In the darkness ahead, the Dark Great Evil King's mountain-like figure appeared and slowly approached. Though he had noticed Locke entering his domain, he was still some distance away.
Locke immediately raised the Beast Claw Necklace, trying to activate the ancient Protection School magic left here from the Age of Stars. Magical light appeared beneath his and Douglas's feet, ready to shoot skyward, open a planar passage, and take them back to the Black Hole Witch Peach.
The two beams shot skyward and opened the passage. Locke and Douglas saw the Plane Gate appear, with the Wizarding World visible on the other side.
But at that instant, endless darkness folded over them like rippling waves and forcibly severed the passage.
It had opened and closed too quickly for either of them to pass through.
A dark sound reached Locke's ears, like some ancient sacrificial chant.
The ground beneath him began to tremble.
Douglas clamped his hands over his ears and screamed. Blood poured from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Kneeling on the ground, he shrieked as the sound forced him to speak his name.
He raised his head.
"Dougla—"
Locke's pupils contracted.
This was bad.
A hand reached out of the darkness. The Dark Great Evil King's enormous fingers closed around the name.
"Good. From this moment on, your name belongs to the darkness."
Douglas screamed. The colors of his clothes, his Permanent Defense Field, and even the magical light of his soul seemed to be drawn away. His body was about to turn entirely black.
Locke gritted his teeth and swung the Golden Tassel Wheat. Its primary Plant Factor was Radiance Factor. The stalk struck Douglas and forcibly absorbed the magical light spilling from him.
The Dark Great Evil King scoffed. "You dare fight the darkness for its