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Episode #24

X-DAY! The Demon Beast Reborn!

Synopsis written by Lina Inverse (lina@maison-otaku.net)

This episode begins with a slight flashback to epsiode 23's end: Rezo kills Eris, then removes the gem in his forehead which allowed her to control him as a copy. The evil miasma that is Zanaffar takes a roughly hydra-shape of blue-white light around Rezo; Zelgadis refers to the "psychic pressure" as incredible. Lina and company are both confused and somewhat horrified by these acts. Lina asks the eternal question: "Why?", and the copy Rezo simply replies that while Eris lived, he could not fulfill his objective: surpassing the original Rezo.

How would this be achieved? The answer is clear: by killing Lina Inverse and anyone partially responsible for the defeat of Shabranigdu and the original Rezo. Sylpheel asks, horrified, if that's really a reason to kill your own creator. At that point, the badly injured and dying Eris comments weakly that the copy Rezo is really nothing more than that...a copy, one she could never perfect no matter how hard she tried. The Copy Rezo, annoyed by this, just grins and vaporizes Eris, whose last words as she fades into the light are "Rezo-sama...where have you gone?"

Lina and her companions can only look on in horror, but this reflection is short-lived as Rezo fully accepts the power of Zanaffar and attacks! Everyone is sent scrambling for cover as he casually and apparently effortlessly takes chunks out of the landscape in an attempt to kill the 5 adventurers. Taking the time to gloat, Rezo describes Zanaffar as a being of limitless demonic power, who can make anyone joined with him practically invincible. Lina takes this rather well, considering: she notes that the group has an ace in the hole: Gourry's Sword of Light!

Inspired, Gourry charges Rezo with the Hikari no Ken blazing; however, his attack is repelled and he gets the snot soundly beat out of him by Rezo, who explains that while the legends of the Hikari no Kenshin defeating Zanaffar are correct, that may not be the case now. Of course, he then attacks the group once again, sending them scattering. Zelgadis attempts a Fireball, but it of course has practically no effect. Lina, Amelia, and Sylpheel are caught by surprise and are almost killed by a slab of stone that is shaken loose in the destruction caused by Rezo's magic; however, it is the Red Priest who saves them at the last minute.

Lina is suitably confused by this, and asks Rezo his reasoning behind that. He laughs and states simply that such a death wouldn't be sporting...he encourages Lina-tachi to fight him for real, so that he can truly surpass the original Rezo. Otherwise his victory will mean nothing. Lina counters that she and the others could hardly be expected to cut loose and fight fully in such an enclosed space, hoping to buy some time.

Much to her surprise, Rezo calls that bluff. He then smiles widely, gathering great magical power...Lina is initially frightened by this, until Zelgadis points out that it's mostly the room being affected by the power. Rezo just grins and promises to show Lina-tachi "Something truly spectacular!", just as he had before blowing up Sairaag. The magic power grows steadily stronger as Lina and her friends are enclosed in a Raywing bubble which carries them up and out...shortly before Rezo blows the entire laboratory and most of Old Sairaag with it to kingdom come, leaving our heroes floating in mid-air to watch the devastation once again as Rezo displays his power.

Hoping to buy some time, Lina and company flee via Raywing to the far side of the Holy Tree Flagoon...however, on the way there Sylpheel's psychic impressions from the Holy Tree being again, and she starts to wonder about what the connection could be. This is interrupted, however, as Rezo begins his attack anew once more when they land, encouraging Lina to attack him...and finally revealing his intent: to have Lina cast the Giga Slave at him in some weird attempt to see if he can truly surpass the original Rezo or not.

Sylpheel of course at this point warns once again about the nature of the Giga Slave; Lina herself comments that she dare not use it, stating that one slip could mean doom for herself, and potentially many others. Rezo doesn't seem to care, and attacks the others while saying so. The heroes counterattack as best they can; Amelia attacks with the "Blade of Justice!" but curses it when Rezo easy blocks it, while Zel and Gourry try more conventional attacks and are soundly thumped. Rezo is gloating on this for a moment when a small red "pop" of magic catches his attention: Sylpheel attempting to cast a Flare Arrow at him, while shakily warning him to "Prepare to die!"

Rezo laughs this off and moves to strike Sylpheel, but she is saved at the last minute by Gourry, who takes the brunt of the blow, shielding the priestess. Rezo simply grins and follows them, as Gourry backs up with Sylpheel, before finally making a full retreat as Rezo comes to a stop, taunting Gourry for not fighting. At this point, however, we cut to Lina standing in a pit below Rezo. She comments that the miasma's absorption shield can't protect him at close range, before unleashing a concentrated Dragu Slave right at the clone. The destructive power rages upward in a fiery tornado...but when it clears, Rezo still stands, unharmed.

Before Lina has time to bemoan this failure, Rezo begins attacking Zelgadis, Amelia, and Gourry...hoping to goad her into using the Giga Slave in order to save her friends. "Come now, Lina Inverse...how many of them must get hurt before you'll fight me?" When at last Gourry goes down for the count, the Hikari no Ken falling out of his grasp, Lina's anger takes over and she prepares to cast the Giga Slave, despite Sylpheel's entreaties for her NOT to. She picks up the Hikari no Ken, apologizing to Gourry and promising to return it, before facing Rezo and casting the Giga Slave.

However, before she can finish the chant, Sylpheel bodily throws herself at Lina, crying out for her not to use the most powerful attack spell known. The Hikari no Ken, previously crackling with the same energy as when Lina defeated Shabranigdu, begins to die down as Gourry awakens and Lina promises Sylpheel she won't use the Giga Slave. Rezo doesn't seem to like this, though, and casts a beam of light like that used to kill Eris at Sylpheel, enraged that she interfered. No one has time to ract except Lina, who tosses Sylpheel out of the way...but takes the attack herself, falling to the ground in a bloody heap. Gourry almost loses it completely, as does Sylpheel...while Rezo watches on in curiousity, and our heroine lies dead on the ground...

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