SLAYERS TRY ( AGAIN ! )

Written by : TokyoFlame

.::.

Author's Note :

This fanfiction takes place after the battle between Lina + Co versus Valgaav + Darkstar. It revolves primarily around Filia Ul Copt and Jyuushinkan ( Beast Master ) Xellos. If you're not a F+ X fan, run away as fast as you can !! If not, please pardon me for any mistakes of fact, poor grammer sentences, etc etc.

Legend : Italic sentences = thoughts

Characters belong to the respective legal owners

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The echo of footsteps bounced off the high walls of a dark misty place, full of hideous carvings and statues which seemed to be on the brink of life from their hardened cocoons. The pillars were yawningly tall, supporting a ceiling intricately carved with detailed figurines which the human eye would find it hard to see clearly. The owner of the footsteps continued his way into the dark abyss, seemingly at ease with the eerie surroundings.

" Who's there ?! "

A loud brash voice cut through the tensed silence. He stopped in his tracks, but didn't turn around. A grin was already forming on his lips, as if he was expecting a prey. He was hungry.

" I said, who's there ?! You're looking for some trouble here, eh ! "

Out from the shadows stood a beastman, eight foot tall and trained for combat. In his hands was a rusty blood-stained axe, something which he must have used for all his battles. Then, as though the loud voice had awokened spirits and ghouls, more and more figures were approaching around him, slowly surrounding him in a circle, enclosing onto him like vultures.

It all ends here, I'm afraid.

The grin became wider, more sinister and sadistic. He clutched his staff a little more tighter as he prepared to unleash some major destruction.

The golden-haired shopkeeper of the renowned tea shop in Gilitran busied herself everyday, with customers returning for her unique brew and new ones arriving to taste her concoction. She had the most loveliest smile and she bestowed it upon her charming and faithful customers. She had a strange magical aura around her, which was elegant and pure. She was all down-to-earth, and yet not like any other humans who walk the same ground as her. She exuded wisdom and goodness, which made anyone around her feel instantly at ease.

" Would you want me to recommend you some tea leaves to soothe your backache ? "

" Oh yes please, Lady Boss. "

Her long skirt swished across the wooden planks on the floor as she set to work, expertly fishing out the exact "medication" for this old lady customer. A small bell rang as another entered the shop. She smiled lightly in greeting before patiently wrapping up the tea leaves in a translucent flower-decorated bag and handing it gently over to the waiting old lady.

" Take care as you walk, obachan. "

She tucked one of her long trails of golden strands behind her ear and continued to tend the shop, as she had done so for the last 20 years.

" Did you hear ? "

" It was scary ! "

" I heard it was done in matter of seconds. "

The whisperings of the recent news reached Zelas Metallium, lazily pruned onto her seat with a leg crossed over in a sexy yet casual manner. She waved the new and excited followers away from her chamber and slowly licked her finger in a thoughtful manner. She had ordered the annihilation of the new empire of Foloss, as he had defaulted from the Mazoku and set up his own kingdom. All had been well, but he had grown a little too confident and started encroaching on Zelas's territory in the mid-west of Wolf Pack Island. Zelas, for one, was never able to tolerate humiliation and she was never taught to share, so she decided to send her best man to settle the business.

He had returned, a triumphant smile etched across his youthful face and blotches of black blood and juices were splattered across his robes. His usually neat hairstyle was slightly ruffled and his staff seemed to glow, as though it needed more. Year after year, Zelas witnessed how her right-hand man had grown from strength-to-strength, how powerful he had become, how unstoppable his thirst for blood was.

" I have accomplished my mission, Zelas-sama. "

She noted how he had directly called her by her name, an improvement which was significant. He had risen in his ranks, slowly upsurping positions held amongst the top 5 Mazokus, including herself. Hellmaster Phibrizzo was dead, Dragon King Gaav was dead, Deep Sea Dolphin was mentally unsound and the mysterious Grauscherra was nowhere to be found. None of the Mazokus dared to take any of the empty positions as their own, which meant certain death from other powerful Mazokus who would object. And yet ...

" Xellos ... "

Zelas muttered his name to herself, almost in doubt, almost intrigued. He had remained faithful to her, but for how long ? He was a mystery, for he revealed nothing to anybody. The smiling mask was a clever disguise, and to Zelas, it added to her fear of being betrayed by him. He was powerful, able to scent a slight discrepancy miles away, and he would know that she was actually afraid of him. He had always remained silent, not taking any action. This made Zelas doubtful of when he was going to strike. Then again, when Xellos appeared before her after a massacre, he looked every bit as contented as a child with a sweet.

