Episode 2:
Challenge? Niro's Back!
The next two days were miserable for the rest of the group. They were all great friends with Niriko, and they didn�t want to see her go so soon. Of course, all of them were hoping relentlessly that they�d hear from Filia soon. But they didn�t, and they awoke to Niriko already about to leave.
�Miss Niriko!� Amelia cried, she and the others rushing over to Niriko, who was ready to walk out the door. �Miss Niriko, where are you going?�
�It�s the third day. I�m leaving,� Niriko replied shortly.
�Wait a minute,� Kadachi said. �Can�t you leave at the end of the day?�
�No,� Niriko snapped. �I�m leaving. I�m not about to needlessly jeopardize anyone here.�
�Amelia!� Phil said, striding over to them. �There�s a letter here—it�s addressed to all of you.�
�Huh?� Amelia unfolded the letter and read it silently. �It�s from Miss Filia!� she cried happily. �She�s on her way!�
�She is?� Chame said. �What about Valgaav and the antique shop?�
�Here, I�ll read it,� Amelia offered. ��Dear Miss Lina, Mr. Gourry, Mr. Zelgadis, Miss Chame, Miss Amelia, Mr. Shunozike, Miss Niriko, Mr. Yamato and Miss Kadachi,
��I have heard around that you have all joined in Seyruun. I was thinking about taking a vacation there myself, with Jillas, Gravos, and Valgaav, who is doing quite well. I was going to close down the antique shop temporarily and come to visit. I will be arriving within the next week, so please, don�t anyone leave yet! I absolutely can�t wait to see you all. Signed, Filia�.�
Everyone looked at Niriko.
�What?� she demanded. �Okay, fine�I won�t leave yet. I�ll wait for Filia, and if things go well, I�ll even stick around for a while after that. But if I see any signs of Niro, I won�t stay. Agreed?�
�Agreed!� Lina said. �All right, let�s have breakfast!�
So Lina, Gourry, Niriko, Kadachi, Yamato, Zel, Amelia, Chame, Shunozike, and Louie waited impatiently for the next few days. They took frequent walks to pass away the time, and each day the walks grew longer. One day, when they were about to burst with anxiety, Filia finally showed up.
They were at the park again; this is where they had been spending most of their time of late. Gourry had dropped off to sleep beneath the shade of a tree; Yamato was sitting on the ground, biting his nails in anxiety of something unknown�perhaps it was Filia and Co.�s arrival; Niriko was leaning against a tree, looking calm but impatient; Chame and Zel were fairly relaxed; and everyone else was pacing around anxiously.
�Where is she already?!� Lina finally burst out. �Augh, this is killing me! Filia, where are you?!�
�Here I am!�
Everyone turned to look; of course, Lina hadn't actually expected a reply. But there was Filia, the golden dragon in a human disguise, running towards them. She had a small cradle in her arms, which was undoubtedly Valgaav, and Jillas the red fox and Gravos the reptilian creature were trailing behind her.
�Filia!� Lina shouted. Everyone got up and rushed towards her�even Gourry woke up with a start and scrambled to his feet.
�Filia, where have you been?� Niriko demanded. �We�ve been waiting forever!�
�Sorry!� Filia apologized. �We had to close down the shop, and put protection spells around it so no one could break into the shop.�
�I even put some security dynamite �round it!� Jillas added proudly.
�Well, come on!� Chame said. �Have you had lunch yet?�
They shook their heads.
�Well, I�m starving!� Gourry said. Amelia groaned.
�Oh, does this mean I have to pay the bill again?� she wailed. �Now Miss Filia, Mr. Jillas and Mr. Gravos are here to eat too!�
�I guess I�ll pay,� Niriko sighed.
�You actually have money left?� Filia wondered. �And with the amount you eat, Miss Niriko��
Niriko cast Filia a look. �Well,� she said, �I can make money on my own, you know.�
�How?� Zel asked, raising his eyebrows. �Besides bandit slaying and stealing?�
�It�s not stealing!� Niriko raged. �I steal from the bandits after I kill them! It�s long overdue justice, Zelgadis!� Zel took a step backwards, his hands up in defense.
