"My God."

The demon's whisper was soft and hissing like a snake, but it was like a shout in the silence. It was absolutely quiet and black around him and his master.

The deity didn't turn. He was hovering in the air a few feet over the floor and staring into nothingness.

"Master, the mortals are approaching." This time the voice was like deep growling of a huge beast.

"I'm aware of that", the deity replied. Slowly, he turned to face his servant. "Are you afraid of them?"

"Never, my God. I'm just cautious", the demon said.

The deity shook his head. "You are too careful. Next to you and me, those mortals are nothing."

"They have already killed several of your servants." The voice had turned into a gentle voice of a maiden.

"Lesser demons with minor powers. We have lost nothing." The deity turned again to stare into eternal blackness that surrounded them. "The nikanoru, these mortals, will die. Soon all the world will follow them into the beauty of death."

"The Destined Child did us a favor by opening the Gate for us", the demon's voice was again like hissing of a snake. "Don't you think that they would deserve... ah... special treatment?"

"I don't care about nikanoru. You can do whatever you want with them."

The demon's twisted face broke into a delighted grin. "With pleasure", he said.

The deity gave his servant a small smile. "The Destined Child indeed did us a favor. Make sure he receives very special treatment."

The demon's smile widened even more. "When Ryu Bateson dies, I'll make sure that he will die without hope."

"Good", the deity replied.

"See anything?"

Ryu Bateson shook his head. "Nope, it's pitch black in there." He drew his head back from the dark doorway and turned to his companions. "Well, there's no way around it anyway."

"Yes, this has to be the way forward", Nina replied. She was sitting in ground and watched Bow, who was tending the wound in her leg. "We've looked everywhere else in this maze. This has to be the way."

Bow finished his spell and waved his hands around Nina's leg. For a moment, the soft glow of his magic lit the cave as power of the spell streamed from his stout fingers over the wound, which healed instantly. Satisfied with his work, Bow stood up. "I really hope that it would be quiet in here even for a moment", he groaned.

"Agreed."

Ryu and his companions had wandered deep into the Maze of Infinity. Nobody of them was sure how long they had been in these twisting passages. Though the Maze seemed be always changing, every wall, every turn looked exactly the same as the ones before. Bow had always been secretly proud of his sense of direction. But still, even he didn't have any clue of their current location. And that wasn't even the worst thing in the Maze.

Ever since the four friends had stepped into the Maze, they had heard whispering. Coming seemingly nowhere, just inside the limits of hearing, it had been telling about death, how each one of the friends would die, slowly and painfully. It told them of the beauty of agony they would suffer. It was worse than the demons they had battled to get all the way down here.

"I fear I'm going to go crazy soon", Bow said.

"You're not the only one", Nina replied, testing her leg by shifting her balance from one foot to another.

"Well, at least we're not dead yet", Ryu said, trying to see the fair side of the situation.

Dead yet... the whispers echoed.

"Be quiet, will you!" the trio could hear Katt yelling from somewhere near by.

Bow shrugged. "Well, there's one who is already crazy."

"I heard that!" exclaimed Katt, who suddenly came around the corner of a passage behind them. Unlike the others, she was as perky as always. Unlike Ryu, Nina and Bow, Katt had always seen their journey more as an adventure than a responsibility. Of course she knew that what they were doing would change the world, but she had never let the stress to darken her mood.

"Welcome back", Bow said. He bent down to pick up his packs from the ground. "Did you see anything?"

"Yeah", Katt replied. She pointed to the passage behind them with her staff. "There was a demon sneaking behind us. I punched it. So, what next?"

Ryu pointed at the dark doorway. "We'll go in there. That's the only way forward."

"Be careful, buddy", Bow said, "that's a perfect place for an ambush."

Katt laughed. "Well, if there are demons there, we can always punch their lights out, right, Ryu?" She turned to watch the doorway, ready for anything as always.

"Right." Ryu looked at his friends for a moment. All three had followed him on their great adventure that had taken them to places Ryu had never even dreamed of. Somewhere, far above their heads, there were more of his friends, waiting, praying, hoping...