" The whole kingdom was flattened to the ground. No stone was left, no bones or pieces of clothing remained. All that was left, was a figure with a staff, half laughing and half smirking to himself. "

Zelas repeated mentally to herself what her frightened messenger had conveyed. She saw in his eyes that he was trembling, by the extent of damage Xellos had created. Zelas guessed that Xellos had allowed the messenger to come back alive, to show her living proof that he was now virtually a true-blue Mazoku Lord.

" Zelas-sama. "

She jumped involuntarily, a cold gust of wind seemed to have entered her body and chilled her to the bones.

" Xellos. "

He walked in with a cheerful face and bowed when he was right in front of the beautiful Mazoku Lord.

" Next time, do give me a warning in advance. I hate it when I am interrupted. "

" My sincere apologies, Zelas-sama. "

" What is it ? "

" Zelas-sama, I have with me astonishing news. "

" Tell me. "

" Deep Sea Dolphin-sama has asked to see you in her private chamber. "

" What !? "

" What do you think of it ? "

Zelas pushed all thoughts of Xellos aside as she welcomed yet another unnerving news. Deep Sea Dolphin had not seen nor welcomed anyone for the past 100 years or so. This was definitely fishy. Pun intended and all.

" Did she tell you personally ? "

" Yes Zelas-sama, so technically I am the first person she finally talked to, for so long. "

Zelas shoved her cigarette butt onto the side of her chair and muttered a curse out loud. Xellos remained standing with his head bowed low, wondering what Zelas would do.

" Did she look odd ? "

" No Zelas-sama, she looked awfully serious, for the first time. "

Zelas gave out a resigned sigh as she stood up and waved Xellos away carelessly. Xellos bowed deeper and retired from Zelas's chamber. Before long, Zelas was travelling towards Deep Sea Dolphin's territory, through the Astral Plane.

Xellos was now all alone.

" That's the last customer for the day ! "

" Thank you for working so hard, both of you. "

" Get some rest, Lady Boss. "

" Yeah, Big Sister. "

" It's Filia-san, not Big Sister. "

" I can't help it ! "

Filia smiled warmly as the foxman waved his hands in despair. Her temper in the past had melted away, through the nurturing of baby Valgaav. She gained wisdom in many areas which her childishness had blinded her in the past and as she grew older, she became more patient and understanding. Valgaav had grown quickly through her care and within a few years when Valgaav was a full-fledged adult, he left the shop to find his own path. Filia was glad that Valgaav had left his violent past behind and prayed that he would lead a more blessed life from now on. She had two beastmen helping her cope with the daily pressures of work and she had almost nothing to worry about.

As Filia walked to the door to lock it for the day, she saw worried people running to and fro on the streets. Frowning lightly, she opened the door and looked left and right.

" How queer, everyone seems to be in a hurry. "

Filia asked herself as she continued looking at the commotion. One of them stopped and addressed her urgently.

" You better lock your doors and windows safely tonight ! A monster is on a rampage in the neighbouring town ! "

With that, he took off quickly with a bag of groceries lumbering clumsily behind.

Filia's lips went dry and she froze for a while, not knowing what to do, or think.

A .. a mazoku ?

Her brain almost ached at the thought of having to run through memories buried almost 20 years ago. The term had brought her the most bitter and painful experiences she wished she had never witnessed. Before she could even reason with herself, her legs brought her stumbling outwards from the shop, into the swarms of rowdy people all rushing to reach their houses.

" Isetor ? "

" Yes Xellos-sama. "

A small-leveled Mazoku had reported to Xellos about a certain member of their race, Isetor, running amok in one of the spirtually-protected cities. Occasionally, the spells weakened on certain periods, thus creating a perfect opportunity for the non-humans to prey upon the weak. Xellos clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction, causing the messenger to retreat a few good steps away from him.

Xellos was certain that this was not within his jurisdiction, to stop rampaging mazokus and protect humans. The thought disgusted him. However, due to his past dealings with humans, golden dragons, kings and princesses, the Mazokus seemed to regard him as a worldly figure. Xellos was the near-perfect disguise of a human, could understand human thoughts and feelings, lived with them for a long period of time and he was deadly powerful, from learning sorcery here and there as he travelled on his infamous mission with Lina Inverse, the only human girl who was able to carve a niche in history by defeating almost anyone who stood in her path.

" I will go, but I won't guarantee a next time. "

The little thing sighed in relief and bowed deeply as he left. The Mazokus were expected to behave, especially in spiritually-protected cities. Xellos, for one, wanted a more bigger army to launch a full-fledged armaggeddon on the world if the time should come. He wanted to save as many little flies as he could. Losing them in stupid little battles were such a pain. Focusing on the mental path to the attacked town Yelissa, he disappeared into the Astral Plane in no time.