CHAPTER–06

X776!

ENJOY FREEDOM KNOWING YOU FAILED!

-RECAPITULATE-

Hades let out a chuckle. "You don't understand, do you? A non-aggression pact is necessary if we want Tartaros to not have control of every dark guild in Fiore. They are the guild of Demons from the Book of Zeref. Even if I train my students in Lost Magic, they won't be sufficient to defeat Tartaros if they ever attack us. But, with two powerful guilds in the Balam Alliance working together, Tartaros won't make a mistake of such magnitude and I suppose, it would be beneficial for your guild as well."

"I understand your reasons and foresight. We can't let Tartaros take control of all the minor dark guilds and so we will have to form the Balam Alliance." Brain hummed while tapping his foot continuously. "But, you didn't explain the part where training Jellal Fernandez is necessary."

"Oh, he isn't related to the Balam Alliance in any way. But rather, I want him to join the Magic Council as a member. Having an agent within the Magic Council would serve us well in the future, wouldn't it?" Hades chuckled.

Brain's eyes narrowed as he glared at the Grimoire Heart Guild Master in distaste but compiled nevertheless. He knew that having an agent within the Magic Council would work to their advantage. "Very well, I will train Jellal Fernandez with the correct knowledge that will help him infiltrate the Magic Council." He nodded before a grin appeared on his face. "But, why Jellal Fernandez when you could use Ben Tennyson? I have heard about him and he is a potential candidate as much as Jellal. In fact I believe him to be better actually. I also heard a rumor that he killed several of your men about a year ago. Will he not be more useful?"

Hades shook his head. "He might have potential greater than Jellal but he would be too troublesome for this job. Honestly, he acts rash and reckless most of the time. He's a problem and it would consume more of our precious time breaking and taming him."

Brain smirked. "And, Jellal won't?"

"No! He won't." Hades replied with a sickening grin plastered on his face. "He holds vast latent magical energy that he still hasn't accessed. If we manage to exploit his one weakness and use it against him then we can use him to our liking. He won't be as resilient as the other one when freedom is offered to him."

"To your liking?" Brain cocked an eyebrow.

Hades nodded. "Ultear has improved in her training and this task would help to determine how much."

"And, when will I be getting those kids for my guild?"

"That has to wait until more slaves are brought to the tower as replacements. I can't afford unnecessary delays in my ultimate plan of resurrecting Lord Zeref."

The day continued to progress and the bonds among the children held strong. They faced their problems together and supported each other in times of need.

But, unbeknownst to them, an evil wind was lurking nearby to blow away and completely consume them, shredding apart their very world; including the peace and friendship they had made in these past months and were very much proud of.

The future depended solely on the present and the present being changed would alter the future. Life would change, providing both joy and pain. Some would burden the world while some would help carry that weight.

One would take an approach different than the others, having suffered unlike his companions. He knew how it felt when family was lost. War had left its mark but he remained undaunted. He refused to give up despite the hardships, forging his own path toward the future. The only question was where his path would eventually lead.

-RECAPITULATE END-

-TIME SKIP – ONE MONTH LATER-

Ben ambled back to his cell with a small smile etched on his face. It was almost time for him to act. He was definitely sure that those cult members were talking about those new slaves being brought in early tomorrow to the tower. As much as he hated it, he was also pleased to find that the year of waiting was finally over and he would finally be free to act. Tomorrow, this cult was going to regret the day they messed with him and the other slaves. They were going to answer for every evil deed of their…well, if he let them answer and not knock them out first.

It had taken him several months to control his feelings and emotions to a manageable level. He had always fought against evil, no matter how much the odds were stacked against him and he always came out victorious. He had never learnt to be patient and had never killed until he arrived in this world and its darkness forced him to turn into a monster. How ironic it was, the very thing he'd fought was the very thing he was now.

He'd watched cult members torture others and treat them like trash because it was necessary instead of stopping those cultists. He watched them suffer and cry, but he didn't do anything to prevent that. He wondered if that was really like him. To let innocents get hurt and do nothing even when he possessed one of the multiverse's greatest creations.

He wondered whether his family would have been proud of him or would hate him for what he had become now. But then again it didn't matter because they were all dead, weren't they? And, because of what he used to be. He had developed a philosophy to never kill and he showed mercy to even the worst of his enemies, thinking the impossible that they would change. Few did and instead he was the lone survivor from his home world if Rook was excluded. He had always considered things according to his heart but what would have been the difference if he had used his brain instead? Would they have been alive if he had not left his loved ones back on Earth unprotected?

Maybe, maybe not. He might have managed to stop them but the truth was that he had failed them because of who he used to be. But that didn't matter anymore. That was his past, and he wished to move on towards the future. He wished to regain the freedom that was taken from him a year ago. He wanted to return happiness to everyone and keep his promise to Kagura. Yes, Kagura! He had almost forgotten about her. He would have to take Simon to her. He wondered how Simon would react to seeing his sister again. Yes, that bright future. That's all that mattered. The present and the future he wanted for himself. The future he desired, to bask within. And, a future that would took away his pain.

"Yes, that's what I want…" Ben muttered, smiling. "…To live in a future, where I have the power to protect my friends and comrades."

Ben noticed that he was almost at the door of his cell. He wondered how everyone had been doing today. They must be excited and nervous, right. After all, why wouldn't they? Tomorrow, they were going to be free from this tower, from this prison that had took away their childhood.

He entered the cell and a frown crossed his face as he scanned the room. There were none of his friends present except for Rob and Rook and apparently, both seemed to be worried sick. It was unlike everyday when his friends would be the first to get back.

Ben cocked an eyebrow as he asked the obvious. "Where are the others?"

Rob shook his head and didn't say anything. His eyes showed concern and worry.

Ben shifted his gaze to Rook. "I was first to return and it was empty. I waited till gramps' return but nobody else as of yet."

Ben felt a knot in his stomach at the implications. "They haven't returned yet? But-"

"I might be wrong but I think they were trying to escape." Rook muttered, almost whispering. "They've been acting differently for a while."

Ben paled. Was that the reason why he hadn't seen anyone today after the break in the afternoon? They must have already escaped. But that couldn't be possible, could it? They would have at least told him. Then, why didn't they? Over the last week, they had seemed quite strange in their actions and won't play or chatter loudly much. They would be nervous everytime he asked them the reason but he never suspected them. The puzzle began to fall into place. They had been planning for some time and they escaped when they found the opportunity. But, he had promised them that he would break them out. Then why didn't they wait for tomorrow? Did they not believe him?

Ben shook his head to clear his thoughts. It had begun hurting him to think that they didn't trust him. But then who was he to say that? He himself didn't trust them to keep his secret, did he? But that didn't matter anymore. He had to find them. His stomach churned at the possibilities of what would happen to them if anyone found them missing.

"I should have suspected something." Ben's eyes fell upon the old man. "Those kids, I should have suspected something was wrong. For the last week, they would group together to talk when you, Rook, and myself went to sleep." He balled his fists. "But, I never paid much attention to it. I should have known something."

Ben kneeled down in front of the old man. "It's okay gramps. Maybe they weren't trying to escape." He said hopefully but mentally he knew that he was wrong. "The boats that are going to bring the slaves will come in the morning and won't leave until the next day. They must have known that and weren't be stupid enough to escape when there was no way to the mainland."

Rob looked up at the brunette. "You still think they haven't escaped? Did you forget that the head cultist has his own private boat for traveling? If those kids are going after that ride, then they're in big trouble." His eyes glistened. "There are always a couple of cult members guarding it. They cannot avoid them."

Ben's eyes widened in horror. He had completely forgotten that possibility. The head cultist's boat! Damn it! How could he? He had to save them. His eyes darted to his Omnitrix and he raised his tied arms. If he didn't use it today then he will regret it. He had to save them even if it meant blowing his cover and losing the chance of breaking everyone else free. No! He would save everyone and if it meant killing all the cult members, so be it.

Ben was about to tap the face-plate when the old man interrupted. "What are you doing, Ben?"

Ben stared at Rob blankly. "I'm going to help them."

"You can't." Rob wiped away the tears threatening to burst from his eyes.

Ben froze. "I can't." He muttered before he became furious. "How can you say that, gramps!? They need my help! If I don't go then they will be hurt or worse, they might be dead and I can't live with the fact that I could have saved them! No! I have to save them now!"

Rob's demeanor softened. "You are risking too much, Ben. You spent a year of your life giving up on your freedom, suffering the torture only to protect everyone. If you do anything now then your effort will be for nothing."