Ryu remembered the pain he had suffered in the last test of the Dragon, the test of Anfini. "In the order to get the greatest power of the Dragon", the Wise Man had said, "one of your friends must die." Every one of his friends, even the ones he had left to the surface, those who shouldn't have even known anything about the test, had been more than willing to give up their lives for him.

Ryu knew now that the whole test had happened inside him. All of his friends had been just an illusion to test him. However, Ryu also knew that the Dragon Magic drew its power from feelings. It couldn't have made his friends to sacrifice themselves hadn't they really wanted it.

Unfortunately, that made it only harder for Ryu. He had fought with his feelings for painfully long. Responsibility against friendship, destiny against warm memories of his friends. Ryu would never actually know, which side had won that battle. He only knew that Ryu had won.

"Ryu?"

Nina's gentle voice brought Ryu back to present. He blinked his eyes and turned to face his friends. All three were waiting for him, ready to support him in every challenge they would encounter. Ryu smiled and drew the Dragon Sword from his back.

"I'd just like you all to know", he said, "how glad I am to have such friends."

Bow, who had been reloading his crossbow, chuckled. "Buddy", he said, grinning, "we already know that, stupid!"

"Yes..." Ryu smiled at his friends for a little longer. Then he turned his attention to the dark doorway. "Nina, we're going to need some light in there."

Nina nodded. She lifted her hand, extending her fingers upwards and muttering a short spell. A ball of the purest blue light appeared just over her fingers. It was a simple spell, the first one Nina had ever learned. Unlike the deadly magic she had been wielding so much recently, it was just a harmless trick to make light for occasions like reading at night.

"Ready?" Ryu asked.

"Whenever you are", Bow replied.

"Let's go", Ryu said. Dragon Sword in his hand and his friends behind him, he stepped into the bottomless, black mouth of the doorway.

The blinding darkness welcomed them into its cold embrace. It pressed itself close around the four friends, as if folding its black hands around them, ready to prevent any attempt to escape. Ryu took a couple of careful steps forward, testing his way by slowly swinging his sword before him.

Something's missing in here, Ryu thought. There's something not right with this silence. Suddenly he realized it.

The silence.

The whispering had ceased. It wasn't normal silence, Ryu could sense it clearly. It was unnatural, so eerie silence that it played tricks with his mind. Somewhere, Ryu imagined, he could hear something... his worst nightmares calling for him, seizing the chance to be heard in absolute silence, not to be disturbed by sounds of life... They were waiting for him in the darkness... Ryu could hear their voices over the wild beating of his own heart. It was even worse than the whispering he had endured for so long.

"Nina?" Ryu whispered. It was more like a shout in his ears. "Bring the light here."

Behind him Ryu could hear Bow gasping. "Ryu! Nina's light...it doesn't work!"

Ryu's friend was right. Nina's blue light shined in the darkness like a star, hovering just above her fingers. Azure rays of light pulsed from it, only to be swallowed and quelled by the blackness that surrounded them. Though Nina's magic could be clearly seen, it just illuminated her frightened features and only little more.

Ryu opened his mouth to tell his magician friend to quell her light. Before he could say a word, he was cut short by a deep, smooth voice from darkness.

"You have arrived...", it said. With it came a wave of uneasiness which swept over Ryu and his companions like a dark blanket. "Is it Destined Child there? Please, don't be frightened. You are being expected."

Ryu's heart passed one beat. Though he swore that he had never heard the voice before, it was somehow all too familiar. Like a bad memory you have almost forgotten. "Who are you?" Ryu exclaimed, "Show yourself, demon!"

"There's no need to be afraid", the invisible speaker replied. The voice was gentle, yet somehow terribly frightening. "Just come straight forward. As I said, you are expected."

Ryu's natural bravery took over his fears. "Stay back", he whispered to his companions, "let me try it first."

Bow kept his crossbow ready. "Buddy, be careful!"

A deep chuckle emerged from the darkness. "Ah, as protective toward your friends as always."

