The palace of wonder and......death?

As we sank slowly into the open space, we saw exactly how big it was. A huge cavern, going on and on in all directions, with no end in sight. Tall columns, as high as skyscrapers, supported the vast stony ceiling. We could hear laughter as the lift reached the ground, and I looked round for the source. A few metres away, sprawled lazily in a large, ornately carved grey throne, was HG. He raised his staff in a salute, eyes twinkling as he gazed down at us. He looked drunk. Drunk on power. 'Aha! I knew you'd make it, I was expecting you sooner really. It seems nothing can stop you people when you're determined to do something. I've had you shot at, attacked by your own friends, brought buildings down on you, blown you up, that moronic bone morpher......and yet here you are. How did you escape the crushing ceiling?'
'We had a little help.'
'Naturally. That room stripped you of your powers, you MUST have had help.'
'Enough talk!' Future me was getting restless. He was seething, and his eyes were glowing a deep, burning red.
'Quite right.' HG was sitting perfectly upright in his throne now, all trace of mirth gone from his face. 'To business. I know why you are here. I know why there are two Tempests. I know how this is possible. I know everything. I cannot allow you to stop me, and I cannot allow you to remain alive. Let the slaughter commence.'
I ran at him, but his throne shot backwards, coming to a stop a couple of rugby pitches distance away. The floor around it rose in steps, creating an aztec pyramid style tower far away. He began to laugh again as doorways in the pillars slid open, and streams of shadow fighters poured out. Once again we were confronted by army of beings made from solid, shadowy, jet black fog. But this time, not only was the number easily into the hundreds of thousands, possibly even millions, they had a much wider range of skills. There were fighters with black flames surrounding their hands, grey lightning sparking from fingertips, some took to the air, and some had glowing eyes. Fangs, tails, extra arms, bulging muscles, claws, grey water pouring from hands, every power or ability you could dream of, but colourless, ruthless and ready to attack. They were the stuff of nightmares.
I backed towards the others, but got distracted by a yell. Far above, minute against the immense ceiling, I could just make out the large hole our lift had come from. A tiny shape had just shot from the hole, and and was plummeting towards us. It un curled to become human shaped, and reached out a hand, plunging it into the nearest stone column. The column seemed to buckle slightly, and cracks appeared all across it. The figure pulled it's hand from the stone, and was now holding a huge sword. 'Blackmage!' he yelled, as three flying fog warriors shot towards him. Gripping the sword in both hands, the figure spun round, slashing his attackers, chopping each of them cleanly in two. As his attackers halves fell to earth, dispersing back into fog and then nothing, the newcomer was enveloped in a blue aura, and I saw Blackmage guiding it, slowing the figure down until, still spinning, he landed in front of us.
'Everyone is keen to help, they're trying to move that chunk of metal over the entrance. Channel pushed me ahead so I could let you know. We figured you could use another fighter ASAP too.'
'You figured right.'
I held out a hand. 'Cool entrance! Nice to meet you, I'm-'
'Tempest from years ago, I know. I'm Darkblade. We've heard about everything you've been doing to help. Thank you.'
'I had a lot of help. Speaking of which....'
We turned to flook at the oncoming sea of shadows, almost shoulder to shoulder, our whole group forming a defensive circle, everyone looking outwards, facing our opponents, sweeping in from every angle.
I grimaced.
'........let's do this!'