[Tiamat's sudden renewed strength flashes like the storm -- the armored darkness creature gives a haunting, harrowing screech as she swipes at it barehanded; and it must be something about her momentum, or her fury, that makes her arm slash through it like so much smoke.

The creature dissipates entirely, vanishing into the darkened shadows of the maze and the clouds bowing all their contents onto their heads. Whether it's gone permanently is anyone's guess.

At least now Tiamat is free to witness Sabo's beatdown, or the beatdown on Sabo, as the man -- whose growl of fury is getting louder and louder like rolling thunder -- is seemingly completely focused on his prey and totally ignoring any other threats that may surface (13).]