�Well, come on,� Shunozike said. �Let�s have lunch!�
So the group ate to their full extent, once again relaxed now that their group was finally complete. Of course, after that, Niriko was flat-out broke, but she didn�t seem to mind. After that, they went back to the park to enjoy the pleasant afternoon.
�Now I feel much better,� Amelia sighed as she let the cool breeze play across her face.
�Yeah,� Niriko said, sitting cross-legged and leaning against a tree. She yawned, and stretched her arms up in the air. Suddenly there was a whirring noise, followed by a thunk. Niriko froze in mid-stretch, and Filia screamed.
�Oh, my goodness, Miss Niriko!� she shrieked. �That—there was an arrow—it just barely missed you!� Niriko sprang to her feet, and examined the black-plumed arrow that had buried its point in the trunk of the tree.
�Well, I�m lucky,� Niriko murmured. �But this arrow wasn�t aiming to hit. Look!�
She removed a thin sheet of parchment that had been wound tightly around the arrow. She read it over, her face hardened, and she crumpled the letter and threw it on the ground. Then she silently scanned the area with narrowed eyes, as if searching for something.
�What was it, Miss Niriko?� Amelia asked apprehensively. Niriko didn�t answer.
�Niriko?� Lina said quietly. When she remained silent, Lina picked up the letter and unfolded it. Amelia, Kadachi, Chame, Filia and Zel read over her shoulder. Then they gasped.
�Niriko?� Chame said. �Niriko!� Still, Niriko said nothing. She kept her eyes on the area behind which they had been sitting. She seemed almost calm, but her breath came in shaky gasps through her nose.
�Niriko!� Zel said sharply. �Niriko, cut it out!�
�I shouldn�t have stayed,� Niriko muttered. �This is all my fault. I�ve got to leave now.�
�What is it?� Yamato asked frantically. Shunozike, Gourry, and Louie were looking worried too.
�It�s Niro,� Niriko said, a suddenly harsh tone to her voice. �Niro—he knows I�m here. He�s been sending spies for two weeks. And I thought I was keeping low!�
�Niriko,� Lina started, �Niriko, we�re coming with you.�
�That�s right!� Amelia cried. �We�re your friends! We�ll stick with you!�
Niriko laughed mirthlessly. It scared the others a little to hear Niriko act so cold.
�You can�t come,� she said. �Amelia—you�ve got your ambassador duties here. And Filia, I wouldn�t like to endanger Valgaav�s life. He�s still young. And I just couldn�t drag the rest of you into my own personal affairs.�
�Oh, please,� Chame said, rolling her eyes. �We�ve always been there for you, haven't we? Come on, we�re not about to ditch you now. Even if you do act distant sometimes—�
�And violent,� Zelgadis added.
�Yeah, well, we still can�t abandon you. It just wouldn�t feel right!�
�Merner!� Louie agreed. Niriko sighed heavily.
�Do what you want,� she said. �I can�t stop you. But I�m warning you—once you get mixed up in this, it�s impossible to escape.�
�We�ve already gotten mixed up in this,� Yamato said. �We�ve met up with Niro before, right? We�re going to help you!�
Niriko laughed again. �You�ve never witnessed Niro�s real power,� she said, almost scornfully. �Niro is a formidable opponent. But I suppose it couldn�t hurt to have all of you along, then.�
�Come on!� Amelia said. �Let�s go back to the palace—I�ll tell Daddy we�re leaving.�
Niriko suddenly turned on Amelia; there was a dangerous blaze in her eyes. �You�re what?� she hissed.
�Niriko, she won�t tell him why!� Kadachi said. Niriko calmed down a little.
