Prince Birch finally got into the act but striking at the opposite arm Irzen had attacked and lopping it clean off of the monster's main body. "Begone, foul creature! You have no place in this realm or any other!"

The pride demon roared in frustration lashing out wildly with one of it claws and swept the feet out from under the platinum knight. Madeous hit the cavern floor hard and braced himself.

The demon tore into him breaching the finer parts of his armor, rending flesh and bone. It's maw opening up for a bite when it stopped suddenly. The sword of the platinum knight pierced its chest and out the back. Blood spewed from both areas making the ground slick with black blood.

"Everyone attack now. Strike at the same time!" Captain Lion fired off three more rounds with each shot opening up the hole bigger.

Quake fired off another shot that literally severed the entire right side of the pride demon.

Both Irzen and Birch coordinated their attacks with Elven efficiency slicing off the last of the creature's limbs.

Madeous rolled to one side and proceeded to cleave the chest of the demon in twain. The creature collapsed under the combine assault of the heroes leaving the area a blood soaked mess. Captain Lion and Quake made their way over to him and helped to his feet.

"No more demons, blood mages, or vampires here." Madeous wiped the blood from his sword and raised his visor.

"Agreed!" Prince Birch ran over to Madeous to assist him, "Do you need any help, Platinum Knight! I know some of the magicks of the healing arts that could aid you."

"That would be very much appreciated, Prince Birch." Madeous said with a groan.

"Hold still and calm your heart!" Prince Birch commanded as he laid his hands upon Madeous' open wound. Closing his eyes, the prince softly sang an old Elvish song of healing as Madeous' wounds began to literally seal, heal and repair themselves from the inside out.

"Quake, you said we needed to get back A.S.A.P. because Alyson is in trouble, right?" The Swordsman turned towards the Elemental, "Well, can you get us back to the palace A.S.A.P.?"

She looked around to notice a set of steps going up, "There over there. They go up to the surface."

Madeous looked at the Victous Candle, "She's right. We're no longer in the Shadow Fell. This gate must be on the threshold between the living and the dead, or at least this area."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Irzen was eager to get out of this corner of The Realm, "Prince Birch, how are you coming along?"

With his eyes still closed, Birch interrupted his singing though his healing magick still continued to do its work, "Patience is a virtue, Lord Drow, I will have The Platinum Knight's wounds fully healed in a minute."

"Please hurry it up, your Grace, we do not have a minute to spare." Irzen urged him onward.

"DONE!" Prince Birch opened his eyes, rose to his feet and extended a hand to The Platinum Knight, "How do you feel, your Majesty?"

"Better. Thanks," Madeous gave Birch a nod, "Lets go!"

Prince Birch helped Madeous to his feet while Irzen said to everyone, "Time to go! I'll watch our backs while we leave."

Prince Birch took the lead towards the exit.

As the party ventured upwards towards the surface, a series of shrieks and screams could be heard followed by bursts of fire.

A few vampire stragglers flew down towards the party only to be impaled, shot, or cut down by Madeous, Quake, or Captain Lion.

"LADY!" Quake barged past Birch and hugged the elementalist at the top of the old steps.

In the grip of the elementalist, the last vampire was reduced to ash, "Gently. Quake, gently."

Madeous walked up to them with a look of relief, "Glad to have you back, Alyson."

Captain Lion holstered his side arms, "I am glad that you persevered. How are things up top?"

"Ah, about that," Alyson shook her head, "Between the sage, Sudestren, and Grand Cleric, Sylvus, who almost aged Lazheros into the beyond had not Dungeon Master showed up. I'd say things are better, I think."

******

"You can take a nap if you want, Serna. I will keep watch." Spencer got up, grabbed a book and sat back down, "Besides, you look like you need to sleep."

"That's not a bad idea, Spencer," Serna yawned, "And it has been a long day. I think I will." It did not take long for the Shield Maiden to fall asleep with the Kurori still in her lap.

Serna began to snore peacefully.

******

Back in the throne room, a rift appeared in front of Princess Cauladra, Lazheros and Sylvus. Out of it came a large gold dragon fighting with the same pride demon she and Sudestren encountered at the cave entrance. The demon rolled over and threw the dragon off itself looming over the trio.

"What caused this?!" Princess Cauladra drew forth her sword and took a defensive stance.

"WHAT IN THE REALM?!" Sylvus Kiltani cried out in pure surprise as he seized his talisman around his neck, the symbol of a setting sun, and cried out, "ENORETH PRESERVE US!"

In a flash of light gray light; Sylvus Kiltani stood before the gathering donned in light gray leather armor, armed with an ornate quarterstaff covered with runes and glyphs. "You forced my hand, fool! Now taste the power of The Lord of The Continuum!"

The Grand Cleric of Labelas Enoreth swung his quarterstaff, nailed Lazheros in the jaw and sent him flying into a nearby wall. However, the quarterstaff also had a magical effect, with a single touch it aged the Grand Cleric of Asylum by a thousand years!

The pride demon just starts laughing, "That's right, kill each other! Do it! Finish it, you pompous excuse for a mortal elf!"

