belching a large fireball at the people flying his way. The combatants teleported out of the path of the fireball, which crashed to the arena floor and blasted a large crater in it. The combatants reappeared around #20, each one ready to send this menace to its doom.
     "Give me time to chant a spell," Alex said, drawing his star sword, the blade of light growing to twice its normal size.
     "You're not going to try..." Lina began to say, but when she saw Alex powering up his chaos emeralds she turned back to #20 and summoned a Ragna Blade.
     #20 charged at Lina, punching and slashing with its one hand. Lina easily blocked the attacks, but wasn't able to do anything offensively. Piccolo heafted Tiffa at #20, hoping that the woman he called a friend would make it. Tiffa pulled the Zamba sword from her pack, which was about three times the size of Tiffa herself. Tiffa swung the sword, hacking off two of the wings and the large tail which #20 had grown. Once she finished her swing she drove the sword into #20's back, driving the blade deeper and deeper until it was up to the hilt. She leapt from the beast just as Zelgadis zapped the sword with a Digger Volt. The electricity ran through #20's body, returning him toa more manageable size, yet big enough to still pose a problem.
     "Lord of darkness of these four worlds, I call upon thee. Grant me all the power that you possess." Once his emeralds were aglow he began the second spell. "Darkness beyond the blackest pitch, deeper than the deepest night. King of darkness who shines like gold upon the sea of chaos. I call upon thee and swear myself to thee. Let the fools who stand before me be destoryed by the power you and I possess! Sword, accept this darkness and obey my command..."
     Zelgadis glanced up to see Alex's sword filled with dark energy. The sky grew black as night, thunder crackling and lightning flashing. He turned to the others and gave a signal to move away from #20. When the other combatants were at a safe perimeter he motioned to Alex, who nodded before unleashing the attack.
     "Giga SLAVE!!"
     Alex swung the sword downward, releasing a large bolt of darkness which exploded into a column, engulfing #20. There was a brilliant flash of light as the energy exploded one more time, vaporizing #20 and bringing an end to the nightmare. Once they were sure #20 had been destroyed the now exhausted combatants descended to the arena floor, which was now a mass of craters and debris.
     "Victory!" everyone cheered, giving victory signs.
     "About time you beat him," Andrew said, walking up to Alex and punching him in the shoulder.
     "When were you reenergized?" Lina asked.
     "Just now, when Aeris used her Great Gospal on all of the fallen combatants."
     "Is she ok?" Alex asked.
     "Yeah, she sort of over exerted herself," Tony said, "but Myria took her to the infirmery to recover." Alex took off the minute Tony mentioned infirmery, leaving a large cloud of dust in his wake.

     "Is she going to be ok?"
     "Yeah. Her limit break saved everyone, but she went way over her limit." Myria said. For some reason her voice seemed far away.
     "Her Great Gospal is incredibly powerful," Lina's voice said, echoing through Aeris' mind.
     "Is she coming to?" Amelia's voice said, closer than the other voices.
     Aeris opened her eyes slowly, blinking as blinding light shone down upon her. She moved her hands to shield her eyes and saw Alex, Myria, Lina, Amelia, and Rei standing over her.
     "Welcome back to the land of the living," Rei said, smiling.
     "Did I save everyone?" Aeris asked, sititng up enough to lean on her right arm.
     "Oh yeah," Myria said, "you revived everyone."
     "Which you did before I blew #20 into the afterlife with the Giga Slave," Alex said. Amelia whispered something in his hear, causing him to flush. "Yeah, I'm sure he'll have an afterlife. He was half human."
     "Think you could teach me that move?" Lina asked, her eyes wide with excitement. Aeris smiled and giggled.
     "Only if you can teach me that overkill Dragon Slave spell," Aeris laughed, bringing her left hand up to politely cover her mouth. Lina gasped when she saw her bracelet. "Is something wrong?"
