Prologue: Alvarez Now

Jan 1st, Year X802

10 years ago marked the turning point for one of the continent's largest empires, the Alvarez Empire. Its leader, Zeref, was defeated during the invasion of Fiore by Fairy Tail and his identity was made known to the entire country. While most of his subjects had long known about their leader's supreme magic and capabilities, his true identity as the Black Wizard caught all off guard. The rumored wizard of death and calamity being the leader of a country was something no one expected. Admiration and love instantly turned to disgust and fear as citizens feared for their safety. In the months to come, the royal palace was assaulted and besieged by waves of protestors demanding answers from what was left of the original Zeref administration. As though their hands weren't full enough, there came the problem from the guilds and nations that Zeref had once subjugated. Once united under a common leader which they all feared, each of them have began striking out on their own, reclaiming their lost territories and those of neighboring countries in a bid to fill the power vacuum left behind. With no one willing to remain part of the empire, the almighty nation crumbled overnight, leaving it with a mere fraction of its original military strength. This has only served to incite attacks from neighboring countries and raiders, in particular those whom Zeref had been oppressing up till that point in time. As a result, Alvarez's economy crashed overnight with no traders willing to export their goods due to the high crime levels and risky environment. In a bid to salvage the situation, the remnants of Zeref's administration decided to employ intellectual individuals from the populace to serve as a new council in governing Alvarez. While they did manage to retain trade to a certain extent, the problem of raids and rogue guilds still persisted, leaving them all at their wits end. Till date, this problem still remains as the bane of the Empire.

A young male stood out on a balcony of a brick tower, facing the streets of Vistarion. He sighed inwardly as he gazed upon the deserted streets. What was once a bustling market place had now been reduced to a shadow of its former self, sporting nothing more than just three stores and he knew one of them had just suffered a raid. He still remembered vividly 10 years ago, he used to roam and play on these streets as a kid without a care to the world. He recalled always snorting with disgust when he spoke of politicians, though the irony was that he was one now.

"Well time flies and people change too," he spoke to no one in particular. This man went by the name of Rex Tron, one of the seven members of Alvarez's new council. Rex was around 20 years of age and stood at an even 6'0. Despite his young age, the man held an air of maturity and his eyes shone with wisdom and wit of someone who was easily three times older. His skin was a slight tan and his original spiky black hair had started to turn white and the frays due to overwork. He had a slightly angled face and wore a pair of frameless glasses. He was currently wearing a white long sleeved shirt and a red tie, accompanied by a grey vest and black pants. He also wore a pair of black court shoes and a gold pocket watch that went well with his overall outfit.

He was currently situated in a tall spiral building that levitated over the city of Vistarion. Behind the balcony led to a polished stone room that was rather simple in design, having only a long wooden table and seven wooden chairs to serve as the meeting place for all council members, rows and rows of documents lined along polished wooden cabinets and a simple couch whose leather was visibly worn out. Despite the shoddy accommodations for someone of his status, Rex did not mind at all. In fact he was more than glad to be able to salvage this much from the old building before it mysteriously caught fire and burnt down 3 years ago.

The tower itself was not all that impressive as well. Creeping vines and algae coated its surface, hinting at how old and obsolete it was. Cracks lining the outer surface revealed the green levitation lacrima that was keeping the building afloat, a potential threat should anyone wish to destroy the council in one shot. Even so, it was still very unlikely given that the tower was so high up that most ranged spells could not even reach it. Despite its flaws, this tower served as the current council's headquarters. All major decisions regarding Alvarez were made and announced from here. Vistarion also served as the council's home ground and was the centre of its operations. The city was situated in the midst of a mountainous region, a few hundred feet above sea level. Due to the high altitude, a breathing lacrima dome is also installed over the city, allowing residents to breathe normally. In addition, the city's location also granted it natural protection against large scale assaults and invasions, giving those who live there a certain degree of peace. But that too comes with a heavy price. Vistarion is almost completely isolated from the rest of Alvarez, the only source of its trade coming from passing nomads or the occasional traveler who took a gamble with faith. To leave the city is almost suicidal as well. A thick fog covers the mountainous regions, just on its outskirts which makes visibility near zero. One wrong step and you could go plummeting to your death. A single teleporter exists within the heart of the city, heavily guarded by teams of Rune Knights. While it does grant access to registered towns and villages, applying to use it usually takes months of clearance and background checks so most residents have long abandoned hope of leaving Vistarion.