"I told you to show yourself, demon."

"Yeah", Katt shouted behind Ryu. "You'd better show yourself!"

The voice seemed to completely ignore her. The invisible speaker had all of his attention focused on Ryu. "My little Ryu... Are you afraid of darkness?" the voiced had turned from gentle into mocking. "Don't hold it back. Cry out in front of me, like you did as a child..."

Ryu halted. As a child?! He was sure now, he had heard this voice somewhere before. A memory came into his mind, a memory of two children sneaking through a cave, lighting their way with a candle...

"Yes... It's been a long time...Ryu." The voice was even more mocking. "I wonder if you remember me anymore..."

I remember you, Ryu wanted to say. I remember what you did to me! It wasn't true. Ryu didn't remember the voice itself. What he remembered was just a trace of a bad memory, a memory so terrible that it was locked somewhere away, deep into the edge of his mind.

"My Destined Child", the invisible speaker said with a gentle voice. "My Brave Dragon..." The voice became more menacing. "You do remember me, don't you?" The voice turned into a screech that ripped ears and caused the listener's head to pulse with pain.

"I am your nightmare!"

Suddenly, the veil of darkness lifted from the room. It fled to the walls, to the corners, everywhere it could hide from the way of a huge demon that laid comfortably before them.

Ryu gasped, as air refused to enter his lungs. Behind him, Ryu could hear his friends' voices. They, too, gasped in terror. The demon lord emitted an eerie aura of fear that made everyone in contact with it to shiver and tremble.

"Barubary", Ryu hissed as the memory rushed back into his head. He had felt this same feeling of helplessness before. It was years ago, as a child. It had been caused then by a towering demon, the very same that laid before them today.

The deity gave himself a small smile. It was a rarity on his emotionless face.

"Finally, after centuries, the fate of the world is near", he said. "The Gates are open. Soon I will go out to the world and complete my destiny by blessing it... with destruction." The deity nodded. "As it was fated to be."

The deity focused his attention back to demon Barubary, his greatest and most faithful servant. "Now, Destined Child", he said, "die and feel happiness in accepting your fate."

"So, you do remember me!" Barubary boomed. He didn't bother to change his voice. The time for masks and disguises was over. Now, it was time for truth and blood.

The demon was huge, larger than any other Ryu had encountered. Barubary resembled some kind of a giant insect. His body and worm-like tail were covered by thick, grey shell. Three yellow eyes watched the surroundings from his head, striking fear into the hearts of whoever he looked at. Under the eyes was a red maw, filled with teeth as sharp as nails. Barubary's hands were little more than huge claws, each one of them longer than the sword Ryu was holding. The demon's body was supported by several spider-like legs.

"I remember you!" Ryu shouted. His voice was filled with hate that had been locked away for so long. The fear had been washed away by anger. "I remember what you did to me!"

"Ryu!" Bow shouted, "Quickly, come back here! That demon is too dangerous!"

Ryu didn't hear his friend. His green eyes were locked in a stare with Barubary's three yellow ones. He was trembling with anger pulsing from somewhere inside him.

Barubary broke the silence. "When you were just a child, you did nothing but screamed and cried." His voice had regained its former smoothness. The demon shook his head. "Now you just scream."

Ryu didn't reply. He was gripping the Dragon Sword tightly in his hand.

Barubary tapped one of his legs to the ground. "Well", he said, "what are you waiting for, Destined Child? Come attack me!" He spread his claws as if inviting Ryu to his death. "I'm not going to hold back like I did when you were just a crying brat!"

"Let's get him!" Katt shouted fearlessly as she rushed to Ryu's side. She was quickly followed by Bow and Nina.

Barubary gave Katt an amused glance. It was much like the ones patient parents give to their defiant little children. Then the demon focused his attention back to Ryu. "How about it, Ryu. This matter is just between you and me, isn't it? The only way to settle it is by a duel. One-on-one, your strength alone against mine. What do you say?"

Ryu didn't reply immediately.

"Ryu", Bow exclaimed, nervous of his friend's silence. "Don't say you are actually considering it!"