�Sorry,� she mumbled. �It�s just that�I�ve dedicated my life to tracking and slaying Niro. He is the most notorious and dangerous of all bandits. He has the largest bandit gang anywhere. And he is murderous. He is filled with a murderous hatred that is matched only by my hatred for him. It�s something none of you could ever understand. Each time we meet, each time we battle, this hate grows stronger and more dangerous. That�s why I have to kill him. You might not understand, and I�m not asking you to. I only ask that when I fight him, don�t get involved. This is my fight, and my fight only.�
�Right,� Lina said after a long silence. �We agree, Niriko. Come on—let�s get one more good night�s sleep ahead of us before we leave.�
�No!� Niriko said. �Niro is already on his way. We can�t afford to waste any time. We�ll stop at the palace once, but then we leave. Understood?�
Everyone nodded silently. They trudged back to the Seyruun Royal Palace in a dismal silence. Their long-awaited reunion had turned into a murder escape. Well, what did they expect? Things always seemed to turn out this way, more or less.
After Amelia had told Prince Phil that she was traveling with the group, and changed into her regular sorceress outfit, they left the palace and Seyruun. A grim tranquility hung about the group. When it was nearing sunset, they stopped in a village for dinner, and spoke for the first time after leaving Seyruun.
�Look, you guys,� Niriko sighed as they waited for a waiter or a waitress, �I�m sorry.�
Everyone looked at her strangely.
�All I�m trying to say is, I shouldn�t have acted so harsh back in Seyruun,� Niriko apologized. �I was all uptight about Niro, and I guess I was kind of only thinking of myself.�
�What are you talking about?� Kadachi demanded. �Only thinking of yourself? Are you insane? You said the only reason you wouldn�t let us come was for our own safety!�
Niriko looked out a window at the setting sun. �I was only saying that,� she admitted. �I just didn�t want you guys getting in my way.�
�Getting in your way?� Zel asked.
�Yeah,� Niriko said, nodding. �Sometimes, I kind of think that�if I hadn't joined up with you, Niro wouldn�t still be living.�
�So you�re saying it�s our fault that you haven't killed Niro?� Chame said.
�Kind of, yeah,� Niriko said. �Since I got caught up with Rezo, Phibrizzo, Valgaav, and all those other enemies, I haven't had time to dedicate to catching Niro.�
�But you had chances, didn�t you?� Lina asked. �We met up with him several times!�
�That�s different,� Niriko told them. �When I met up with him alone, it was different. It was more�personal. And we were caught up with other things then.�
�Well, I guess that�s all going to change, now, isn't it?� Zel remarked.
�What do you mean?� Niriko asked.
�Well, now that we�ve got time on our hands, we can help,� Zel explained. �We�re not caught up in other things now, are we? Come on, Niriko, you didn�t honestly think that we�d just let you run off and risk your life, did you?�
�Let me run off and risk my life?� Niriko repeated. �What are you talking about? Listen, I know you mean well, but I can handle Niro. It�s just something I have to do.�
�We believe you,� Chame said. �But we�re going to help you with this. We�ll help you track Niro and defeat him!�
�All right,� Niriko agreed reluctantly. �But just one thing. It�s all well and fine to have you all help me find him, but I just have one request.�
�What?� Shunozike asked.
�Let me handle him,� Niriko said. �Once we find him, and I corner him, let me destroy him. It�s my fight. I can�t let you do that.�
�All right,� Lina said. �We understand.�
�Come on,� Kadachi said, yawning. �Let�s stay the night. I�m tired—aren�t you?�
Niriko shrugged and got up. �Yeah, I guess so,� she mumbled. �Um�see you in the morning.� And she walked off to the upstairs inn. Everyone else was exhausted too, so they all did the same.
The next morning was bright and clear, and the golden rays of sunlight filtering through the windows as the group ate a healthy breakfast seemed to improve Niriko�s mood. But seeing as they were in a hurry, they didn�t have time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast�or pay the bills.
�Come on, let�s go!� Niriko yelled as they had all finished the second course. �We�ve got to get out before Niro finds us again!�
So everyone pushed back their chairs and ran out the door. The chef, seeing them leave, ran out from the kitchen.