"But-"

Rob's demeanor hardened as a frown crossed his face. "Have you thought about the consequences of your choice? What if the kids managed to escape? If you do anything then it will alarm the cultists and they might find out that those kids are missing."

Ben took a moment to think before he spoke. "But you just said that it was impos-"

The conversation was interrupted by multiple footsteps approaching the cell door, scuffling noises coming from the boots walking across the floor. Several cultists appeared and stood next to entrance as they opened the door, moving aside as familiar children were thrown inside roughly. The children crashed to the floor in a heap. They weakly brought themselves to their knees while the guards laughed tauntingly before they shut the gate doors and walked off.

All of the children lifted themselves up and looked down in despair as Rob moved forward toward them angrily. He slapped all five of them across the face. They were all stunned as the old man broke down crying. "I told you, I never wanted to see any of you hurt."

Ben felt relief wash over him as he scanned the kids. Abruptly his eyes widened in shock as he noticed that one was missing. "Where is Erza?" He demanded.

All the kids flinched at the outburst. Rob immediately looked them over and noticed Erza's absence as well.

"I asked you, where is she?!" Ben shouted angrily, balling his fists as he dreaded the worst.

"Erza was taken into the disciplinary cell because they think she was the mastermind behind our escape plan." Wally muttered as he hung his head in despair. "They wouldn't listen."

"Th-they took her away in front of us and we couldn't do anything." Shô mumbled between hiccups, tears rolling down his cheeks. "It's my fault. I-if I hadn't found that vent, then nothing would have happened!" He sobbed hysterically.

Both Ben and Rob paled in fear.

"And, you let her be apprehended?" Rook questioned, shaking his head disappointedly. "Where is this disciplinary cell?"

"I don't know." Simon muttered, frustrated and angry with himself. "She might be anywhere in this tower."

"You see, that's why I didn't want you to try to escape." Rob sniffled. "Why? Why didn't you listen to me? Why did you try to escape all by yourselves?"

"I'm sorry gramps." Jellal apologized, his body quivering. "It's all my fault. When Shô told us about the hidden vent he had found, we thought that we could be free once again. But…-"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Jellal looked at the brown haired boy who was struggling to control his anger. "I thought that you had lost hope trying to escape, that's why you worked so hard to finish the tower." He shook his head as his eyes moistened. "I'm sorry. I am really sorry Ben. I didn't trust you."

"I said that I would free everyone, then why? Why couldn't you all wait for another day?" Ben's body trembled in rage as he resisted the urge to vent his anger on these kids. Deep inside his heart, he knew why they didn't tell him. It was his fault that they didn't trust him and he had no right to blame them.

"I'm sorry." Jellal balled his fists. "I…We wanted to be free and not bound by these chains…Please forgive me."

The other children were not faring as well as they slowly became overwhelmed by their emotions. They all charged Rob and hugged him as he wrapped his arms around all of them tightly.

Ben shook his head and clenched his teeth. His eyes turned murderous as the image of the redheaded girl flashed in front of his eyes. This was it. He wasn't going to wait any longer. It was his fault…again. He refused to give up this time. He tapped the Omnitrix dial, causing it to blink.

"*Negative!*Cannot recognize user!*Please prove alternate identification!*"

Rob's neck snapped around to watch as Ben muttered a few words almost inaudibly before the Omnitrix blinked rapidly and the mechanical voice once again filled the cell.

"*Identity confirmed!*"The Omnitrix beeped as the mechanical voice spoke. "*All functions accessible except master control!*"

"Ben…-?"

Said brunette didn't say anything. His brown hair hid his eyes as he tapped the face-plate which caused a semi-holographic screen to appear before he tapped it again, the face-plate sliding open to reveal the hourglass core that popped up.

"It's time they pay for what they've done, gramps. Nothing you say or do will hold me back." Ben's eyes turned murderous as he looked into the eyes of the old man. "I have suffered a lot in my life. I failed to protect those whom I cared for most. I won't let that happen again." He slammed his hand down on the core, causing an emerald light to blind everyone.

When the light died down, everyone stared at where Ben had been standing and their eyes widened comically. Standing in place of the brunette was a red mollusk-like being. His face sported four slitted green eyes while small grey spikes protruded from behind his legs and top of his arms, black spots being visible on his shoulder and legs. On his hands, there were circular openings similar to on his chest and upper arms. He had four fingers with claws on each of his two arms and on each one of his feet, there as a grey spike. His lower half was also grey with two spikes protruding on the side. The hourglass-like Omnitrix symbol stood proudly on his chest.

"Water Hazard!"

OMNITRIX DNA DATABASE/ENCYCLOPEDIA!

Water Hazard is an Orishan from an unknown planet in the Andromeda Galaxy. He has a red cape type "shell" that covers his head. He has the ability to blast water from his hands. His armor protects him from damage in most cases as well as from radiation. He has enhanced strength and can also absorb moisture from the air too. He can use this water for various purposes. However, he seems to be vulnerable to energy attacks.

Several loud gasps filled the cell as everybody was dumbfounded at the unimaginable sight; although, even that would be an understatement to express their current condition. A strange red creature covered in armor plates had appeared and his emerald eyes showed nothing but fury and hatred directed at those cultists. It was definitely something to be afraid of.

The kids all stared at the Orishan in awe. It was the first time they'd seen such magic where the user transformed into a monster even though they had heard of Transformation and Take-Over magic from Rob. Even the old man stared at the creature in front of him in utter shock. For some reason, he couldn't sense any magical energy being released upon the transformation which utterly confused him. The only explanation he could come up with was the limiter that prevented the magical release or the kid had incredible control over his power to hide his magical signature so well. Was this the true power hidden within Ben?

Water Hazard dashed for the bars and mustering a part of his true strength, pulled on them and broke the door off its hinges. He slightly tilted his body to look at the old man. "I'm going to save Erza and I promise that I will save everyone too. I will not fail…again."

The conviction in Ben's voice was intoxicating and didn't leave any place for argument and Rob knew it too well so he nodded his head. "Please come back safe. I don't want to see any of my children hurt."

Water Hazard nodded before turning to face Rook. "Take care of others until I return. I would have returned your Proto-Tool but it will consume my energy if I use it now. Though, I will also pick your Proto-Tech-Armor on my way back."

The Orishan didn't wait for a reply from Rook and turning around, he strode off in search of a certain redhead being held captive, while mentally praying that she would be safe.

Back in the cell, the kids were still awestruck at the transformation. The old man had his own thoughts concerning Ben and his power while he was also worried for Erza. He didn't know how to measure the power level of the brunette since he hadn't sensed any magic and yet that Take-Over seemed so strong, unlike anything he had ever seen. He just hoped that a miracle happened and Ben easily found Erza before he lost her forever; because that was all he could do anymore. Hope for the better.

Unfortunately they all failed to notice Jellal sneaking off silently without telling anyone while picking up a pickaxe on the way, determined to protect his friend who was captured because of him. He was still stunned that the brunette could actually use magic and he wasn't bluffing. If only he had believed in Ben, all of this could have been averted. But he didn't and deep inside his heart, he knew why. He knew he was jealous of Ben as he always seemed been better than him. No! It wasn't all about jealousy, it was about proving that he could save his friends.

Metallic crunching and several explosions echoed throughout the tower along with the cries of cult members lunging at the Orishan with their respective weapons leveled at him. The other slaves watched in astonishment as the strange creature dealt with their tormentors singlehandedly while interrogating them about some girl. A hope of freedom rose in their hearts as they watched Water Hazard punish anyone who stood his path.

Water Hazard lashed out with an uppercut that caught a dark mage right in the chin, snapping his head backward and sending him tumbling across the dark hall which was only illuminated by burning torches. He ducked beneath a blast of electricity before swiping his right leg and kicking away another enemy square in his abdomen, causing a snapping sound to echo throughout the corridor as another cult member crashed into the wall. He dodged several volleys of darkness beams and spheres before he kicked off the ground and appeared in front of another two cultists with his both arms reared back before two cultist bodies were sent rocketing backward. Turning around, his emerald eyes fell upon the last of the men who watched the monster take down his allies without a hitch.

"Where's Erza?" Water Hazard demanded, his eyes narrowing as the fifth cult members who was trembling in his boots.

"I d-don't know who y-you are t-talking about." The man replied, fear swelling within him as he stared into the eyes of the monster approaching him. He felt his body stiffen in fear.