Slowly, Ryu nodded. "Go back", he said to his friends. "I'll do it alone."

"What?!"

Barubary grinned. Fool, the demon thought. You just prepared your path to your doom. Aloud he said: "Excellent! It is a duel then."

"Ryu, you can't do it alone", Nina said. "He's too big! You'll have no chances!"

Katt refused to believe her ears. "You'll just die!"

"Buddy!"

"It's already settled", Ryu said. He gave each one of friends a warm glance. "Trust me, I'll do it."

A moment of silence followed. Then Nina swallowed hard. "Please... just survive." She turned and started to walk back toward the doorway where they had come from.

Bow looked shocked. "Nina, you can't be serious!"

Nina didn't turn. She didn't want others to see her expression. "Come", she said, trying to keep her voice calm. "We'll just have to trust him."

"Ryu can beat any demon", Katt said. "I know he can." Slowly, never turning her back to Barubary, she followed Nina.

Bow didn't give up. "Buddy", he started. Ryu interrupted him by laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Bow, I must do it alone. That demon owes me too much. I can't help but get the payment myself." Ryu squeezed his friend's shoulder. "Just trust me."

Bow took a deep breath. "Buddy... be careful!"

"Had enough of sweet talk?" Barubary interrupted. He was impatiently tapping the floor with one of his legs again.

"Let's start", Ryu replied without hesitation, lifting the Dragon Sword before him.

The demon grinned. "I like you! You indeed have earned the name of Brave Dragon! Well, come on!"

Barubary didn't have to say it twice. His sword held high, encouraged by his friends' shouts, Ryu rushed towards his nightmare.

He never made it within sword's range. Barubary simply waved his claws in Ryu's direction. The air between the demon and his target stirred with magic. Ryu felt a strike of force, like an invisible giant fist hurling a mighty blow on his chin. His head was thrown back, while his legs still moved forward. It was impossible to hold balance, and Ryu fell onto his back.

"Pitiful", Barubary said, not making a move to strike Ryu again. "I certainly hope that wasn't your best."

Ryu got up cursing quietly his carelessness. "This is just starting", he replied, preparing for another rush. He sounded more confident than he actually was. The blow had almost broken his chin. This time, Ryu took a more careful approach. He noticed it just in time when Barubary's tail suddenly came sweeping towards him.

Leaping over the demon's tail, Ryu dashed for his opponent. His sword flashed as it made its way for Barubary's eyes. The demon blocked the blade with his left claws. Before Ryu could react, he was thrown back again by Barubary's other set of claws. In a moment the demon's strike was followed by the tail, which knocked Ryu down to the floor again. His friends' shouts were quelled by Barubary's booming laugh.

"Now that was a bit better!" the demon said, smiling as he regarded a deep notch in one of his left claws. "That's indeed the Dragon Sword!" Then his amused expression faded. "Your friend was right, Ryu", he said grimly. "You can't win." Barubary started to inhale, sucking the air inside something that was his demonic equivalent for lungs.

Ryu got up just in time to receive the full blast of freezing air that burst out from Barubary's mouth. His blue hair and eyebrows were quickly covered with frost. Shaking madly, he couldn't do anything else but fall to the ground again.

"Let me at it!" Katt shouted. She tried to dash into the room, only to be stopped by Bow who got a hold of her tail just in time.

"Calm down", he said as he jerked his friend backwards.

Katt gave Bow an angry glance. "Let me go! Ryu's dying!"

"It's not over yet", Bow replied angrily. "Ryu's still alive. That demon's not using full force!"

"Bow's right", Nina said, her voice surprisingly calm. "Barubary's playing with him like a cat does with a mouse before a meal".

"Pitiful", Barubary said as Ryu struggled to get on his feet. "And people really think that you are a hero, the world's only hope, the Destined Child". The demon's voice turned into mocking once again. "You have betrayed everything. You lost. You have betrayed the world. Your people, the Dragon Clan. Your dearest friends. All of them."