�Hey!� he shouted. �Stop! Thieves! Come back!�
But the group was already running out the door. They didn�t stop or slow down until they had left the little town and were well into the forest. Finally, they all stopped and leaned against the thick forests� trees, breathing hard.
�Well, you�re a little anxious, aren�t you?� Yamato panted, doubled over, clutching a stitch in his side.
�Well, you�re a little out of shape, aren�t you?� Niriko retorted. �I�ve got reason to be anxious, idiot. Niro�s most likely hot on our trail!�
�Well, we�re in the forest now, so can we go at a sane pace?� Kadachi demanded.
�All right, fine,� Niriko said. So they walked, at semi-leisure, through the bright morning woods. All went well for about twenty minutes, and everyone—including Niriko—had relaxed completely. But then suddenly Niriko stopped dead in her tracks, and half the group bumped into her back.
�What�d you stop for?� Shunozike asked. Niriko held up a hand to silence him.
�D�you guys hear that?� she said. Everyone was silent for a while, and so was the forest—save the chirping of the birds and the rustling of the leaves in the wind.
�I don�t hear anything,� Amelia said.
Niriko sighed, and laughed a little. �I guess I�m a little too uptight,� she sighed. They resumed their travel, but Niriko remained tense.
They walked on for about another ten minutes without disturbance, until Niriko dove into the bushes without warning, letting out a strange battle cry.
Everyone froze, and turned to the clump of hedges where Niriko had jumped. About thirty seconds later, Niriko emerged up, pressing a bandit up against the tree behind them, nearly choking him.
�Spy,� she hissed in his face. Niriko remained a firm grip on the bandit�s throat.
�Niriko—� Yamato stammered. �When did you—� But the sorceress wasn�t listening.
�Let me guess,� she said, smiling coldly at the bandit. �There�s at least two hundred of you, so skillfully concealed in the trees, the bushes, and the rest of the scenery. You go all the way back to the village we just left, and up at least a mile more. Well, am I right or am I right?�
Instead of replying, however, the bandit waved his rapier and choked out, �Now! Now! Now!�
As quick as a flash, at least two hundred bandits jumped out from various hiding places, and further up and down the road, the rest of the bandits emerged and circled the group. They made at least three hundred and twenty, all told. Niriko squeezed a pressure point in the captive bandit�s neck and he collapsed against the tree trunk, unconscious. The bandits closed in, and Niriko, Yamato, Kadachi, Zel, Amelia, Chame, Shunozike, Lina, Gourry, Louie, Filia, Gravos and Jillas backed up against each other.
�Looks like we�re in for a fight,� Niriko said.
�Gravos, take Valgaav,� Filia instructed, pushing the cradle into Gravos�s arms. �Get away from here. Now! We�ll create a diversion!�
And Filia whipped out the mace strapped to one her thighs underneath her skirt and swung it wildly, knocking bandits all over. Gravos dashed through the small opening in the ring of Niro�s followers and ran back down the path with amazing agility. The ring quickly closed back up again, and Gravos had long disappeared from sight.
�Niriko, I thought you said there were two hundred and fifty!� Zel said, drawing his sword. �There must be at least three hundred here!�
�I told you he�d probably gained more followers!� Niriko snapped, also taking her magical blade from its sheath across her back. �Well, come on! It doesn�t look like they�re going to wait!�
And she was right. Gourry and Yamato quickly drew their swords, Filia held her mace at the ready, Louie clung to Kadachi, Jillas took several small cherry bombs from the inside of his cape, and everyone else stood alert to use their magic.
�NOW!� shouted one of the bandits at the same time as Niriko. Everyone lunged forward in the heat of battle.
�Almidia Lance!� Amelia and Shunozike cried together. Several bandits were thrown back.
�Strike of Fire!� Niriko roared. Her double-edged blade was suddenly flaming, streams of fire dancing around the sword. She slashed through the ring of bandits in a mad kind of battle rage.
�Explosion!� Lina chanted. About eight bandits flew up into the air and fell onto the ground in a scorched heap.