"I really hate this job, being stuck in a god forsaken place just to save my country that's on the decline." Rex grumbled under his breath as he adjusted his glasses. That was when he heard a man cough behind him, startling him slightly.

"Now now, Rex." The voice chided gently. "You were chosen for a reason. Remember we are just pawns in the grand scheme of things."

"Cody," Rex smiled warmly in return as he turned to face his colleague. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Cody Barns was also a young man of 23 years, being just older than Rex slightly. Because of that, it made Rex more comfortable talking to him compared to some of the others. He stood also at 6'0 and has shoulder length, smooth blond hair. He had a sharp face and bright blue eyes that glistened with intelligence. His white skin tone went well with the white priest robe and long pants that he was currently wearing and despite its baggy form, one could faintly make out the man's well toned body. While he did not wear any shoes, he was equipped with a pair of silver bracelets on his wrists and ankles. In his left hand, he held white and golden staff that had a blue lacrima resting in its core, the main source of his magic powers.

"Yeah, unfortunately," Cody smiled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head. "There have been recent reports of pirate activity at Leol Port. Traders are scared of offloading their cargo there since the most recent case that happened last week involved not just the sinking of two fishing vessels but also the razing of a local market when the owner refused to pay the protection fees. At this rate, Alvarez's economy is going to crumble even further then when we first took over."

"The Blood Halo again?" Rex asked to which Cody nodded, causing the former to sigh in exasperation. Blood Halo was one of the most rampant and chaotic guilds out there and they currently held almost a third of the country's territory, making them one of the leaders in the power struggle. Originally a small guild that was situated inland near the Croco Swamps, they shot to fame overnight when their guild master died, leaving the executives free reign to conquer other areas. Without anyone to stop them, they left wakes of destruction in their path. There were those who tried to stop them but till date none had succeeded and those who tried were publicly executed as an example. Under their harsh leadership and subjugation, they grew into a large organization, spanning multiple sub-guilds under them. For them to occupy the port would only mark the beginning of the end for Alvarez.

"I haven't found anyone suitable yet," Rex protested as he rubbed his forehead with his palm. "There aren't many mages who still live here you know. And those that do probably still live in fear of Blood Halo."

"I thought you had guy in mind," Cody prompted.

"Yeah… Yeah right." Rex scowled. "Sure he has the specs and experience, but he lacks the attitude and conviction to be a leader. This isn't a game you know. We can't have some half assed dude leading an elite task force that is meant to save the country. Besides, I'm pretty sure he threw away the communications lacrima I gave him a year ago…"

Before Rex could ramble on, Cody stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder, signaling for him to stop.

"We don't have much time Rex," Cody said with seriousness in his voice. "That man is our best bet at saving this country right now. If we don't give a name now, old man Grey is going to have a fit and that is going to be the least of our problems."

As much as Rex hated it, Cody was right. That man met all of his requirements as a talent scout, save his bad attitude. If anyone could take on Blood Halo, it would be him.

"Alright, I'll call him." Rex sighed as he gave in.

"Yeah, but you're gonna have to find his particulars amidst that mess first." Cody pointed at the piles of papers that covered the meeting table.

Rex sighed again. This was gonna take a while.

Koitail Village, North of Vistarion

"WHAT WAS THAT PUNK!" A burly man hollered, raising the attention of almost every customer within the restaurant. The target of his words was a drunken man who was currently sprawled over a table top, bottles of cheap alcohol littered all over the floor. Said man was currently wearing a black cape and cowl, the only distinguishing thing about him was the pair of black combat boots he was wearing.

"Didn't ja hear what I said?" he slurred as he swished what was left in the wine bottle that he was currently holding before downing its contents. "I said I don't have any money with me. "

"You have some nerve!" The man growled as he yanked the drunk to his feet. "So you think you can just stroll in, drink almost all the booze here and expect to leave without paying?!"

"Yep!" the drunk chirped before hiccupping.

"YOU BASTARD!" the man hollered as he ploughed his fist straight into the man's gut, coughing him to throw up. He then followed up by slamming him onto a table top, shattering the wooden furniture with ease. As if that wasn't enough, he then proceeded to plough the man's frail body through the windows of the shop, stopping only to hurl him into a corner. The man's body crumbled limply in a corner, blood oozing from beneath the cloak.

