They burst into the room with their guns at the ready. There was some sort of altar in the center of the room covered with strange runes. Several large sconces were affixed to the wall with flames shooting out of them. At the back of the room a gleaming silver throne sat atop a platform that had been fashioned out of hundreds of skulls.

Sarah caught a glimpse of a demonic figure sitting on the throne. It appeared to be well over twelve feet tall and had gleaming white ivory skin and lengthy black horns protruded from either side of its head. It had piercing red eyes and a couple of sharp pincers surrounded a mouth full of jagged teeth. Within a few seconds of their entry into the room the figure stood up and cloaked itself in a dark black robe, concealing its features.

"I think that's the Warlord!" Sarah shouted. "Get him!"

Three muscular red devils wielding whips emerged from behind the altar. One of the belligerent drunks Max had recruited at the bar charged the nearest devil. It swung its arm in a blur and the whip wrapped around the man's neck. The devil hoisted the man into the air and flung him across the room.

Sarah wasted no time running at the devil. She pointed her gun at it and pulled the trigger. A boxing glove shot out and smacked it square in the nose, causing it to stumble back dizzily. Bobby took advantage of the devil's disorientation to smack it in the face as hard as he could.

Max threw one of the itching powder balloons at the devil in the middle. The devil swung its whip, but managed to make the balloon explode right over itself, dumping itching powder all over its body. It dropped to the floor and began scratching itself frantically.

Daedalus was handling himself admirably against the third devil, punching it repeatedly in the face and body, while dodging its flailing whip. Esther and her chicken brigade provided assistance by flapping around and pecking at the devil's head and feet.

The Warlord, perhaps sensing the tide of battle was not going in his favor, suddenly clapped his hands together loudly. The three devils instantly stopped what they were doing and ran towards the altar. They lifted the top of it and jumped inside it. It vanished into thin air behind them.

"The altar must have been another door," Dr. Octavius said. "Well, don't worry about them. Get the Warlord!"

The Warlord picked up something shiny that had been resting against his throne. He seemed to consider it for a moment and then tucked it into his robe.

"I think he's got your mirror," Sarah said. "The weird one you said could be dangerous in the wrong hands."

Daedalus and Bobby ran towards the Warlord from opposite sides of the room as fast as they could. The Warlord raised one of his arms and a long, gnarled finger with a thick black claw emerged. He drew a rectangular shape in the air and a door suddenly appeared.

"He's getting away!" Sarah shouted. In desperation she grabbed Max's flask and flung it at the robed figure.

"What are you doing?" Max asked. "I just got that back!"

The Warlord raised his hand and caught the projectile. Everyone heard a deep, evil laugh inside their heads and then the Warlord stepped through the doorway he had created. It vanished into thin air behind him.

"No!" Max shouted.

"Don't worry," Dr. Octavius said. "We'll figure out a way to track him down."

"We'd better," Max said. "That asshole has my flask. Well, at least good old S.J. was kind enough to let me use his flask." Max untwisted the lid and lifted the flask to his lips. Unfortunately, it was completely empty. A closer examination revealed a hole had been punctured in the bottom. "Is there no justice in this world?" Max asked as he flung the useless flask away.

Michelangelo and his band of thieves searched the room carefully. "We're laying claim to the throne. There might be enough silver in that thing to make for a nice payday. There doesn't seem to be anything else of note in this room."

"So that's it?" Sarah asked in disbelief.

"This whole thing went a lot easier than I expected it to," Bobby said as he looked around the mostly empty room.

"I suspect we haven't seen the last of our Warlord friend," Dr. Octavius said.

"I know we haven't, because I'm going to go try to get my flask back," Max said with a determined look on his face. "You mind if I try one of those doors you found?"

"Be my guest," Dr. Octavius said as he handed him a thin gray door.

Max climbed up onto the skull platform and held the door in the air. "Let's see, I think he left from about here. Bobby, hold this in place for me, will you?"

Bobby held the door steady in the air as Max turned the knob.

"Max, you don't have to do this," Sarah said.

"Yes I do," Max said. "That flask has sentimental value to me. We've had a lot of good times together. Plus, it was given to me by an old wino, who I believe might possibly have been my father. Anyway, wish me luck. If I don't come back, tell my wife I'm lying drunk somewhere in a gutter." He swung the door open and stepped through.