�Demon�s Dagger!� Kadachi yelled, and ran through a small group of bandits with her magically enhanced knife glowing with black magic.
�HAH! Take that, you dirty bandits!� Filia shrieked, laying low quite a few bandits with several blows from her heavy mace.
�Digger Bolt!� Chame cried, throwing a large blast of electricity at the enemies.
Meanwhile, Yamato, Gourry, and Zel were felling many of their nemeses, leaving a trail of fallen, scored bandits behind them. Jillas was getting some good results with his explosives.
�Hahah!� he laughed, throwing bombs of various sizes and gunpowder content at the oppressing bandits. �I ain�t used me bombs in a long time, an� it feels good ta be back in the business!� He threw a cherry bomb at a group of bandits closing in on Yamato. He was rewarded with screams of agony and pain, and the relief and thanks of the elven swordsman.
�Thanks, Jillas,� Yamato panted, wiping his brow. �I thought I was a goner there!�
However, the majority of the bandits were advancing on Niriko, who was now fighting like a wild animal. The rage of battle blazed like fire in her eyes as she killed and knocked out bandit after bandit.
�You won�t kill me!� she laughed coldly as a bandit tried to stab her with a dirk. She high-kicked him in the head, knocking him down and out. Then she let out her war cry, a yell that resounded through the forest and came right back at them:
�SORUSHIINAAAAA!�
Now there were very few bandits trying to attack anyone but Niriko—those that were still alive and conscious, that is. Now the rest of the group was easily overtaking the thin barrier of bandits, and soon had knocked just about every single one of them out of their way. But they could no longer see Niriko beneath the crowd of fighting bandits that were overtaking her. It was plain to see that Niriko was losing the fight, however hard she slashed and shot back.
�Come on!� Lina screamed. �We�ve got to save Niriko! She�ll be killed if we don�t help her!�
�What can we do?� Filia asked frantically.
�Filia, go dragon now!� Zel shouted. �Come on! You�re ten times as powerful when you�re a dragon!�
�No!� Kadachi argued. �She can�t! If she does and uses that stupid Laser Breath of hers, she�ll kill Niriko as well!�
�Oh, that�s it!� Lina shouted. �We�ll have to fight our way in with what weapons we have!�
So whether it was a dagger, sword, mace, cherry bomb, or just their flying fists and feet, Zel, Kadachi, Filia, Yamato, Gourry, Chame, Shunozike, Lina, Amelia, Louie and Jillas made their way through the ring of remaining bandits. Just as they were cutting through the last ten or so, a harsh voice rang out, �Don�t let them get through! Kill them if you must, but I want Niriko Inverse alive!�
The group stopped fighting and looked. Niriko managed to stand up, cut and battered as she was, to see whom the speaker was. Her face was contorted with fury.
�Niro!� she screamed.
Down the dusty path and advancing towards them was the most dangerous bandit who had ever lived. The man who wished nothing more to Niriko than ill will. The very man Niriko sought to kill—Niro.
Niro was dressed in what was thought typical of bandits, though perhaps more elegant. He wore goldenrod-yellow, baggy pants with golden embroideries, black leather sandals, and a long, tailed purple vest, but no shirt. A blood-red bandana was tied around his forehead, underneath spiky jet-black hair. He wore various bangles and bracelets of gold, silver, bronze, sterling silver, white gold and other precious metals around his wrists. Many jeweled rings embraced his fingers. A long, thin gold chain bedecked with many charms embedded with different gems hung around his neck, and a large gold hoop earring studded with diamonds and garnets pierced his right ear. A thick-linked gold chain was hooked around his waist as a loose belt.
�So, Niriko Inverse,� Niro said casually, striding over to the scene. He didn�t flinch when he saw his fallen supporters, but took a quick glance and then smirked.
�So, this is all you and your friends are capable of?� he sneered. �Ha! You knocked out a little over half and barely killed any. And how many of there are you—eleven? And you were still losing!� He laughed coldly.