The Orishan grabbed the man and slapped away the staff from his grasp before decking him to the ground with a loud thud. "Don't test my patience! Where is the girl with red-hair you bastard?"

The robed man grunted in pain from the collision as he recalled the girl who had been taken to the disciplinary cell. "That girl, she…she was taken to the disciplinary cell down…in the lowest level. I beg you; please…let me go…I beg you."

"You are begging for mercy!?" Water Hazard's eyes narrowed further in absolute rage which caused the man to pale in fear. "And, you think I will show you damn people mercy! How can you expect that when you showed us no mercy and forced us into slavery?" He proved his point by punching the man square in the face, slamming him into the ground so hard that a crack formed.

Standing up, Water Hazard turned around to find more of those annoying cult members and their pet dogs racing toward him with their medieval weapons pointed toward him. "Oh, you're all gonna so regret this!" He muttered, raising both his arms with his palms facing outward while a grey visor slid down to shield his face.

Pressurized spiraling water twisters blasted out of the portholes on his hands and shot toward the enemies at an astounding speed; consuming and overwhelming them all at once while neutralizing their respective magical attacks. The blunt force of the water attack was enough to send them rocketing backward and crashing into and through the far wall.

The head cultist continued to swing his whip; rocking Erza's body back and forth and creating bloody wounds in the girl's skin, causing the girl to scream in pain. He continued on with his brutal and excruciating torture until he felt his arms get tired again, prompting him to lower his arm. He took a deep breath and looked at his handiwork.

Her body was tied to the pillar in the center of the chamber with her hands tied over her head. Her arms were covered in lacerations and cuts. Blood and scratches covered her whole frame while more blood dripped on the floor beneath her into a small hole placed there for that very reason. She was barely conscious after the pain she had endured and yet, they were not done. She wondered if this was going to be the end of her. She remembered how they had brutally executed those slaves who had tried to escape three years ago. It was horrific and now, she was suffering the same treatment. But, she was happy. None of her friends had ended up here. They were all safe.

"You know, you caused quite a lot of trouble lately little girl." The head cultist lifted Erza's head and looked into her eyes; his eyes show nothing but smugness and sick joy in them. "What should I do with you now? Should I execute you in public like the others in order to emphasize my point that escaping is futile?"

Erza simply glared at the man in front of her as his disgusting hand held her chin. "You're a monster." She spat out weakly.

"Oh my, you still have enough life within you to call me that?" The man grinned maliciously. "But unfortunately, that means nothing now." He tilted his head. "Tell me, we provided you with shelter and food and a reason to live. Why did you try to escape?"

"Because th-that wasn't the f-freedom." Erza replied. "Even if you kill me; my friends will not break and they will escape!"

"Who said that I'm going to kill you?" The man let out an evil chuckle that sent a shiver down her spine. "No! Killing you definitely wouldn't help, would it?" A gruesome and sinister smirk grew on his face as a dark aura surrounded him. "As you said, it won't break your friends but I would rather leave a mark that will keep reminding you and everyone that is no escape from this glorious work of art we are creating. I will definitely break you just like I broke that new boy last year."

"Who?"

The man stared at her in a confused manner. "What are you talking about little girl?"

"Who are you talking about?"

"Oh, that boy, I believe his name was Ben. You're his cellmate, right? He was definitely powerful back then when he was captured. He could have been quite a fearsome mage in the future but alas, that future died with him becoming a slave." The head cultist said but the slight reflection of fear in his eyes didn't go unnoticed. "But that doesn't matter. Just like I broke him, I will break you too."

Erza stared in absolute horror as the man leered at the tools lying beside him and picked up a sheathed knife. He slowly pulled out the blade, causing the reflection of the metal to fall on Erza's right eye. The hallway became deathly quiet until the sound of a bloodcurdling scream that made the two guards outside nearly lose control of their bowels echoed throughout the tower.

"Erza!?"

Water Hazard spun around in the direction of the scream coming from nearby. He knew that was Erza's voice. That sound; it was so painful that a chill shook his form. His mind couldn't even imagine what might have happened to her. What was she enduring that caused her to scream like that? His blood boiled as he followed the sound at a full sprint. Images of what had happened to his loved ones flashed before his eyes before they were replaced by the smiling face of Erza.

'Hold on Erza! I'm coming.' Water Hazard thought as a door appeared at the far end of the corridor with two robed men guarding it. He somehow found the energy to run faster and crashed into the men before they could overcome the shock of his appearance. Water Hazard used their bodies as an impromptu battering ram as they hit the door breaking it off its hinges, the Orishan ignoring the silent forms of the guards as they were flung aside.

Water Hazard looked around the room to find the walls stained with blood, cuffs and chains were hanging off them and the ceiling while various bloodstained tools were scattered around. He was disgusted to say the least before his eyes fell upon the middle-aged man from a year ago, the possible leader of these cultists who was holding a knife dripping crimson. Then, his eyes shifted to the redhead hanging limply from the chains and blood dripping off her body. His mind blanked for a moment. They had dared to hurt his friend and he wasn't going to tolerate it anymore. His eyes flashed with unfathomable rage and it was all directed at the head cultist who stood in front of him.

"What the hell are you?!" The head cultist cried out. Never once had he seen a creature so ferocious, particularly one that was standing in front of him right now. The uncontrolled fury in its eyes sent a tremor throughout his body.

Water Hazard didn't speak. He simply stared at the cultist in hatred. She didn't trust him because he never gave her a reason, in the end it was his fault! His fault, huh? Once more his mistake had caused someone else so much trouble and grief. "You are despicable. You remind me of someone I had grown to hate so much that I was willing to kill him a million times over in the most painful ways possible. But, how unfortunate you are! I believe that I will vent that anger upon you after what you've done to her."

The man quivered upon hearing the cold tone and words of the creature. So much hatred and rage directed at him. Suddenly, he let out a twisted chuckle before breaking into hysterical laughter. "Do you really believe it would be so easy to-?" His words died in his throat as a fist filled his vision.

The moment the force of the attack registered, a scream rang out and his body rocketed backward. It crashed into the wall behind him, causing the wall to topple over onto his body.

Water Hazard let out a deep breath; one he didn't know he was holding in as he stood with his legs slightly bent and his right arm stretched out. He was disgusted. The so-called leader of these cultists, the one who had complete control over everyone here, had gone down in one punch and this form wasn't even his heaviest hitter? It was pathetic to say the least. He panted slightly before he was consumed by a bright emerald flash and Ben stood there in his human form, still glaring at the pile of debris that had the head cultist buried. "I cannot tolerate people like you. You hurt others because you have the power to order them around but actually, you are the weak one. Going down in just one strike? Pathetic scum!" He spun around to face Erza. Ben picked up the key dropped by the cultist as he was punched and used it to unlock Erza's shackles, causing her limp body to fall forward. Ben caught her and slowly lowered her to the floor.

He slowly reached down and moved the red hair from her face and his eyes widened in utter horror and his breath stopped. His body trembled in fear and rage as he stared at the empty socket where Erza's right eye used to be and for the first time ever, he actually screamed...screamed in anguish

"They…They have gone too far this time." He mumbled, holding back his tears as his emerald eyes scanned Erza's injuries. He didn't know if she was going to survive such trauma. He had to do something. His eyes darted to the Omnitrix and hope rose in his emerald eyes. He still had a choice left.

"Where am I? What is this place?"

Erza found herself within a dark void. It was all she could see. Peering deep into that never-ending darkness, she wondered why she couldn't feel anything. She panicked.

"Gramps, where are you?...Ben?!...Anyone…?"

The response was utter silence and darkness.

"Can anyone hear me? Please help me. I'm cold. Please."

Erza fell forward and onto her knees but the darkness didn't fade. Her left eye moistened and tears flowed. She tried to remember what had happened. She and the others had tried to escape but…they were caught and she was taken. She recalled the head cultist hitting her with his whip and her screams went unheeded. They only entertained that cold hearted monster. Then, she remembered that sick man unsheathing his knife. Her right hand unconsciously shot to her face and she felt for her right eye only to find an empty socket. She screamed and broke down into anguished sobs.

"So, I'm dead, huh? Finally free from that hell. This isn't what I wanted. I wanted to join Fairy Tail along with Ben and Rook. Ben? Would he be worried for me? Definitely. He always worried about his friends. Friends, huh? And, yet I didn't trust his word and tried to escape when he promised that he would break us free."

