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Spike grabbed Gunn and tossed him through the air, smashing through a low brick wall, as Illyria headed off with Lindsey, but Landon grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her around, punching her in the face. Illyria stumbled back, placing Lindsey down, as Landon cracked the joints in his neck and knuckles

“You are not unsimilar to that creature who called himself Hamilton,” Illyria said

“No, I suppose not,” Landon said, “After all, we are the children of the Senior Partners”

He struck with his fist, as Illyria deflected his arm, blocking his next punch and kicking him in the chest. Landon barely reacted as he parried Illyria’s fist and struck her in the face, then the stomach, before throwing her through the air. Illyria twisted her body, landing on her feet, as Spike and Gunn continued battling each other, both covered in blood and tattered clothing. Ava came out of the barn and saw the battles raging, before spying the unconscious Lindsey and heading over, grabbing a spear and standing over his body. Lindsey started to stir, as Ava drove the spear downwards, but a flying Gunn struck her, throwing her away from Lindsey. Gunn got up and roared, before charging at Spike again. Lindsey woke up and looked around, seeing Ava lying nearby, the spear impaling her through the stomach

“Oh crap”

“What the hell is going on here?” cried a voice

Lindsey looked up, seeing the Groosalugg walking towards them, surrounded by soldiers. Illyria and Landon were holding each other by the throat, their other fists poised to strike the other. Meanwhile, Spike and Gunn were still fighting, as several soldiers rushed over, stabbing the pair. The two Van-tals turned away from each other, before slowly resuming their human forms. Landon let go of Illyria and dusted off his suit, before walking over to the Groosalugg

“My name is Jack Landon and I am the liaison of Wolfram and Hart”

“I care not for Wolfram and Hart,” Groosalugg said, “Kill them all”

“I think we got the hell out of here,” Spike said

Illyria picked Lindsey up with ease, much to his protestations, before running off with Spike towards the woods, as Gunn headed over to Ava and removed the spear from her body, tossing it aside, as Landon knelt beside them

“Wesley requires your aid back in Los Angeles”

“What about Spike and Illyria?” Gunn asked

“I will take care of them”

Landon straightened, before muttering an incantation under his breath, as a portal opened up. Gunn picked Ava up, before disappearing through the portal, as it closed up and Landon turned to the Groosalugg, as armed soldiers surrounded him

“I believe we can help each other,” he said with a smile

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“Illyria, put me the hell down!”

“As you wish”

“Ow!”

Lindsey got to his feet, rubbing his butt, as Spike sighed and rolled his eyes

“Are we done here, children? Cause I wanna find the sword and get out of here”

“How do you propose we do that?” Lindsey asked

“Search the mountains, I reckon. That’s how it goes in those old mythic legends, right? A powerful weapon hidden in the hills”

“I know Fred used to travel the mountains,” Illyria said, “She found quite a number of caves. Could it be that the Vorax sword is in one of those?”

“Yeah, I suppose. Come on,” Spike said

The trio trekked through the woods, until they came to an open plain leading uphill to the rocky outcrops

“Here we go,” Spike said

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“Wes man, you’ve got form,” Gunn said happily

“Gunn. It is good to see you again. How’s Ava?”

“Oh, she’ll live. Nice to see you’ve got flesh”

“Well, it wasn’t that hard,” Wesley said, “All I needed was the right spell”

“And you found it. Good for you. Landon said you wanted something of me”

“Yes, I have a job for you. You’ll probably like this, although I suppose it will be weary afterwards”

“I’m cool with it. What’s the job?”

A small smile appeared on Wesley’s face, as he looked outside his office at all the human employees. He looked back at Gunn and motioned outside, before heading back to his desk and picking up the phone

“Harmony, call for a lockdown. Nobody gets in or out”

“What’s the problem, boss?”

“Just do as you’re told, Harmony’

“Okay boss”

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“There’s too many caves and not enough people to search them,” Lindsey said

Spike walked over to an outcrop and looked down at the field

“If we don’t hurry, there won’t anyone of us left”

Lindsey joined him, seeing the small force of soldiers being led by Landon and an Anagogic demon with long orange hair and a small goatee

“Good point. Let’s hurry”

Spike, Lindsey and Illyria ducked into one cave, as Landon and Landok led the soldiers up the hills. The trio stumbled about in the darkness, as Illyria struck her leg on a stalagmite. She ignored the pain and carried on

“Man, if only we had torches,” Lindsey said

“No worries for me,” Spike said

A roar came deep within the catacombs

“What the hell was that?” Spike asked

“Soldiers coming,” Lindsey said, “Worry about that later”

The trio headed deeper into the catacombs, as the soldiers followed after them, following after their scent and auras. Spike was in the lead, due to his night vision ability, with Lindsey behind him and Illyria at the end, as the caves began to lighten up. They rounded a corner and came out to a large, brightly lit room, where a stone pedestal rested. And lying upon the pedestal was a large gold and silver sword

“Is that it?” Lindsey asked

“I believe so,” Spike answered, walking towards the pedestal

“You think something like that they would have protection”

A large Drokken beast suddenly appeared in view

“Like that”

“What the hell is that?” Spike asked

“It is a Drokken,” Illyria answered, “Very powerful beasts”

She and Lindsey suddenly went flying, as Landon, Landok and the soldiers spread out into the large cavern. Landon smiled as he clasped his hands together

“So close and yet so far. Your time is over now. Time to give up”

“You seriously don’t know me, do you?” Spike asked

“I’ve had enough of the chit-chat. Kill them all”

Lindsey drew his pocketknife and flicked the blade out, before using his powers to transform the knife into a broadsword, as the soldiers charged forth. Spike ducked under a sword and kneed the soldier in the stomach, as Illyria backhanded a soldier into his comrade, before throwing another towards the Drokken, who fell upon the soldier, tearing him to pieces. Lindsey parried a sword and ran the owner through the throat, before kicking another soldier in the chest, removing his sword and whirling around, cutting down another soldier

Landok charged at Spike and swung his sword, but Spike dodged the blade and punched him in the face, before stepping away from the blade and striking Landok again. Landon sighed and headed towards Illyria, as she grabbed the Drokken by the arm and tossed the beast aside. Landon struck her across the face, before throwing her through the air. She landed against the wall and got to her feet, her eyes blazing

“You shall die”

“Oh, I think not”

More soldiers entered the cavern, as the Drokken started tearing into them, but the combined force of the reinforcements killed the beast, as Spike threw Landok against the wall, before picking up the Vorax sword and impaling a soldier. Lindsey fought like a master swordsman, cutting down the soldiers around him, as Illyria battled against Landon, getting thrown against the wall and dodging his fist as it smashed into the rock, elbowing him in the chest and slamming his face into the rocks

“There’s too many of them,” Lindsey said, “We’re gonna get killed”

“Not if I have anything to say about that,” Spike said

And with that, he vamped out, transforming into the Van-tal beast once again

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