Ryu looked at his friends. They said nothing, but their expressions spoke well for them. Each of his friends was looking back at him, waiting for his call to enter the battle. Fight! their eyes said, Fight for it!

Ryu obeyed, attacking Barubary again. He dodged the demon's claws and leaped for his opponent. Ryu swung his sword before Barubary could bring his claws into the blade's way. The demon actually grunted as the Dragon Sword bit through the thick shell. Ryu twisted the hilt in his hand, causing the sword to sink deeper into the wound.

The room shook as Barubary screamed. There was more rage than actual pain in his voice, but it ripped through ears like a razor sharp knife. The demon grabbed the Dragon Sword's blade with his claws. Yanking violently, he pulled it out from the wound. Growling with rage, the demon tossed the sword, and Ryu with it, away.

Ryu landed hard on the floor again. He struggled to his feet as quickly as he could, for he knew that Barubary wasn't going to wait anymore.

He was wrong. The demon stood still, staring down at him. Barubary's yellow eyes glowed with anger. "I'll remember that as your best trick, Dragon", he hissed. "It really hurt." The demon took a deep breath. As he exhaled slowly, he seemed to be calm again. "Interesting", Barubary said with his smooth voice again. "Very interesting! You actually surprised me with that cut. But it won't matter. I will kill you. Then I will kill your friends, one by one, starting with..." He gave Ryu's friends a quick glance, "Let's say with that winged one."

Ryu paled. "You'll have to kill me first!" he replied.

"You weren't listening, were you? I said I will kill you first." Barubary's voice was mocking again. The demon had noticed Ryu's worried expression with great interest. He decided to play his trump card: "You really tend to cause more trouble than you are worth", the demon began innocently. "Just like your father did before he was taken care of."

Ryu felt a sting in his heart. He had already guessed that his father, too, had been killed by these demons, but actually hearing Barubary to admit it was still painful. "So", Ryu said, sadness overcoming his anger. "You really did kill him."

Barubary tilted innocently his head. "Please, I may be evil, but don't blame me." His face broke into a wicked grin. "It was you who killed him, anyway."

Ryu's heart seemed to pass several beats. His ears refused to believe what he had just heard. "You're lying", he said, "I'm sure you killed him personally!"

Barubary crossed his claws before him much in a same way as a human would fold his arms before chest. "I really can't tell you to search your feelings to find out if I speak the truth", he began, speaking with warm voice of Ganer Bateson, Ryu's father, "but I can always tell you the details." And you just listen to them well, my Dragon, he thought. The better you listen... better pain.

"Remember that great temple our worshippers built for the glory of our God, Saint Eva? Remember that machine in there? It was built to channel our God's worshippers' energy to him. Remember that old man connected to that machine? The one who pleaded you to kill him? You granted his wish because of pity... slashed neatly his head away..." Barubary grinned as Ryu paled again. "Yes..." the demon said seriously. "I see you are already getting it. Make that man's hair a little less grey... take some wrinkles away... make him look much less strained, more powerful, confident, gentle, smiling and -" His voice was cut off by Ryu's fierce shout as he suddenly rushed to attack.

That's the spirit, my Dragon, come at me!

Drawing speed and power from flame of anger that burned inside him, Ryu swung his sword violently. His blade was blocked by Barubary's claw. Before the demon could strike back, Ryu slashed again. Barubary barely had time to fend off this blow, when the Dragon Sword was already flying for third time. Again and again Ryu swung his sword, each time the demon brought his claws just in time to block his attacks. Slowly, Barubary started to retreat from the way of the fierce dragon warrior.

"He's doing it!" Katt exclaimed. "You can't beat Ryu that easily!"

Ryu was encouraged more by his friends' shouts. His merciless sword started driving the demon even more backwards.

Suddenly Barubary flashed a grin. He parried another of Ryu's blows and suddenly moved forward, slamming his opponent with the mass of his body alone. Before Ryu could regain his balance, the demon's tail smashed on his side. Barubary waved his claws, sending a wave of fire to finish the work. The demon's force threw Ryu to the floor again. He had several bruises now and his hair and clothes were smoking.