She recalled what that bastard had said about Ben. He had broken him, he had said. Was that the truth? Had Jellal been right? She didn't want to believe it and yet she tried to escape despite the warning from gramps. She was foolish to think that their plan would work

Then, she heard a scream.

"Ben?"

She looked around but nothing was visible within the darkness. Was her mind playing tricks on her? How could Ben be here? Her thoughts were interrupted when a bright emerald light began to radiate off her body and spread around her, illuminating the once dark space she was in.

"What's happening to me?"

Erza stirred a little and unconsciously stretched her body, feeling the rough stone floor beneath her. Her eyes cracked open before snapping shut due to the light from the wall torches. She slowly opened her eyelids again and her sight fell upon a very strange creature overshadowing her.

"Is this a dream?"

She wiped the drowsiness out of her eyes and finally once again looked up. This time the sight was recognizable and she found herself in the same torture room with that strange creature still standing before her. It was stout, made of metal with the color of copper, with a winding key on its head. There were black stripes and a transparent piece of green glass in the shape of a hexagon on its chest, revealing gears inside of him. On its back, it had a black stripe that split into two stripes with a keyhole between them and a strange hourglass symbol, otherwise known as Omnitrix symbol was located on its chest.

OMNITRIX DNA DATABASE/ENCYCLOPEDIA!

Clockwork is a Chronosapien. He is a mechanical robot-like alien probably made of copper-colored metal, with a sort of concave circle that shows his gears inside; and the appearance is similar to a Mayan golem, but has a German accent. By using a green ray, he can fire a powerful blast; and can also project past events by spinning his protrusion on his head, probably like a hologram projector; however, as he is made of copper, he isn't so durable, being easy target to energy or close range strikes. He can also slow down time for everyone except himself as well as use his powers to restore targets to their former state if damaged or destroyed.

Erza gasped and hurriedly backed away as fear overwhelmed her until she was intercepted by a pillar. Noting that creature had yet to make a move, she slowly wobbled to her feet. "W-what are you?"

"There's no need to be afraid of me, Erza. I'm Clockwork but…"The being was consumed within a bright emerald flash which forced the young girl to shield her eyes. "…actually I'm your friend, Ben."

Erza gaped in utter shock and astonishment. "Ben?" She wondered aloud and looked at the brown haired and emerald eyed boy standing in front of her while flashing his trademark toothy grin. It was at that moment she realized that she wasn't feeling any pain like she should be after her ordeal. She looked down and a gasp left her throat when she found herself completely healed. Even her clothes weren't torn anymore. Her right hand unconsciously shot upward and she felt her right eye, her head immediately shifting toward the Omnitrix wielder.

"Did you…-?

"I told you that I can use magic and that was my Take-Over magic. I used it to heal you." Ben shrugged nonchalantly. "You should have trusted me then and not try to escape with the others. You could have died…."

Erza smiled softly. "I knew you wouldn't lie to me or anyone else. But, when Shô told us about that hidden passage, we couldn't resist the urge to escape anymore. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you anything even though you had the right to know" Her eyes shined bright as tears formed. "Thank you for saving me." She started to shake as her voice seemed to break and lose strength.

"It's okay. I understand why you didn't trust-" Ben was interrupted as Erza embraced him in a tight hug, causing him to look at the girl in surprise.

"I trust you."Erza sobbed silently.

Ben felt his heart break and couldn't think of anything else to say. "I know you do." He muttered softly and almost inaudibly but it was still enough to bring a small yet soft smile to her face. "Now, let's get back to gramps. He was also worried and I almost forgot, I also have to grab Rook's Proto-Tech Armor on our way."

Erza lifted her head and looked at him with watery eyes and nodded her head. "What are we going to do next then?"

"Take back what rightfully belongs to us. Fight and take back our freedom and then, join Fairy Tail."

Jellal screamed as the bolt of electricity struck him. His clothes were torn, his body bruised, and his wounds bled, but he still had to lose the determination within his eyes despite the pain. He would have even fought if it wasn't for him being tied to a pillar.

Earlier, he had gone in the other direction Ben took, hoping to cover the other side of the tower and find Erza. To distract the cultists, he even unlocked several cell doors which led to a revolt. But unfortunately unlike Ben, he didn't have access to magic and without that he had been intercepted by the cult members. Despite his small stature and lack of practical fighting skills, three cultists died from blows to the head before Jellal had been brought down.

"How dare you attack your superiors, brat? We are the worshippers of Zeref, and we will do anything to resurrect him. And, you will help us build this tower for that purpose. Do you realize how lucky you are to aid in such a noble goal? Once our God is resurrected with the help of the R-System, he will lead us into paradise."

Jellal looked at the cultist who has spoken, smoke wafting off his body due to being electrocuted. "Shut up you fat pig! What kind of God dies?" He asked despite the pain he was in. He wouldn't let them break him and his will.

"What did you say!?"

"Forget it! We're wasting time with him. Let's deal with those other slaves." Another cult member said, smirking casually. "The ship could arrive anytime and we have to restore order before those ships arrive. They're already ahead of schedule. We will deal with the boy later on." He led the other cult members out of the cell. The cell doors closed leaving the limp body of the blue haired boy alone in the room.

"A God, huh? I don't believe there's any such thing as God. If there was then we wouldn't have to suffer like this. What kind of God would allow such misery and pain? I don't need a God that can't even save a child." Jellal snarled as for the first time he could feel his hope die. He'd failed his friend, Erza, and everyone else. "I hate it. I hate them all. Those guys, their fake God, I hate this entire world and everything in it."

"~Hate strengthens me!~"

Jellal felt a sense of fear and dread seep into him. His neck snapped in every direction, trying to find the voice. He felt a cold wind blow and gather around him.

"~Those arrogant fools! I have been here the whole time! So close to them! Always watching them! And, yet they think to revive me! To resurrect me! They want me to take a bodily form! Just to make me flesh and bone! No matter how much faith you have, it's futile! Without a powerful hatred, you cannot feel my presence! No one can! Hate makes me stronger! Hate is what strengthens me!~"

"Who-who's there?! Where are you?!" Jellal screamed frantically as he started to struggle, trying to fray the rope. "Come out!"

"~Jellal, you must know that you're a very lucky kid! You have the chance to meet the God worshipped and feared by so many!~"

Jellal's eyes widened and his body froze as a cold wind started to pick up around him, forming a barrier of air before a dark purplish and red energy emerged from the floor outside the maelstrom. It changed shape and formed a grotesque skull that floated through the violent winds to stare at Jellal face to face.

"~My name is Zeref!~"A blood red eye snapped open within the apparition. "~And, hatred is the reason for my very existence!~"

Ben and Erza ran down the corridor toward their cell; the former carrying the Proto-Tech-Armor he had retrieved from the head cultist's quarters after he had rescued Erza. It had been fairly easy to find due to its placement as a trophy on the wall.

Rumors of the sudden appearance of a red monster in the tower that brutally defeated every cultist in its path had spread like wildfire throughout the tower. The disarray and chaos propagated by the monster's rampage, combined with Jellal's ill-fated assault, provided the remaining prisoners with the opportunity to escape which was promptly seized.

Ben knew that the slaves would suffer many casualties in the current situation. They lacked proper weaponry, most wielding random tools scavenged from the work areas. Those capable of magic were few and far between, assuming that they could even remove the shackles holding back their powers in the first place. The main advantage they possessed was their superior numbers. The slavers all had weapons of both practicality and magic, attack beasts, and were in better condition thanks to full rations and adequate rest. He just hoped that they got to their friends before any harm came to them.

Abruptly their path was blocked by the sudden appearance of a silver haired man holding a strange staff topped with a human skull. He was accompanied two other men who wore black hoods over purple shirts and dark baggy pants, their outfits completed by white masks with a red colored yet weird symbol imprinted upon them.

"What do we have here?" Brain chuckled, as he stared at the kids. He hadn't expected to run into any slaves since they seemed to be busy fighting off the cult members but here stood two kids in front of him which was…amusing to him.

Ben noticed the silvered haired man and his bodyguards' attire and he struggled to figure out who they were aligned with. Their attire didn't match that of the cult members he had encountered so far, so it was possible that they were not affiliated with these cultists but then again, their mere presence here was suspicious enough. He could already feel that the silver haired man was a powerful mage no less while the other two seemed to be ordinary grunts.

