Angel lost his first "friend" from Los Angeles when the half-demon Doyle sacrificed himself to save Angel and a boatload of peaceful demons. Now Doyle's demon father, Axtius, has arrived in Los Angeles, intent on building a pure-demon army . . . and avenging his son's death on the vampire he holds responsible. But the massing of a demon army has not escaped the notice of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Now she and her gang of Scoobies are headed for Los Angeles. And on a small island off the coast of California, a showdown is scheduled, with nothing less than the fate of the world, and a human soul, at stake. . . .