"You're next, demon!" Sylvus turned towards the creature, "In the name of my god, I will smite thee once I have finished with this novice acolyte of Bahamut!"

The Bronze Man sailed backwards feeling ancient now, "Princess Cauladra, is this worth all of this suffering? What I asked for was advice and yet you stand idly aside while Sylvus spouts racism towards your allies."

The princess was in pure shock at this sudden and brutal attack. Once Lazheros spoke to her directly; Princess Cauladra recovered her senses, positioned herself between the two Grand Clerics and cried out, "This is madness! Sylvus Kiltani, I order you to cease and desist your attack upon my guest! NOW!"

"Your Grace!" The Grand Cleric of Labelas Enoreth stopped his follow-up attack on Lazheros, "He is an affront to Labelas Enoreth himself! He is a threat to--"

Alyson shook off the daze and got back up, "We asked her for help and this is how you repay us, with your bigotry?!?"

Sylvus spun around to face Alyson, "Be silent, dragon, or be silenced by the power of Labelas Enoreth!"

Time stopped as Dungeon Master walked out of from behind the throne, "Sylvus, Grand Cleric of Labelos Enoreth, stay your hand and return the Guardian of Asylum to his original state, or it is you that shall suffer the fate of all."

A look of abject horror came over Sylvus Kiltani's face when he saw Dungeon Master before him, "O, Great Dungeon Master, are these interlopers allied with you? I--I--I did not know. I merely thought them to be interlopers of Bahamut trying to worm their way into my diocese and lead Enoreth's faithful away by gaining favor with the crown."

"You are letting your vanity over ride your judgement, Sylvus." Dungeon Master shook a finger at him warningly, "Do not presume that you are in the right here. Do not forsake the freedom of your people because you deemed these heroes and allies of your kin, a threat. You were summoned by the princess because they sought your insight on the veiled menace."

"I--I understand!" Sylvus Kiltani responded in pure defeat, "And I am sorry for any harm that I have caused." The Grand Cleric of East Port raised his staff and fired off a blast of energy that coursed its way into Lazheros' body restoring him back to his original youthful age."

The Bronze Man feeling himself again joined Princess Cauladra's side with his shield in one hand and his warhammer in the other. There was the matter of the pride demon to deal with still.

"What must I do now, Great Dungeon Master?" The High Elf turned back towards the Gnome.

"Face the truth of what stands before you, Sylvus and confront the danger that lies beneath the city." Dungeon Master walked towards the throne again and vanished.

Sylvus nodded to himself as he turned towards the Pride Demon.

***RRRAAAAAUUGGGGHHH!!!***

The pride demon roared, charging straight for the princess when Lazheros instinctively raised his shield and held the creature at bay.

Princess Cauladra quickly drew forth her sword, assumed a battle crouch and waited for the creature to try and strike her.

The elementalist invoked both pieces of the crimson dragon armor and unleashed a barrage of fire bolts into the backside of the demon. Then followed up with razor sharp dragon slashes dropping it one knee.

By this time, the royal guards entered and engaged the demon. Their long spears piercing the tough hide of it and then unleashed a barrage of arrows.

Sylvus aimed his quarterstaff at the pride demon and cut loose with another energy blast that slammed into the creature regressing it in age by a thousand years thus making it not only younger but also weaker.

With a bellowing shriek the pride demon fell under the combined strikes of magic and metal and was no more. Its body withered and turned into a pool of blood that seeped back through the rift that Alyson and Lazheros created. Now everyone including Sylvus could see the remains of the massive boulder off to one side of the cavern entrance.

"I'm going back through. There's still more vampires down there. No blood mages or demons just lots of undead to burn." The elementalist turned towards the rift and stepped through.

"Your Grace, please forgive me for my earlier hubris!" Sylvus turned towards Princess Cauladra, "I did not know these interlopers--I mean outsiders--were your allies and I acted in rash haste and poor judgement."

"All is forgiven, Grand Cleric," The princess lowered her guard, "However, I am not the only one from who you should seek forgiveness." She pointed to Lazheros.

Sylvus Kiltani cleared his throat before he spoke, "Grand Cleric of Asylum, please forgive me for my earlier zealotry! I thought you to be more foe than friend and I found your presence here to be a threat to the rule of my god. I was wrong! You are clearly a friend of the Crown and you and your allies are most welcome in East Port!"

Lazheros holstered his war hammer but kept his shield out in full view of Sylvus. His stern expression clearly indicated his own contempt towards him. "Even I know enough not to attract the attention of Dungeon Master as you have, Grand Cleric Sylvus. You should count yourself fortunate that he was in a forgiving mood, for I have seen him when he is not. Your actions were callous instead of being one of counsel. I clearly stated as to why I was here, nor was I going about imposing my beliefs on anyone. That is your failing, however, I will forgive you this time."

"Thank you, Grand Cleric Lazheros," The High Elf replied with a firm nod, "Your forgiveness is appreciated."

The bronze man turned towards the main entrance of the throne to see a very wary and out of breath sage, "Sudestren?"