He spun around to see that Erza was staring at the new arrivals. She was afraid. Who wouldn't be in a situation like this? He placed a hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner as she looked at him. "I am not sure who they are or what their purpose is but I want you to go ahead while I deal with them. Rook's gonna need that armor so make sure you give it to him. It will give us major boost in aiding the revolt. You don't have to worry about me, just go on ahead."

Erza seemed to be hesitant about leaving the brunette alone but she was also worried about her other friends and the old man too. She also needed to deliver the armor to Rook. She knew that Ben was strong but for some reason, she couldn't shake off the fear gripping her heart. She nodded reluctantly. "Come back safe." She muttered softly as she dashed away.

None of the new arrivals made a move to chase her and that confused the brunette further. What were they after? What was their purpose? They definitely weren't anyone that Ben would consider a friend. His instincts screamed at him that they were dangerous, at least their leader was. "Who are you? Are you…Hades?"

"I'm quite surprised that a little runt like you would know about Hades." Brain let out an amused chuckle. "But, I'm afraid I'm not Hades." He gained a sadistic smile. "I'm Brain, the Guild Master of Oración Seis."

Brain, huh? Was this Oración Seis a dark guild? Ben slowly reached for his Omnitrix. He didn't like the tone used by the man in any way whatsoever. Brain's voice was full of confidence and authority and it sent a creepy chill down Ben's spine. "You don't seem friendly. Tell me, what's your business here then if you are not Hades?"

Brain cocked an eyebrow, his demeanor showing how impressed he was at the boy's quick thinking. Not only was this kid aware of Hades but he was actually smart enough to deduce that much about him. "Why do you think I have some business here, boy?"

"Oh, I just happen to see things a little differently. Obviously you wouldn't have come here to become a hero by saving the slaves with that creepy smile crowning your face." Ben replied rhetorically, his eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you want in this tower?"

'I analyzed the info on every slave in this tower but nobody this smart stood out. No! There were two. Jellal Fernandez and…' Brain let out a twisted chuckle. "So you're Ben Tennyson."

Ben froze. How did he know his name? Did that mean Rob had been telling the truth about Hades monitoring him? This guy must be affiliated with Hades.

"What are you waiting for, maggot? Are you afraid or are you buying some time for your friend to escape us? Boy, you should know that you have no chance against me, though you have nothing to worry about in regards to us attacking that girl."

Ben's eyes widened in shock before he quickly shook his head. This man was really creeping him out and he knew his name as well. "You're right! I was actually buying time but I'm not worried for her. I know…No! I believe that she will be alright." He sported a massive grin on his face in spite of the situation. "And, you may be right about me not standing a chance against you but…"

Brain narrowed his eyes. Something was wrong! Abruptly his sight was blinded by a bright emerald flash. The light died down to reveal a red skinned, twelve-foot-tall humanoid alien with well-developed muscles, and two pairs of four-fingered arms. A black stripe ran down his chin to his lower lip, and he sported four sharp green eyes: a main pair, and a smaller pair below them. His attire included a green tank top-like shirt with one large black stripe running down the middle, black pants and also a belt, where a strange hourglass symbol was located. He had also adorned black fingerless gloves with a green stripe on the wrist.

"…Four Arms has something else to say on the matter."

OMNITRIX DNA DATABASE/ENCYCLOPEDIA!

Four Arms is a Tetramand from the desert planet Khoros, the place epitomizes a dystopia, resulting in the strength-oriented species. Tetramands are 12 foot tall powerhouses with armored skin and extremely dense musculature, making them unmatched in pure physical strength with the females stronger than the males. However, the muscle mass and heavy skin makes Tetramands relatively slow and unable to handle objects normally used by smaller life forms. Four Arms' strength is powerful enough to create shockwaves simply by pounding the ground or clapping all four of his hands together and his leg strength allows him to cross entire city blocks in a single jump. When under the effects of an illness, his strength and stamina are somewhat lessened and he develops pungent hives in his armpits.

"A Take-Over mage of a type unlike anything I have ever seen, making you proficient in two different types of magic." Brain mumbled loud enough for others to pick his words. "You definitely aren't any ordinary kid, are you boy?

"I don't feel like answering that, not that it matters."Four Arms cracked his knuckles and his grin broadened. "So, how about you; what exactly are you after, Brain?"

"I will tell you, Take-Over mage." Brain let out a deep chuckle. "You see, my guild only consists of one member so far and that includes me. You probably know that a guild doesn't work like that. Therefore I am seeking some potential recruits to join my guild, and I found some that are present in the tower at this very moment."

"Nope, make that two since I'm also a member Master Brain. Then again I'm a stick so you can't count me." The skull on the staff laughed at his joke much to the surprise of the Tetramand.

Four Arms' eyes twitched as he stared at the talking staff. Damn, this world was officially full of weirdoes. Regaining his composure and ignoring the fact that a skull had actually talked, he shifted his glare to the silver haired mage. "You mean to tell me that you are going to use some kids to accomplish whatever twisted goals you have in mind."

"That's right!" Brain grinned. "I will train them into powerful wizards for my guild. Can you imagine how powerful Oración Seis would be? I will achieve the dream I have followed until now. I will revive the greatest creature of the ancients and rule this land. I will obliterate the law, the Magic Council, and all the legal guilds as well and make Ishgar my center of power. I dream that I will achieve this someday."

Four Arms trembled in rage as he heard the blasphemy from the silver haired mage. His dream was to obliterate justice and light, to spread darkness and above that, he was willing to use innocent kids to achieve that purpose? He balled his fists. "Everyone…" Brain looked at the Tetramand. "…Everyone held captive here has only one dream…to experience freedom someday…" He growled. "…and, today when they have that chance, you're willing to rob them of that opportunity as well…and what for, a pathetic dream of yours?"

"Freedom is a just a fleeting dream for them." Brain spoke without any hesitation. "They will simply serve as tools for my purpose, the dream of mine to become God someday…to surpass everyone and rule the land."

"You wouldn't dare!" Four Arms seethed in pure rage as he shouted. "I will kill you before you can even lay a finger on anyone in this tower, you bastard!"

Despite the surprising amount of killing intent, Brain howled with laughter at the threat, the hysterical laughter only lasting for a few seconds when his ears picked up movement and stomping. "Huh?" His eyes widened as he noticed the Tetramand closing on him with his left upper fist reared back.

"Shut up!"

Brain didn't even have time to react as a powerful force impacted his body, sending him tumbling across the hall and through several walls like a rag doll before he came to a stop in another room. However, even with the decent impact and crashing through several walls, Brain was practically unharmed save for his clothes that were covered in dust and pieces of rubble. He groaned as he used Klodoa to hoist himself back to his feet and noticed his condition; he looked down further at his exposed chest where he found a bruise forming in the shape of a large fist.

Brain's eyes zeroed in the Tetramand walking toward him in a predatory manner while carrying his two dead subordinates by their crushed throats; his other two fists balled so tightly that nerve outlines protruded on his arms as he glared at the dark guild master. "You've got quite a lot of physical strength there." He let out a twisted chuckle. "I must say, I am impressed."

"By the end of the day, you will definitely learn how much strength I possess."Four Arms growled, flinging away the dead bodies and cracking his knuckles. Even though his voice was full of confidence, he was frankly surprised to see that the man was unharmed after taking that strike dead-on from one of his best physical fighters but he didn't let that faze him in the least despite how bewildering it was.

"Show me what else you've got." Brain proclaimed smugly. "I want to learn more about this weird creature you have, you Take-Over maggot."

"Gladly you bastard!" Stamping his right foot down behind him, Four Arms kicked off towards the dark mage at an astounding speed for someone of his size and stature. But, Brain quickly sidestepped the punch meant to bash his head in before he raised Klodoa to intercept the other backhanded swing.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Klodoa yelped as the powerful blow impacted but it didn't break as expected by the Tetramand. However, Brain skidded backward from the force of the strike and created a gap between the two combatants.

Four Arms lunged towards his opponent with all four fists cocked back. He aimed a punch at Brain's face but his opponent easily avoided it. Four Arms didn't hold back himself from throwing three more punches but Brain dodged the strikes with ease and went for a palm strike to the chest.

Four Arms' battle instincts kicked in and he twisted his body harshly so that he rotated out of the way and tried to land another backhand. The attack struck home and Brain was knocked off-balance. The Tetramand used this to his advantage and stepped forward to deliver a powerful uppercut to his chin. Brain leaned backwards and avoided the strike before he attempted a straight punch to the Tetramand's sternum. However, Four Arms saw it coming and caught the fist before using his other hand to block the staff from impaling him.