�Niro,� Niriko breathed. �Niro, you will die. I can promise you that this very blade will be the one to slay you.�
�And yet you still have not killed me,� Niro said, spreading his arms about. �And yet I still stand before you, in perfect health—where you, armed with your sorcery and your sword, you stand defeated, bleeding and bruised.�
�I have not yet been defeated!� Niriko roared. �And I shall live to see the day when you die, and I will make you repeat my name, scream for mercy—but shall you have it? No! Because you show no mercy to those you have killed, and without reason.�
�Pretty words don�t make a poem, Niriko,� Niro said in a venomous tone of voice. �And your threats and talk of my death mean nothing to me. Until I see some action, some actual force from you and your group of lackeys, I shan�t be the least bit threatened by such a child.� And then he laughed heartlessly.
�SORUSHINNNAAAA!� Niro�s laugh was cut dreadfully short by Niriko�s battle cry. Niriko had broken free from the bandits� hold on her in a single flying leap of pure rage, and she had lunged toward her nemesis, sword raised high, ready to strike. Niro dodged her blow, but just barely; the blade buried itself deep into the soft ground. Niriko yanked it free, though with great difficulty.
�You can�t slay me with that sword,� Niro sneered. �I�m far too quick for you.�
�You�re right,� Niriko admitted slyly, her head hanging just a bit low. �You are too quick for me�but try dodging this.�
�Dodging what?� Niro snapped. But Niriko wasn�t listening. She was muttering something under her breath.
��Where your power grows,� she murmured. �I pledge myself to conquer all the foes who stand—�
�Miss Niriko, no!� Filia shrieked.
��In my unworthy hands�� Niriko continued, ignoring the pleas of her friends. �Let all the fools who stand before me be destroyed by the power you and I possess—Dragon Slave!�
Niriko�s Dragon Slave blew Niro and all of his bandits back. When he got back up again, Niro screamed, �Retreat! Retreat!�
�Ha, that�s right!� Niriko laughed, nearly driven mad by the rage of battle. �Run away! I�ll live to slay you another day!�
Niriko watched as all of the still-living bandits (the unconscious ones had miraculously recovered) scurried off into the distance, in the opposite direction that the group had been traveling. She smirked, and laughed mirthlessly again.
�Come on, Niriko,� Yamato said shakily. �They—they�re gone now. Let�s head to the next town. I can see it—see�?� He pointed ahead, and sure enough, there was a small village about two miles or so down the path.
�He�s right, Niriko,� Lina said. �Come on. You�re tired, so let�s go.� She placed a hand on Niriko�s shoulder, but Niriko winced.
�Fine, whatever,� Niriko muttered, painfully shaking off Lina�s hand. �Um, what about Valgaav and Gravos�?�
�Right!� Filia said brightly, trying to lighten the mood. �Why don�t you all go ahead, and I�ll catch up with you soon?�
�Yeah, whatever,� Kadachi said. �Come on!�
So Filia went back, mace at the ready in case the bandits tried to launch an ambush on her, to get Gravos and Valgaav, while the others walked slowly towards the next town.
They checked into a small motel in village, barely noticed, and Niriko went right to her bed and locked the door. They all assumed she was going to sleep away the day. So they ordered room service food, but they didn�t eat or enjoy it nearly as much as they had done in the past, and they set aside a healthy amount of the meal for Niriko, in case she woke up any time soon. Filia arrived with Gravos and Valgaav right in the middle of the meal.
Then, they all bathed in the hotel�s hot springs to wash away the pain from the day�s battle. Everything was silent, in a strange, heavy, dark kind of peace. And then they all went to bed, a grim satisfaction hanging about the atmosphere. However, the quiet didn�t last long, thanks to a certain demon�
Everyone was just about to go their separate rooms when a voice from the living room said, �Well, I hear there�s been a battle today?�
The group dashed back into the room. There was Xellos, sitting comfortably on the sofa, leaning back with his hands behind his head.
�Xellos!� Kadachi hissed.
�Yes?� he said loudly.
�SHH!� Yamato hushed.