"Fool", Barubary insulted. "You are so easily led into your own doom. You actually thought you could defeat me by raging like that?"

Ryu didn't answer. He was badly hurt, but he still struggled to get on his feet.

"Enough talk", Barubary said. "It is time for you to die." He lifted his claws to give a blow to finish the foolish mortal.

"No!"

The demon never had time to strike. A bolt of white lightning sped through the room and stroke itself against Barubary's head.

"Arrrrg!" Enraged, Barubary turned his smoking head to face Nina, who had stepped into the chamber and was already casting another spell. "You dare!!" The demon waved his claws in her direction.

With stir of magic in the air, the young magician was thrown back into the doorway with terrible force. She landed hard, knocking both Katt and Bow, who had just been about to follow Nina, off their feet.

"Mortals!" Barubary boomed. "You just earned an eternity of agony!" He was just about to send a flame wave toward the three friends when a red glow next to him caught his attention.

Ryu was standing again. His whole body was glowing with heat. His green eyes had turned into bright red. Painfully hot power pulsed through his veins. The beast inside him was awaking again, eager to taste blood. Ryu was often afraid of the power of the dragon inside him. But this time, he embraced the beast, welcoming its terrifying strength.

"I told you", he hissed, "do not touch my friends!"

Barubary quickly took several steps backwards. He had thought about this possibility, but the sheer power radiating from Ryu made even the demon to rethink his plans.

"Wow!" Katt looked in awe as Ryu started to grow. "He's more powerful than last times he turned into a dragon!"

Bow looked up from where he was healing badly wounded Nina again. "Looks like he's angry."

"Wasn't he angry already?"

"Yes", Bow replied, with cunning smile. "But now, he's really angry!"

The room was bathing with red light. In the center of it all, Ryu started to change. His burnt skin became covered with red scales. Great wings burst from his back. His hands were replaced by huge paws with curved claws. The features of Ryu's face melted as his head changed into a growling head of a dragon.

Even Barubary was silent for a moment. The demon stared up at the dragon's green eyes. Though they were about equally sized, the dragon's long neck lifted his head above the one of demon.

Then Barubary flashed a delighted grin. "My. At long last", he said. "A challenge!"

"I had to hold back all the time, you know. The mortals tend to be so brittle", Barubary said as Ryu started to draw air into his lungs. "One good blow and they are in pieces. But you... now you are a big drag-" With speed that seemed to be denying his great size, Barubary ducked from the way of a blast of white-hot flames. With agility given him by his spiderlegs, the demon spun around and charged Ryu.

The ground shook as the two collided with each other. The dragon and the demon rolled through the room as one chaos of biting maws and slashing claws. Neither of them noticed as they crashed noisily into a wall. Flames flashed as Barubary, ignoring his own safety, unleashed his wave of fire in close distance. The heat burned them both. Ryu, roaring with rage, answered by striking with his paws.

Barubary hissed as mighty claws cracked his shell, drawing a long wound into his side. The demon's own claws rose and came down onto Ryu's chest, ripping through scales. The dragon kicked with his hind legs, throwing Barubary across the room.

The two titans clashed again. The room shook again by their roars of anger and delight of mortal combat.

"I'll go help him!" Katt could hardly keep her excitement in control.

Bow gave her an angry glance. "You really don't think much, do you!? Going in there now is suicide! Just one misled blow and you'll be a goner!"

"Enough!" Barubary boomed. Suddenly, he slashed out with his tail. The dragon's head was struck downwards. Before he could lift it up again the demon's claws locked Ryu's neck against the floor. Barubary's tail entangled the dragon's arms.

"A good battle", the demon hissed, "I'll bear the scars for a long time. Now hold still, you fool!" Ryu struggled to get free from Barubary's hold, but he couldn't fully use his strength from such a difficult position. The demon kept the dragon tightly against the floor.

Barubary grinned. "Finishing blow, second try, eh?" He started to inhale, preparing to launch a blast of ice onto Ryu's head.

"He's going to die!" Once again, Katt prepared to dash into the room.