"Gotcha!" The Tetramand then proceeded to kick Brain in the chest. The latter's eyes widened as he felt the full force of the kick as it dug into his frame. He coughed up spittle and a bit of blood before he was blasted away through the air and eventually through several walls.

The Tetramand strode forward after the silver haired mage only for a weird energy ball to push him back and stagger him. His emerald eyes zeroed in on Brain who stood with his left arm stretched forward.

"Oh, you certainly were telling the truth about your strength." Brain smiled, wiping the blood from his face. "I am really fascinated, you know. Such brute strength and it wasn't even enhanced by your magic, was it?"

Four Arms' eyes burned with rage as he again lashed out with his right uppermost fist. However, his blow missed completely much to his surprise. He had almost hit his opponent when he vanished. He felt movement behind him and his head snapped around, but he was too slow as Brain was standing right behind him with his staff at the ready and a sickening smirk etched on his face. Four Arms' eyes widened.

"-Dark Capriccio!-"

Four Arms took the beam of spiraling black and green darkness magical energy dead on which smashed him through a concrete wall and into the hallway. Smoke wafted off his back to reveal a large burn mark.

"I expected a better fight from you, but I guess that's all you're capable of." Brain chuckled. "It was waste of time on my part."

"His strike still hurts like hell. Even though I am just a stick, I can feel my body aching all over." Klodoa laughed until it died down in his invisible throat when they noticed that the Tetramand was walking toward them even though he was limping slightly. But that wasn't what intrigued them. It was the amount of killing intent and bloodlust in the strange being's emerald eyes and he was supposed to be only eleven years old.

'It's certainly possible that he might become a powerful mage in the future if he ever escapes from this pit of hell.' Brain wondered inwardly. 'I can already feel the magnitude of his power even though he's just a young boy. My other self would definitely love to test him when he becomes more powerful.'

Four Arms growled mentally as he glared at the man in front of him. For the first time since his arrival in this universe, he could actually say that there were mages who actually possessed power in terms of magic. He had only heard rumors of powerful mages but this was the first time he got the chance to fight one. Up until now he'd fought nothing but weaklings, even those mages from before being pushovers. Even with his enhanced sturdiness, he felt pain from Brain's attacks. It must be because with age, his transformation's endurance had also been compromised. Then again, he should still not be feeling this much pain.

What was that attack? Dark Capriccio? So much power packed within that attack and he wasn't Hades. Did that mean that more powerful mages had joined Hades? No! He had mentioned that he was looking for kids with potential for his guild. Another dark guild aligned with Grimoire Heart?

"Dark Capriccio is a piercing magic and it can break through any defense and yet, you are standing. You definitely aren't any ordinary mage, are you? I wonder what else you are capable of." Brain smiled mirthfully while his own bloodlust was evident in his eyes. "It's been a while since I had this much enjoyment."

"Did you really expect that one attack would be enough to put me down?" Four Arms scoffed. "It takes more than that to beat me."

"Oh, it's seems you still have some hope." Brain let out a chuckle as he swung his staff. "Then, come and we will have some more fun and then, I will crush that hope myself." He said while slamming Klodoa into the ground.

"-Dark Capriccio!-"

Four Arms knew the attack was coming but didn't expect the energy to emerge from the ground in front of him. With not a moment to spare, the Tetramand raised all four of his arms in front of him in a protective manner while bracing himself. The blunt force of the attack sent him skidding backward, creating a trench in the ground. More burn marks were visible on his now smoking red arms as he stood his ground while glaring at the silver haired mage.

"Fascinating!" Brain chuckled. "You actually blocked it even though you didn't know from where the attack was coming." A mad grin formed on his face. "That's quite a battle instinct you got there as well."

Four Arms lowered his arms without even acknowledging his injuries. The opponent he was facing had his full attention. A strong opponent! "Wanna see some more tricks?" He snarled, rearing back his arms before he brought his palms together and clapped in front of him which caused a massive shockwave.

The sphere in Klodoa's jaws glowed brightly with magical energy before it expanded outwards in the form of a defensive dome around Brain as he protected himself against the shockwave. The attack was powerful enough to break through several supporting pillars in the hallway while a booming sound echoed throughout the tower. The storm finally subsided to reveal that Brain was completely unharmed while the energy dome around him swirled, condensing into a tight sphere of darkness while he kept Klodoa pointed at the Tetramand.

"You are really full of surprises. But I'm afraid that I can't play with you anymore." Brain laughed. "I have business here and I have to achieve it without delay or those kids might escape the tower or get hurt in the rebellion. The ship has already arrived and I don't want to go chasing them all over Earthland."

"The ship has arrived?"

"Oh, you didn't know, did you?" Brain chuckled. "However, before I end this battle, I want to know something." Four Arms only cocked an eyebrow in response to his question. "As you heard, I am recruiting powerful wizards for my guild and I handpicked five kids that I came here for. Would you be interested in joining my guild and serving our purpose as well? Oración Seis can definitely use someone of your talent and skill, boy."

Four Arms had rage shining in all four of his green eyes, his lips curled into a ferocious snarl. "As if…" He strode straight for Brain. "…I would."

Brain prepared to fire his spell but he was forced to side-step to dodge the fist that created a respectable crater in the place he had been standing in a moment ago. However, before he could attack, he was again forced to twist his upper body out of the way of a punch that missed him by a hair's width. "In that case, you leave me no choice. You would have been a worthy asset but anyway, it ends here." He twirled Klodoa around to build up some momentum while horror-stricken ghostly faces of darkness materialized in the air around him before he swiped the staff upwards at the Tetramand. Four Arms stepped back to avoid the strike and Brain seized the opportunity to point Klodoa at him.

"-Dark Ronda!-"

A massive yet condensed spiraling orb green-black darkness shot forth at an astounding speed, not providing any opportunity for the Tetramand to react. All Four Arms managed to do was raise his arms in a feeble attempt to block the attack before he was sent skidding back under the sheer force of the spell upon collision. He dug his feet deep into the stone floor as he struggled against the darkness sphere before he was consumed in a massive explosion that punched his burned body through several walls and eventually into an open construction site.

"You did well boy." Brain spoke to no one in particular, his eyes focused on the massive hole in the concrete wall with a dust cloud blocking his vision beyond that. "But your luck ran out the moment you stood against me." He spun around in the opposite direction. "Now I should find what I came here for without any further delay."

Ben's small form lay still on the concrete floor, smoke wafting off his badly bruised body. The last attack had enough power to even outclass Dark Capriccio and he took the full force of the attack head on. The small heaving movement of his chest showed that he was still alive. Suddenly he let out a cough and jolted awake, letting out a painful grunt as the pain registered in his mind.

He cringed as he lifted himself up but for some reason he could feel warmth all around him that seemed to have eased the pain. It was a very familiar feeling too, he knew that he had felt it somewhere before. He decided to ignore it as he rubbed his sore head and noticed that there was no sign of the silver haired mage anywhere. He tried to think about how long he had been out but he gave up. He proceeded to stretch as his body ached all over. Ben shuddered to think of how bad it would have been if he'd been human at the time of impact.

He looked around and was surprised to find himself in the construction site; there was certainly a lot of energy packed into that darkness spell. That man, Brian, had outclassed him so easily. Such strength and magical power, a major step above anyone he'd fought since his arrival in this world. Brain even shrugged off his strikes as annoying, though he was satisfied that he had managed to inflict some damage upon that monster.

Even though he had only used one of his transformations he doubted that he could use any of them to their fullest potential. His age had diminished his aliens' strength and power and not using his aliens for over a year had dulled his movements somewhat; though he was grateful that he had trained himself when he had the chance. The effort he'd put into it wasn't futile after all.

Now that he didn't have to fight that bastard anymore, he decided to go looking for his friends. From the looks of things here, a battle must have happened not too long ago. Several bodies of cult members and slaves lying in pools of blood proved that. It disgusted him to find himself in the middle of such a barbaric scene but it was the least of his worries. He still had to look for Erza, Rook, and the others. Brain had mentioned the arrival of ships earlier so that meant everyone must be heading for the dock.

Ignoring the pain, he limped in the direction he recalled the dock was until the sound of footsteps reached his ears. He spun around as a long shadow consumed him, startling him before his eyes fell upon the tall figure standing in front of him and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Grandpa Rob? You just scared the shit outta me."