The other customers all screamed in fear at what appeared to be murder in broad daylight. They instantly dropped everything that they were doing and fled from the restaurant, fervently praying that they would not be implicated or end up the same as the poor man. Within seconds, the entire restaurant was emptied, save for two other figures that sat in the far corner and the man's three other friends that ran the restaurant with him.

"You show him Tyson!" one of the men yelled in joy from behind the counter while his two other friends cheered him on. "That'll teach him to mess with someone from Blood Halo."

"What…what did you say…" the drunken man croaked.

"Are you deaf!?" Tyson roared as he grabbed the man's skull and smashed him straight into the wall, causing his body to twitch violently as he lay very still. "This restaurant is run by a member of Blood Halo, Bloody Fist Tyson and his three brothers. You have some nerve trying a dine and dash on my turf. But don't worry. I'll make sure I decorate your corpse to serve as a warning to others."

"Well that's a relief," the drunken man muttered silently.

"What was that asshole?" Tyson raged, raising another fist as he prepared to bury it into the man's head. "you had better speak up, cause it's going to be your last!" On the other hand, the drunken man paid no attention to his words and continued speaking.

"At last I've found you."

As the words left his lips, the drunken man's hand instantly shot out from beneath his cloak. In a flash, his fingers were wrapped around Tyson's head.

"W…What?" Tyson's eyes blinked rapidly as he tried to comprehend what was happening. One moment that man was almost dead, in the next his vision was obscured by his palm. Not that he could think any further as he felt five points of extreme pressure clamping down on his skull.

"Arrrgh…arrghhh…AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH IT HURTS LET GO!" the behemoth of a man roared in pain as he felt the fingers beginning to dig into his skull. He desperately clawed and punched at the arm but no matter how hard he struck, the grip only seemed to worsen. Feeling powerless, he felt his legs crumble as he fell to his knees, the hall filled with his pain filled screams.

In the meantime, the drunken man had yanked himself out from the brick wall and was now standing over his assailant. With his free hand, the man yanked off his cloak to reveal his full appearance. He had a lean and well toned body as well as a pale skin tone. While not staggeringly tall, he stood at 6'3 which was well above the average height. His eyes were emerald green and seemed to pierce into one's soul when gazed at. His hair was pure white and messy, his fringe covering a side of his sharp face. He was currently wearing a black twin tailed Executioner's cloak, beneath it a grey shirt and black jeans. Hidden under his shirt was a crimson tattoo that stretched across his chest, resembling a pair of bladed claws. Across his body, similar crimson vein tattoos stretch from his heart to his limbs, neck and legs.

"Great, you just wasted my tomato juice," he sighed as he removed the crushed packet from his coat pocket, confirming to be the source of the "blood" earlier. "Now then, do you mind repeating what you said earlier? I really don't want to waste anyone's time here." He asked in a carefree manner.

"You bastard!" one of the man behind the counter growled. "Let him go now!" Beside him, the other two men reached beneath the bar and pulled out lacrima guns, training them on the pale figure who was holding their friend captive.

"Eh?" The man turned his head in the direction of the bar when he heard the sound of arms being drawn. "You really shouldn't do that you know," he added in a concerned tone.

"Don't screw with us!" Both men yelled as they prepared to pull their triggers, only to realise that their weapons were no longer attached to their hands. Looks of panic and confusion overtook them as they desperately gazed about looking for their weapons, only to discover them floating a few metres away.

Right above the hands of one of the remaining two customers.

"I believe he told you not to do that right," one of them growled as the three men watched in horror as he absorbed the guns within his body. Said male stood at 6'5, towering over everyone else in the building. He had a muscular body and peach coloured skin. He appeared youthful-looking with medium-length, wavy, messy black hair, and his bangs are parted to the left and hang over his left eye. But what caught the attention of everyone was the steel jaw guard that was drilled into the side of his face and the crimson cybernetic eye that served as his right. He was currently wearing a devilish grin that exposed his razor sharp teeth. For attire, he was wearing only a simple white short sleeved shirt that was currently unbuttoned to reveal his muscular chest and black and gold baggy pants that were tucked into a pair of brown steel toed boots. One could clearly see the swathes of scars decorating his body as well as the random rows of screws that seemed to be implanted into him. Overall he resembled nothing less than a Frankenstein but to the natives of Alvarez, they knew very well what he was.