�Yar, Nirirkor ers sleerpirng!� Louie added.
�So, how did it go?� Xellos asked, ignoring their pleas for him to quiet down.
�It�s not a laughing matter, Xellos,� Lina said sharply.
�Oh? Am I laughing?� Xellos said, raising his eyebrows.
�Well, in any event, it wasn�t enjoyable or funny,� Filia sniffed. �We had to fight over three hundred dirty, armed bandits, and then Miss Niriko went berserk on one of them!�
�Well, that�s just Niriko for you,� Xellos supposed.
�That wasn�t just any bandit, Filia,� Zelgadis snapped. �That was Niro.�
�Who?� Xellos asked.
�You know who he is, Xellos,� Chame said in a reprimanding tone.
�Oh, Niro?� Xellos said, laughing a little. �That bandit Niriko�s been after all these years?�
�Well, duh, Xellos,� Kadachi said. �Niriko�s only been seized by bloodlust since she was six years old!�
�Um, Mr. Xellos,� Amelia interrupted. �Where did you hear we were fighting the bandits?�
�Oh, here and there,� Xellos said dismissively, waving his hand about. In a flash Kadachi had him in a headlock.
�Oh, really?� she said through gritted teeth. �And where would here and there be, Xellos?!�
�Hey—take it easy!� Xellos choked. �Can�t breathe�I just happened to be—in a pub—and�agghh�can�t you loosen up a bit, Kadachi—?!� So she did, but just a little.
�Tell us exactly what happened, Xellos,� Lina commanded.
�Well, see,� Xellos started, �I was in the village pub back there—� He pointed out the window to the path they had come into the village from, �and, see, me being me, you know, I just happened to hear a conversation from about three hundred and fifty fairly ragged-looking guys! And, well, they were all talking about their boss, who was in the inn, resting, and his enemy and her group, and so I asked about it—�
�You went conversing with bandits?� Lina shrieked.
�Well, I�m not finished,� Xellos said. �You see, I asked them about it, and they told me the whole thing! They had actually never expected only eleven of you to be so strong and powerful—that is, except for Niriko here.�
�What�s that supposed to mean?� Zel snapped.
�Well, as you must know, they�ve all met up with Niriko before,� Xellos said. �Well, save those who have just recently joined up, I mean.�
�Xellos, you can�t go around talking with Niro�s band,� Lina warned. �They�re a real dangerous lot—even for a monster.�
�Oh?� Xellos raised his eyebrows.
�Yes,� Lina said sharply. �Niriko thinks Niro�s got some kind of power, that draws bandits to him. I don�t know—you�d have to ask her about it. But it�s not magic or a spell of any kind. But Niro gathered his first twenty bandits in less than two weeks.�
�Impressive,� Xellos commented.
�Impressive, yes,� Chame said. �But dangerous.�
�Xellos, promise us one thing!� Kadachi said.
�What?�
�Don�t go hanging around with Niro�s gang,� Lina said. �Trust me—it never results in anything beneficial. Niro has killed more innocent people than you would know. And don�t tell Niriko I said this, but—I don�t think she even knows.�
�All right,� Xellos agreed in a lackadaisical tone.
�Xellos, do not take this lightly!� Lina reproached. �Niro lives to kill Niriko, and Niriko lives to kill Niro. Niro is the most dangerous bandit there is—and possibly even the most dangerous human being. He murders the justified, slays the heroes, and shatters the souls of those who oppose him. Promise me, Xellos, that you�ll never go near them if you can help it!�
�Okay! I promise!� Xellos cried. �Er—Kadachi, would you mind getting off of me now? I�m only slightly uncomfortable.�
So Kadachi scowled and let go of Xellos�s neck.
�Well, then, I�d better get going!� Xellos announced, brushing himself off.
�You�d better keep your promise, Xellos!� Kadachi shouted as he teleported away.
�All right,� Shunozike sighed. �I guess we�d better get to bed now.�
So they all trudged back to their rooms.
End of Episode 2: Challenge? Niro's Back!
