Date: 2001

A banished hell-god trapped in human form, Glory possessed power that made direct combat meaningless. Every encounter forced the group to rely on preparation, deception, and sacrifice rather than strength. Glory’s cruelty was personal as well as cosmic. In her search for the Key, she brutally attacked Tara Maclay, draining her sanity to draw out information and leaving her mentally broken. The attack devastated Willow and showed the Scoobies that Glory could destroy lives without killing, turning loved ones into weapons through suffering. The conflict ended at the tower when Buffy realized stopping Glory meant giving up her own life. By sacrificing herself to close the rift between worlds, Buffy saved Dawn, the key, and the world itself. Glory was defeated, but the cost was permanent, leaving the Scoobies changed and proving that some victories are paid for in loss rather than triumph.