"A Machias?!" one of the men uttered in fear. "Its not possible. Your whole race should have been extinct after the war."

"Well too bad fool," the Machias smirked as he watched the men cower. 'I ain't…" before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a savage howl that erupted from the other figure seated across the table.

Said figure was female, the last person anyone would expect such a sound to come from. She stood at 5'8 and had pale white skin like her comrade. She had a very elegant and pristine face that resembled a doll's. Her eyes were bright green also, though they were currently obscured by her red shoulder length hair. She had a rather voluptuous figure as well, sporting rather large assets that were only made all the more obvious with the white tube dress that she was dressed in. As though she was about to get married, she was even wearing a bridal veil and white high heeled shoes. However, the killer intent that she was emitting was far from concealed, a stark contrast to the bright and lovely figure that she appeared to be. This was even more prominent when she removed something that was attached to her back.

"What the hell is that!" the men shrieked in horror as they gazed upon what was possibly the last thing they saw in their lives.

It was a massive pair of scissors, or to be more precise a sword that was modelled after a scissors. Said weapon was at least two metres long and dual bladed, one of which was shorter than the other. At the end of each blade was a handle, allowing the user to use it like a sword or a scissors. The entire weapon was dyed black, crimson veins stretching across it that pulsated every few seconds. To everyone that witnessed it, it gave off the feeling that it was hungry which was rather apt since the weapon was indeed alive.

"Mika, wait…" the Executioner man spoke as he addressed the girl but it was way too late. With a loud moan, Mika leapt of her table, the scissors blade opened wide as she spotted her targets. It was over instantly. Before either man could scream, Mika's blades had sliced all three of them cleanly in half. The lower stumps of their bodies erupted into fountains of blood , staining the bar and the girl's dress a sickening red.

"Oh man, there she did it again." The Machias face-palmed and the Executioner man sighed as well. Upon hearing their voices, Mika turned up from the scene of the massacre, he lips pouted as she let out a small groan of annoyance.

"Nevermind that," the Executioner man replied, turning his attention back to Tyson who was bleeding profusely from his head. "Any last words?"

"Hehe…hehe…hehheehehe…" Tyson began laughing slowly like a madman, his voice becoming more garbled and softer with each passing second. "You… won't… get away…Blood…Halo…avenge me."

"Well, I do hope so. Cause I have every intention of killing them all." The Executioner man replied solemnly before exerting even more pressure on his head. With a final push, he shattered Tyson's skull, crushing his head like a ripe apple. Without even watching his lifeless body hit the ground, all three of them left the restaurant.

"Mika, how many times have I told you to hold back? We may need them alive one of these days so I can't have you killing them every time you see one of us getting hurt." The Executioner man chided gently. As though protesting, Mika let out a series of moans and clicks, tilting her head away with her nose in the air as though she was throwing a tantrum.

"You too, Len. You should have stopped her." He added, addressing the Machias this round.

"Been there, done that Vergil. You know very well I can't stop her even if I tried."

"Yeah, you're right about that." Vergil responded, knowing full well that Mika was unstoppable in her fury.

"By the way," Len started, causing both Vergil and Mika to turn their heads to him. "You know that lacrima that you gave me a year back? It's been beeping non-stop for the past one hour or so during the job."

"You mean you haven't absorbed it yet?" Vergil replied stunned.

"Well, it's such a waste to eat such precious materials. These things are hard to come by nowadays." Len shrugged, before returning to the topic at hand. "Anyways, it seems that those higher ups have a job for us this time. Probably the biggest one we have taken yet."

"Ok, what's it called."

"Project Abyss Fang."

Author's Note

Hi guys so this is my first attempt at a fanfiction so please show me lots of support. If you haven't guessed it yet, this is an SYOC fic so I'm gonna be needing lots of OCs. OC form will be included in my profile by the end of the week and I will only be accepting OCs that follow the form strictly and are sent via PM. Also, I will only be accepting straight pairing because I'm not really good with writing Yaoi or Yuri. Last but not least, a huge shoutout to Death Obelisk for helping me fine tune some details regarding Alvarez and providing me with inspiration for my characters. He writes Fairy Tail fanfics too so please check him out!