I was The Overlord's turn to look puzzled. He peered over his glasses. "You mean.. you still don't remember?"

"Don't remember what?" snarled Dreth, holding on to his temper by a thread. In his hand Darkblood moaned.

"Interesting." The Overlord tapped his fingers together. "Ah well, I may as well spill the beans I suppose. It won't make any difference now."

"Ooh, a story! Come close and pay attention Sprat," Cuthbert said, clapping his hands.

"Centuries ago, Dreth ruled this place," the Overlord gestured round at the citadel. "Along with his beautiful and, of course, evil wife, Rage. I was a simple employee at first, working in the dungeons as a messenger. However, I had ambition. I studied, observed, learned and worked my way up the chain of command. Centuries it took, but eventually I secured a place on his private staff. There I bided my time, waiting for my chance."

"You despicable fiend," Percy said. "Good one."

"Finally my opening came. One day a young elf maiden, disgustingly Good, was captured and brought here for a sacrifice. Only, for some reason Dreth became infatuated with her. If I didn't know better, I would swear he even.. loved her." He spat the word out in disgust.

"Oh, gross!" Cuthbert said, clapping his hands over Sprat's ears. "Don't listen son."

"I'm scared daddy," Sprat said.

"He kept her in a hidden chamber, visiting her in secret. I was the only one trusted with the knowledge, his faithful servant. For years this went on, and she came to.. you know, the 'L' word, him in return. How this could be I do not understand to this day. A pure, Good maiden and the Ultimate evil in the land together? Such a match was impossible, and yet there it was."

"What happened?" asked Tybalt.

The Overlord smiled. "I plotted and planned and finally 'arranged' for Dreth's wife to find out. She was a hellish woman. Cruel, sadistic, petty and vengeful. Almost perfect in fact. She was furious of course, and murdered the elf with her bare hands. Dreth found out and came after her. Still, he'd gone soft by then. He didn't kill her, but merely had her imprisoned."

"How romantic," Percy said, clasping his hands together.

"I made a deal with Rage, to release her in exchange for taking Dreth's place. I'd been working on a way to get him out of the picture remember. I cast a transformation spell, and was preparing another to alter his memory when he became aware of our plot. He tried to stop us, but she delayed him long enough for me to get away. Her act enraged him so much he disposed of her in some fashion, both foul and cruel no doubt, showing off his true calling at last. I don't know what he did, but I never saw here again."

"Mmm, I think I met her wandering ghost a while ago," Dreth said, remembering the close encounter with the female sprit back in the dungeon. "An ex eh? Her attitude makes sense then." He raised a finger. "Wait! Now I remember you. You're name's.. Reg! You were my servant!"

"The name's Reginald, thank you very much." The Overlord snarled. "I was your Personal Assistant. And I left that name behind long ago. Now, I'm The Overlord thank-you very much."

"Not for much longer," Dreth said.

"Yes yes," Percy interrupted. "But what happened next? In the story I mean?"

"Oh, there's little else to tell. I managed to complete the spells I'd prepared, making Dreth forget who he was and believing he was some sort of cursed adventurer. Then I put him in one of his own dungeons, not too close, but somewhere where I could keep an eye on him."

"What a lovely tale," Cuthbert said, clapping.

"Oh, but it's not finished yet. I recently stumbled over something which may be the answer." He reached behind the desk and pulled out something wrapped in a cloth.

"The answer to what?" Frumble asked.

"Dreth," The Overlord replied, letting the cloth fall to the floor, to reveal a long blade. Darkblood moaned in rage.

"Another black sword!" gasped Emerald.

"Not simply another one," The Overlord replied, bringing the weapon up, but the Diamond devil blade. The most powerful of the set. I believe it will kill even Dreth, and then I'll have the rest of you for dessert.?Except you my dear," he looked at Emerald and smiled gently. "You'll go back to your chamber."

"You're going to take us all on yourself?" Dreth raise a thin eyebrow.

"Don't be silly." The Overlord made a quick gesture and the doors behind him flung open, to let in a set of familiar faces. "Some of your friends wanted to join the party."

In the centre was King Harold, his own black sword, taken from the anti-paladin, in his hand. Beside him stood his wizard, and behind him a group of armoured, mean looking warriors.

To the left of the king was Harvey VonMcVon, grinning tightly. He looked at Emerald and his eyes sparkled.

On the other end, scowling and muttering under his breath, was the Extremely Dark Necromancer.

"Looks like the gang's all here," said Dreth, taking in the force assembled in front of him.

The Overlord nodded. "You've been lucky before. This time we shall make certain. So, any final words Dreth??Perhaps some kind of evil monologue about how you will rise again, stronger than before??Something like that you know?"

"I have no intention of dying.?I've figured out your plan even if this lot haven't.?You're going to get your lackeys here to deal with me first and then eliminate the witnesses. Not much of an original plan to be sure," Dreth said. He shrugged. "Still, if you've fooled them this far, I'm sure they haven't thought it through."

"I'm no one's lackey," Harold said, snarling.

"I was summoned, it is one of the penalties I pay for my powers," the necromancers said in a low voice.

"I am here for my own reasons," Harvey answered.

"Doesn't sound like the group is really united," Dreth said, shaking his head.

The Overlord growled and turned to the group assembled behind him. "Come now, there's no 'I' in team," he said.

"Who said we're a team?" Harold said.

"I did," the Overlord said.

"I thought there was no I.." Harvey started.

"Shut up!" The Overlord raised his sword. "You will aid me in this, or I'll personally rip your livers out and make you eat them."

"No one speaks to me thus!" the wizard replied. "You may have these minions under your thrall, but I'm.."

There was a humming noise and a blur of dark light. Harvey's eyes widened and he looked down at the great gash that had split his front open, from neck to groin. He opened his mouth.

"You.. you.." The wizard fell forward onto the floor. A pool of blood spread our around him.

"Any others wish to complain?" The Overlord waved his big black weapon about. The sword glittered and twinkled slightly, radiating hunger for blood and death.

The remainder of the group shuffled their feet and avoided looking at each other.

"Right then." The Overlord turned to face Dreth, and was hit with the spell the witches had busy been casting whilst he was distracted.

There was a large, green, explosion, and the Overlord's shape shimmered and shifted, as if it was a reflection in water.

"That's a present from Hilda!" cackled Rose, dancing about. "See how you like her vengeance!"

The assembled looked on as the Overlord was enveloped within a large green bubble. His form twisted this way and that, as he looked this way and that, and thrashed about in desperation.

Just as Dreth was about to congratulate the apprentice witches, the black sword the Overlord carried glowed again, and he raised it above his head, so it pierced the surrounding membrane.?The witch-light slowly faded as it was sucked into the blades black aura, finally leaving the Overlord standing, unharmed, with a smirk on his face.

"Well, it was worth a try," said Sissy said, her shoulders drooping.

"Good try though," Percy said.?"I thought you had him for a second there."

"Yes," added Cuthbert.?"Although personally I never thought it would work.?It's just not traditional for the big boss to be defeated until the very last moment you know?"

"It would have done so, if not for that sword.?Where did he get it from anyway? They seem to be showing up a lot at the moment," commented Tybalt, what with Dreth's one and the one King Harold now has.?Anyone else think this is curious?"

"Enough of this!" screamed the Overlord, interrupting their chat.?"You cannot defeat me with this sword!?Dreth!?Finally I have the means to end you. Stand ready to finally die! Men, attack!" The Overlord pointed ahead dramatically.

There was pause.

"I said attack! Unless you wish to end up like the wizard there."

They attacked.