"Hello there, Ben." The old man was smiling softly as his eyes swelled up with tears. "I'm glad to see you are doing fine. I was really worried for you, you know."

"No worries, gramps." Ben smiled back. "I'm fine but what are you doing here? Where are the others?"

"They're all preparing to escape from the tower." Rob replied, not losing his smile. "The cult members have been defeated and everyone is leaving for the ships. Some of the ships have already left the dock as well."

Ben couldn't help but smile upon hearing that. Finally, for what he had spent a year of his life in the tower as slave for, he had accomplished his goal. Now everyone would be free. "Then, why are you here? Shouldn't you be with Erza and the others?"

Rob shook his head as his smile dropped. "We didn't notice earlier but Jellal also left to rescue Erza after you had departed but apparently he was captured by cultists. Erza and Rook left to rescue him. I'm really worried about them so I haven't left yet."

Ben's eyes widened in shock. "Jellal was captured…and why did you let Erza of all people go!? She might get seriously hurt!" He recalled the silver haired mage still roaming within the tower.

"There's no need to worry about her." Rob smiled assuringly. "She has unlocked her hidden potential and has access to her magical reserves." He let out a chuckle at the brunette's priceless expression. "I was also quite surprised when I saw her using magic for the first time."

"Then, she'll fine, I guess." Ben conceded.

"I wish it was so." Rob shook his head. "I think that Erza and Rook are in trouble." He patted the brunette on the shoulder to calm him down. "I want you to help them. I might have done it myself but I'm afraid the other slaves need help, not to mention that I couldn't help them even if I tried with all my might."

Ben's worry was replaced by determination. "Don't worry gramps, I will check on them." He spun around to leave before he was interrupted by the old man. He looked back at Rob.

"You know, Ben! I wanted to tell you something for some time now."

Ben cocked a curious eyebrow. "Is it important gramps? We can talk later after I rescue Jellal and ensure that he, Erza and Rook are safe."

Rob shook his head dejectedly. "It's important so please hear me out. From the day I met you, I had a strange nostalgic feeling that I knew of you from before or it was that particular magic you seem to unconsciously emit. Then, I didn't know why or how but I know now. I recall someone who resembled you very much both in magic and power."

Ben tilted his head to the side. "I reminded you of him? Can you tell me more about him, his name?"

"I'm afraid I can't tell you much. You will have to seek those answers on your own." Rob let out a sigh as his eyes bore into Ben's emerald eyes. "But what I wanted to tell you is that you were right that night. We struggle on every step of our lives for a better future. Problems will always arise but it is us who must fight for our freedom and protect it instead of giving up due to fear. Everything you said was true." He smiled softly, causing Ben to stare at him in confusion. "Let your heart lead you toward the future you choose. Life won't always be easy. It never was and it never will be. But, if you believe in yourself and your friends, then there is nothing that you cannot achieve."

"Why are you suddenly talking like this, gramps?"

Rob smiled sadly. "Legends speak of pure Ethernano as the most powerful form of magic because it grants us the power to feel and sense the magic living among us. It's the very foundation of magic itself. I don't know how but I can feel it radiating from you." He said which caused the brunette's eyes to widen. "You're special Ben! No one can use magic except for it wielders. Only ten percent of Earthland's population can use magic. And, from among them all, magic has chosen you. I don't know why but it was definitely for some important purpose." He let out an amused chuckle at the blank expression of the brown haired boy. "Now go ahead and save your friends, Ben. Forge the path and keep moving toward the future."

Ben wasn't sure how to respond and only nodded his head in affirmation before he turned around and began moving as quickly as possible into the depths of the tower to help his friends.

"Why are you doing this Jellal? We're friends." Erza asked through unimaginable pain as she struggled to push herself up from the ground.

"I told you Erza, true freedom is right here, in the tower…through Zeref." Jellal spoke, his mouth curling into a malicious grin while his right eye glowed blood red, an oblong ring encircled his left pupil as he held Rook by the throat in the air; the latter one in his Proto-Tech-Armor struggling to break free from the clutches of the blue haired boy.

They had come to help Jellal but they didn't know that things had changed so much in just a few hours. They had thought that they had saved Jellal, but apparently these cultists had done something to him or something bad had happened to him that caused him to be consumed by the darkness. Jellal had also gained access to his magical abilities that he used it to kill the cultists mercilessly who had dared to hurt him before once they reentered the cell. And, when she protested against that upon finding the bodies, he attacked her and Rook and hurt them as well, being prepared to kill them if necessary.

Now, these cultists weren't blocking her path to the freedom she sought, instead it was one of her closest friends, Jellal!

Rook struggled to break free from the surprisingly strong grasp of the blue haired boy. He hadn't expected to fight against his own friend but now that the situation demanded it, he wasn't left with much choice. He had to make sure that everyone remained safe until Ben returned. Though, it would be quite a challenge for him without his Proto-Tool but then again, he still had many tricks hidden and he doubted that any other time would be more suitable than now to use them.

Twisting his upper body at an awkward angle, he delivered a devastating kick into the blue haired boy's gut which knocked him into a stone pillar a stone pillar. Landing on his feet, he inhaled a few short breathes to fill his lungs before striding forward.

Jellal's body was apparently feeling numb as he swayed a little but that wicked smile on his face didn't waver for a second. "You won't give up, will you Rook?" His smirk grew further as the Revonnahgander strode toward him barehanded. Barehanded! That was amusing to him. Swaying slightly toward the left, he dodged the uppercut before blocking the roundhouse kick with the back of his left hand while he pushed his right hand forward.

The invisible but powerful blunt force swatted away Rook like a rag doll and sent him crashing into the wall, creating a crater beneath his body as he grunted in pain and coughed out some blood upon impact. Falling down on one knee, he wiped the blood dribbling from his mouth and again launched himself at the blue haired boy.

"Still want to fight, I see." Jellal let out a twisted chuckle as a large amount of red glyphs surrounded Rook, swirling around him before capturing him within its grasp while ignoring Erza's protests."I think that you'll be the first sacrifice I will make to Zer-" Abruptly, a sparkling blue sphere blasted him into the wall behind him with a loud thud.

The spell holding Rook faded, allowing him to gasp for air as he fell to the ground. His eyes darted to the entrance of the room to find Ben stepping forward and approaching Jellal. Knowing well not to interfere when he wasn't needed, Rook moved to Erza's side and helped her to her feet.

"What are you doing Jellal?!" Ben demanded; confusion clearly visible upon his face. He didn't know why his friends were fighting each other, not to mention Jellal's new magical skills. His eyes scanned Erza and Rook, both injured and apparently he knew who's doing it was; he just didn't want to believe it. "Why are you attacking them?"

Jellal stood up, still swaying slightly while smoke wafting off his right side where the previous attack had landed. "I was just doing what was needed, getting rid of some trash before I begin my work." He smirked at the brunette's shocked expression.

"What's gotten into you?" Ben questioned, suddenly getting a bad feeling about all this. "Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?"

"Nothing, Ben! I haven't changed a bit." Jellal stepped forward, that evil smirk still etched on his face. "I just found the meaning of true freedom. I'm going to renovate this tower and resurrect Zeref. He has promised me to grant true freedom. He will help us all."

"Zeref?" Ben shook his head. "So, you let yourself be consumed by darkness, Jellal?"

Jellal cackled madly. "Consumed by darkness, you say? How stupid that sounds, Ben! No, I didn't! But, I can hear Zeref's voice calling to me. He is the only one who can make all my dreams come true. Join me Ben, and we will create a land of true freedom together." He extended his arm forward in invitation.

Ben shook his head in disappointment. "You have left me with no other choice Jellal. I had come here to save you, Erza and Rook because the old man told me that you were in danger but I didn't expect you to turn into the very thing we fought against together for the past year."

"What?"

Ben's eyes darted toward the redheaded girl. "What's wrong Erza?"

Erza didn't speak as she simply stared at the Omnitrix wielder, dumbstruck. Her eyes moistened slightly as she recalled what had happened after Ben's stopped to confront that strange yet powerful mage. How could that be possible? Grandpa Rob died saving her, so how could he have spoken to Ben? That was impossible!

"Ben, are you sure?" Rook questioned, attracting the brunette's attention toward himself, confusion visible in his eyes as well. "He sacrificed himself during the revolt to save us from the magic-wielding cultists. We all saw him die in front of us." His eyes met Ben's. "Then, how could he send you here?"