     "You have my bracelet," Lina said, "no wonder you were able to save everyone. You have a powerful magic amplifier!"
     "You can have it back," Aeris said, unclipping the bracelet from her wrist and giving it back to Lina, "I'm glad that it gave me the strength to save everyone."
     "Miss Lina, you never offered to teach me the Dragon Slave," Amelia whined, "That is way unfair!"
     "You never had anything I wanted to learn!" Lina said, turning to Amelia and growling.
     "Settle it in the arena!" Rei, Alex, and Myria cheered.
     "Ok, fine, we will!" Lina said, grabbing Amelia's hand and dragging her out to the arena.
     Moments later the redheaded sorceress and the dark haired princess met in the middle of the demolished arena floor, the smell of destroyed android still in the air. In the judging booth sat Alex, Myria, and Piccolo. In the stands sat Aeris, Jason, Andrew, Tony, and the rest of the arena combatants. On the sidelines sat Zelgadis, Rei, Tiffa, Adderson, and Darren.
     "Lina Inverse vs. Amelia Will Tesela Seyruun," Piccolo said over the arena speakers, "combatants ready?!" Lina and Amelia gave him a thumbs up. "Battle order is Lina / Amelia. And... FIGHT!"
     Lina's first move was an 8 - hit combo move which was finished with a sharp kick that sent Amelia halfway across the arena and into a blast crater. Amelia returned the favor by performing a Pacifist Crush which caused Lina to see stars. Lina shook the stars from her sight and hit Amelia with a fireball, smashing her though a wall. Amelia emerged from the hole in the wall, picked up a broken piece of a pillar, floated into the air, and dropped it on top of Lina.
     As the pair fought it out, Myria turned to Alex and asked, "Are you going to be staying for a while?"
     "I'm not sure at the moment," Alex said, "the new semester has begun and all of us are sort of AWOL from our classes. On top of that I'm not sure if I'm welcome here," he continued, watching Amelia hit Lina with an Elmekia Lance.
     "You helped to save our butts," Piccolo said, "and for that we're grateful." Piccolo moved the mic that was on his headset and opened a channel for Lina. "Lina, you're Super Art level 1."
     "Roger that big green," Lina said before turning on Amelia with a devilish look in her eyes. "Prepare to fry Amelia!" she said, incanting a spell which Amelia was able to make out. The princess ran from Lina as a storm blew into the arena, ran turning the ground to mud and wind blowing rain in everybody's face. Lina shouted, "Storm STRIKER!" as lightning ripped across the sky, striking Amelia and blasting her with a few thousand volts and blasting out a crater.
     "Amelia is near fatal," Piccolo said over the loudspeakers. He activated the channel to Amelia and said, "You're also Limit Break."
     "She'll get hers," Amelia said, grinning back at Lina in such a way that made Lina recoil. She leapt into the air and shouted, "HAMMER OF JUSTICE!!", a large hammer of energy forming between her hands. Amelia swung the hammer downward and smashed it over Lina's head. Lina's eyes rolled back in her head as she fell over backwards, unconscious.
     "Lina has been defeated!" Piccolo exclaimed. The audience was hushed. Amelia screamed, "VICTORY!" while making a victory sign. The crowd cheered in response.
     "Great fight Amelia!" Tiffa exclaimed.
     "Way to go kid!" Rei shouted.
     "What a limit break," Darren gasped.
     "I didn't think Amelia had it in her," Zelgadis said, waving to the victor. Amelia blushed and waved back..
     "I'll get you Amelia!" Lina growled, sitting up and holding her head. She began to incant the Dragon Slave as she chased Amelia around the arena floor. Moments later half of the arena was blown away by a Dragon Slave. A couple moments after that the other half of the arena was blown up. As the sun rose on the arena Lina's voice echoed across the land, "I'll get my revenge on you, Miss Amelia Will Tesela Seyruun!", which was followed by Amelia's wailing as she ran from a very angry Lina.