"But, Aeiryln! Why must you?"
"Silence, Tark! Look at this place. Run down, deserted... no one will care what we do to it!"
"No. I won't let you."
Suddenly, a ghostly figure appeared before Tarquanin DiCello. It grew and grew, became more horrible with each passing moment. A blood red spectre made the priest cower. Aeiryln spoke in a rasping voice.
"You will do what I tell you to do, Tark! I can kill you in unimaginable ways! Stop groveling, get up!"
"Y...y-yes master!"
The spectre returned to normal form once again.
"Now, Tark, we are going to take Venway City for our own."
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In the streets of Venway below, outside an abandoned warehouse, the few remaining elements of the city's crime force gloated over their ultimate victory. It had taken them weeks to finally defeat the vigilante crimefighter of Venway, but there he lay. His violin smashed, his swarm scattered, the Grasshopper Prince lay dying. They kicked him savagely, breaking his bones. He coughed up blood.
When they left him to die, he gathered what little strength he still had and healed himself partially. He crawled painfully into the shadows and lay there till morning.
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