Ben just stood there, stunned. The old man was dead. But…he just saw him in the construction site, didn't he? He'd spoken to him. Even he was certain that the old man had healed him; he had felt the warmth of his magic when he was unconscious. He had told him all those things and…'I couldn't help them even if I tried with all my might' the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place. What did he meant then? Did he mean that he couldn't help them because he was dead? Was that the last bit of his magic that manifested into a visible form?

Ben balled his fists as he stood frozen in place, his mind trying to process the news as best as possible. That slight tinge of guilt buried within him began to resurface and consume him again. 'Let your heart lead you toward the future you choose. Life won't always be easy. It never was and it never will be. But, if you believe in yourself and your friends, then there is nothing that you cannot achieve.' He closed his eyes as those words echoed within his mind and a determined demeanor crossed his face.

"He was already old and had very little life left within him." The voice of Jellal broke the silence. "His death doesn't change a thing." His grin broadened. "I will still have to complete the tower and resurrect Zeref. But, I won't mistreat the slaves; fear and force is no way to control people. But Zeref believes that sacrifices are necessary and I believe that you all would suffice for that."

"They won't agree to it." Ben growled out, his tone low and menacing. "No one would. They all seek freedom Jellal and you can't make them stay here anymore!"

Jellal looked at the Omnitrix bearer and a frown crossed his face. "That doesn't matter. I will have no problem convincing them to work for me. I will give them a purpose they never had before, provide them with provisions in addition to sufficient rest. What else could they want? Once they know of Zeref's power, they will willingly work to resurrect him."

"You can't do that. They all want to sail away to the mainland. You cannot convince them to stay here, no matter what you say." Erza said. "They have been seeking this freedom for years and now that the time has come, they won't let it be taken away from them."

Ben's eyes glowed blue as he glared at Jellal; sparkling blue mist beginning to radiate from his body and form a protective layer around him. The surrounding air grew denser as force was exerted on his surroundings. "And, I still stand here, Jellal. I won't let you do that, no matter what."

A strange dark aura began seething from Jellal as he spoke with a tainted grin on his face. "Your presence doesn't change a thing, Ben. It means nothing to me. I know I won't lose. Zeref is with me and he won't let me lose."

Erza stared at the sight, dumbstruck and in fear as her closest friends prepared to fight. She didn't want this. All she sought was freedom and to live her life on her own terms alongside her friends. "Please Jellal, snap out of it. Please let us leave and be free. Please Jellal, we're all friends!"

"No Erza! It's okay." Ben spoke, his eyes not wavering for a second from the blue haired boy. "If he isn't willing to let the slaves go then I will use force to stop him."

"You'll risk their lives, Ben?" Jellal let out a chuckle. "You know too well that if we fought now then there won't be anything left to save. I can always blow them up along with this tower and start anew." His smirk turned darker, causing Ben to release his building energy. "Wanna see a glimpse of my power?" His eyes travelled to the massive opening in the wall and he caught sight of a boat sailing away. "Look at those slaves fleeing." Everyone else also noticed the sight. "And, now see the power granted to me by Zeref." He pushed his arm forward, releasing a magical blast that detonated the ship in a violent explosion. He looked back at the stunned expressions on his former friends' faces. "You see, you cannot stop me, Ben."

Erza and Rook stared at the sight in horror as the ship sank into the sea. "What have you done Jellal!?" Erza demanded.

Ben was seething with anger as he stared at what remained of the ship. His body quivered in fury and abruptly dense mana energy exploded from his body. His glare shifted to Jellal who remain unfazed. "You killed them!"

"Yes, I did, Ben." Jellal spoke, his own dark magical energy radiating off him and forming a protective barrier around him against the building pressure. "And, if you don't want the others to suffer the same fate then stop right now Ben." His smirk grew as the energy exerted by the brunette wavered a little. "I have no use for you or these two friends of yours so I will let you all leave but no one else as they are going to help me finish this tower."

Erza and Rook struggled against the massive force being exerted upon their small bodies. It was simply overwhelming. They were having trouble breathing as the rising levels of magical energy began suffocating them until finally the brown haired boy stopped emitting mana.

Ben simply stared at the blue haired boy. He was playing dirty. His eyes narrowed as Jellal continued. "I appreciate your contribution in eliminating those nuisances for me. You and those two can leave the island in return and be free."

Ben balled his fists as his glare hardened.

"I doubt that I need to tell you that you must never speak of this to anyone. If the Magic Council found about what's going on here, then I would have to destroy the evidence…this tower and everyone inside."

Ben let out a growl. "This isn't over yet, Jellal." He snarled.

"No! It isn't and we will settle it someday." Jellal smirked, as his face seemingly became more insane by the second while he swept his hand in an arc. "This is your precious freedom, Ben! Live on with the lives of your friends resting on your back. Enjoy this freedom knowing that you failed, Ben!" He pushed his arm forward and before anyone could react, a massive force impacted them, causing the ground to shred apart and a shockwave to tear through the air. Ben, Erza and Rook were caught in the resulting eruption and their bodies flew out of the tower's dust cloud, injured and unconscious as they fell into the crashing ocean's waves while laughter echoed from behind within the R-System.

The waves pulled back and forth upon the sandy beach every other second, the bodies of two human children and a Revonnahgander lying motionless upon the sand.

Ben was the first to move, his fingers twitching as the cold salty water crashed against him. He coughed out some water as strength slowly returned to his limbs and he crawled out of the water. Slowly he climbed to his feet and the first thing he noticed was his two friends, unconscious.

He used the next few moments to pull them further up the beach and once he was certain that they would be fine, he inhaled few deep breaths. His eyes travelled to the sea and even though he couldn't see the island or the tower on it, he knew that it was out there.

He had spent a year of his life as a captive and slave so that he could free the people and he had failed. What was worse was that he had failed because of the interference of his own friend, Jellal. He even failed to rescue Simon and to keep his promise.

He let out a deep sigh. He wondered what he could have done differently. He thought for a moment and shook his head. Nothing! He could have tried to fight Jellal anyway but after his fight with Brain, he doubted that he was strong enough. That didn't even include the fact that Erza and Rook were there as well, helpless targets for Jellal to take advantage of. Rob had mentioned that Hades was incredibly strong and considering his current situation, he doubted that he could have beaten him when he failed against Brain. Yes, he might have been able to give a decent fight to Hades if he went all out but the doubt remained. He wondered what would happen to Shô and Millianna. Did they escape on one of the earlier ship departures, or were they now back in the cells? They were like brother and sister to him and he had failed them as well.

He had a strong urge to return to the tower but he knew he couldn't. No! He shouldn't! Jellal might hurt them as well. He had already killed those occupants of that boat and that crumbled his urge to return back, assuming that he could find a ship and locate the island.

At the very least, he still managed to save one life. Erza! They were finally free. But he wished they weren't the only ones.

'I will come back someday, Jellal! And, then when the time comes, we will settle this and I will keep my promise.'

Here's another chapter for you all and I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.This brings the end of this mini-story with few small twists on my part. Hey, smalls contribute to make something big.

A/N 1: I want to know how many of my readers would appreciate if I went with some OCs that might influence the end storyline or more. I had been suggested some ideas (good ideas if you ask me) and I think, I should add them as well. This will only delay the original series arc but I believe, that should be worth it with extra work on my part.

This would also mean that I will update far slower than what I'm already doing. I have near about 3 chapters written in the past week I had been free. But now isn't the same case again. College has reopened with more assignment and recently a side job to make some money to support my rising financial needs since I don't make any from here. Even, my beta has personal life apart from editing my chapters too.

A/N 2: Vandenbz did a good work editing this chapter and thanks go to him for his insight to find and correct errors within the chapter.

A/N 3: I am seeking for some original arc for the story so anyone with ideas, contact me please. Credits would be given without question.

And, this part is for those who think just because I requested for some ideas, I'm useless and that's point to that guest who probably have no guts to create a profile and leave an anonymous review stating such mentioned above (Obviously deleted); like they have any say in the matter when they are just meant to complain like small kids (I seriously doubt that they are just kids and I mean small kids). *Sigh* I believe many are aware of this that one cannot be proficient in everything. I can write and can twist original plots and storyline but when it comes to original ideas, I'm not that bright.

Anyway, reviews and constructive ideas and critics are always appreciated. So, don't forget to leave a review. After all, we writers also need some motivation and keep us fueled. Also, no flames!

Next chapter/ chapter 7: Meeting The Fairies!

Following Chapter/ chapter 8: Master's Son; Ivan Dreyar!