Nina struggled to get up. Bow pushed her down. "Don't move, some of your ribs are broken!"

"Out of my way!" The young magician pushed her friend aside and pulled herself to her knees. Waving a complex pattern in the air with her hands, Nina cast a quick spell.

"Katt!" Bow shouted, "Get down!"

Katt, who was already halfway in her rush, obeyed instinctively. She ducked just in time as a bolt of blue energy flashed from Nina's hands. It shot through the room in a blink of eye. The bolt hit Barubary's claws with a force of thunder. The demon drew his smoking claws into the air and turned his head towards Nina.

"You again!" Barubary roared. "You have caused enough trouble! Die now!" He released the freezing storm from his lungs.

With blinding speed, freed Ryu charged before the demon. The dragon shrieked as the cold blast stroke into his chest. The scales froze and cracked, but Ryu didn't move, shielding already badly hurt Nina from the demon's power.

Barubary was still finishing his attack as the dragon released his own breath. It was the demon's turn to shriek. White-hot flames engulfed Barubary. His grey shell blackened and fractured from the heat. He fell to the floor, writhing under the merciless fire of dragon's breath. Then Ryu closed his maw.

Silence followed. Barubary laid still on the ground. All that could be heard was the dragon's wheezing panting. Then even it quieted down, as Ryu started to regain his human form. Once the beast's battlelust had been satisfied, it laid back to sleep, until the next time it would be needed again.

"Buddy!" Bow came running into the room. "Are you okay?"

Ryu gave his friend a little, hoarse laugh. "Okay? Do I look like 'okay'?"

"I'll bet you look quite bad", Barubary said quietly.

"He's still alive?" Katt took several steps towards the demon.

"Not very much", the demon replied. Slowly, he opened one of his eyes. Both of the other eyes had been melted away by the flames. Barubary breathed painfully. Despite his huge size, the demon looked somehow pitiful as he laid before them as a heap of blackened flesh, burnt and beaten, black blood spilling out from dozens of wounds.

"Maybe..." he began, "maybe this battle was... worth of a legend...Maybe somebody would be foolish enough to write about it... A good battle, yes..." He turned his eye to Ryu. "My. You don't look very... alive, do you?" The demon chuckled as he looked at Ryu's almost fatal wounds. His quiet laughter was cut short by a cough. His own blood was flowing into his lungs. "Before I let my life to go to feed my God...Ryu...allow me to praise your...bravery. Few mortals dare to challenge me. You should be-" Another cought shook the demon's blackened body. "proud. My, what a power..."

Barubary's last eye closed. The demon died as he had lived. Dramatically.

Ryu took a shaking step toward the great body. "I... won", he whispered. "Thanks, father. I won."

His legs failed him, and he fell to his knees.

Author's notes

The Creation of Characters: Barubary

Crisis -- Theme of Barubary

Actually, Barubary was the main inspiration for this story. He's one of my favorite villains in BoF II, everything with him has hit the mark. He really looks like a living nightmare. And though his theme music is short and repeats itself, it really gives you the impression of "Now I'm in trouble". Along with his connection to the childhood of Ryu, he makes an excellent major enemy in the story.

Well... Of course this character was actually created by the folks at Capcom, but since our lovely demon appeared only twice in the game, I had to think up something for his personality. Being a greater demon, I found it hard to believe that he would be able only to roar and do battle. There had to be plenty of devious brains to go with all that brawn. So, this is how I imagined Barubary, powerful and cunning almost to a diabolical degree. He has no respect for the nikanoru, yet he has fanatically devoted himself to his work as a kind of right-hand man -- correction, right-hand demon -- to his Deity, Death Evans.

You know... I can't help but to keep thinking that this battle scene should have been some kind of musical number. Just imagine, Barubary singing something while wiping the floor of his cave with Ryu! Something awe-inspiring and menacing, something that would drain all the hope from his victims... Like the Theme of the Phantom of the Opera? "...The Phantom of the Opera is there... inside your mind..."

What on earth I'm thinking?

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