"Poor Dr. Precht." Natsu said. Dr. Precht's presentation ended in disaster and he ended up hurt because of it. Natsu was lucky he was able to shut the machine down or else the whole city could have been swallowed. "I sure hope he's going to be okay."

…

Irene

"Yes." Irene said over the phone. "Yes. I know that we were investing in this project, but you don't have to worry. We're not going bankrupt. I've invested in some other projects that have went well. All is still going well." Irene ended the call and was satisfied with results, in a way. "That failed project did cost me a few pretty pennies and now because of that, I lost a valuable material." She heard a message going off on her computer and when she answered, she saw it was from Invel, also known as Winter General.

"Miss Belserion, I heard about what happened with Dr. Precht." Winter General said.

"If you're here to check to see if I'm unharmed, you don't need to worry about that." Irene said.

"No. I didn't have any doubt about that." Winter General said. "I'm calling because I'm also aware that you desired to have that machine for your own purposes."

"Yes. Without Dr. Precht, I can't work the machine." Irene said. "It doesn't matter because the machine was damaged. Due to the malfunction and Salamander's intrusion, the machine was damaged. It will still work out."

"How so?" Winter General questioned.

"You let me worry about that." Irene said. "You stay focus on your own little project. How is it coming by the way?"

"Very good. It will be ready within the next few weeks or so." Winter General said.

"Excellent." Irene said. "Continue with it while I figure out a way to get my hands on Precht's machine."

"As you wish." Winter General said and ended the call.

"Salamander, you might think you have slowed me down, but you have no idea what I'm capable of once I put my mind to something." Irene said. Whatever she's up, she won't be stopping for any reason.

…..

Precht

Precht wasn't in the best of shape, but he left the hospital early. Since his machine turned against him, Precht became half blind and his mechanical gauntlets have now become his new arms. Precht managed to move through the city, but his body wasn't in the best of shape.

"I can't stop, but I can't let them find me." Precht said. Something big happened back at the hospital and because of it, the authorities were looking for him. Precht just wondered around the city and he's going to need something to keep him hidden. Precht looked around and saw clothes on a table and some strange accessories. "This will have to do." Precht grabbed himself a black cloak, a helmet with horns, and even an eyepatch. "Must be some leftover costume stuff from Halloween." Precht just took that stuff when no one was looking and used it to keep himself hidden until he gets where he needs to.

…..

Natsu

Natsu was just patrolling around the city. He kept his eyes opened for anything after what just happened. He moved around the buildings until he heard his phone go off and saw it was his brother.

"Hey, bro." Natsu said. "I'm glad that you called. You doing okay after what happened to your old teacher?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. It's Dr. Precht I'm worried about." Zeref said. "I sure hope he's okay. Anyway, the reason I'm calling is because I was hoping you could get Mavis for me and bring her over to the house. I'm running some errands and….after what happened, I don't think she should be alone. She admired his work as much as I did."

"Usually I would say that you worry too much, but I understand what you're saying." Natsu said. "No problem. She's at the university, right?"

"Yeah. Thanks, Natsu." Zeref said. "Oh! Don't forget that we have to pay a stop by the bank tomorrow as well."

"I got it. I'll see you later." Natsu said and ended the call. "I'm not that far from the university. This shouldn't take long." Natsu moved around and was on his way to the university, but he stopped as he heard some sort of explosion and screeching sound. He looked down the street and saw an armored car was being robbed. "Why do I have such lousy luck?" He looked around saw it was members of the Oracion Seis gang. Cobra placed a small bomb on the door and it detonated with the door blasting open. A couple guards came out to try and fight, but Midnight and Racer took care of them. Cobra jumped up in the car and saw it was loaded with weapons.

"Awesome! Look at these bad boys." Cobra said as he grabbed a rocket launcher.

"Boys and their toys." Angel complained.

"Leave it, Angel." Brain said. "These weapons will prove to be most useful to us. It will be easy to bring down Sabertooth and Grimoire Heart. Once we do that, we'll be by END's side and can have whatever we desire."

"This is an armored car. Oh yeah. Any money in there?" Hoteye questioned.

"No, but stop thinking about money." Cobra said. "Just imagine all the destruction we can do with these babies."

"I'll take that." Someone grabbed the launcher out of his hands and knocked him right off the car. All of them looked up and saw Salamander on the car. "You really shouldn't be playing with these toys. They're far too dangerous and you're all irresponsible."

"Salamander!" Brain said.

"I've just about had it with this guy." Midnight said.

"Good thing we got all these brand new toys." Racer said as he was about to get in the car, but Salamander jumped in front of him and knocked him back.

"Not a chance." Natsu said. "The last thing this city needs is the six of you going gun-crazy."

"Just try and stop us." Brain said. It was six against one, but that never stopped Natsu before.

…

Mavis

Meanwhile, Mavis was working on some of her own projects in the lab at the university. She was so worried about Dr. Precht, but knew he was going to be in good hands.

"Mavis…." Mavis turned around and was met with Dr. Precht himself in hi disguise. "Help me."

"Dr. Precht? Are you okay after the incident?" Mavis said. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the hospital?"

"My….machine….. My….dream….all ruined." Precht said and Mavis could see that he wasn't all that well.

"Dr. Precht, calm down." Mavis said. "We'll call the doctors and the police….." "Police?! No! No, police!" Precht interrupted. Mavis could see that he was so angry and wasn't thinking clearly.

"Dr. Precht, you need help." Mavis said.

"Get away from me, traitor." Precht said. He wasn't thinking clearly and truly believes Mavis was turning against him. "Is this how you repay your favorite teacher? Let me show you how I repay my "favorite" student." He launched a grapple and it went around Mavis. He pulled her in and smacked her in the head. He tossed her against the wall and Mavis hit her head again with her being unconscious. Precht is falling into despair and darkness and there's only one person he blames for it. "None of this would be happening if it weren't for that Salamander. I had it all under controlled, but he ruined everything. I won't let it happen again. If I'm a criminal now, I'll act like one. I need money…I need to rebuild."

…

Natsu

Natsu was doing well against the Oracion Seis. He was able to fight them off and keep them from getting the weapons. Racer tried to hit him, but Nats blocked his attack and pounded him hard across the face and knocked him out.

"Come on. Are you guys even trying?" Natsu said.

"How's this?" Cobra said as he tried to attack him, but Natsu ducked down and gave him a strong punch in the gut. Midnight tried himself, but Natsu kicked him back. Brain could see that their fight wasn't getting them anywhere.

"Let's pull out. This isn't worth it." Brain said as he pulled out a grenade-like object and tossed it. It exploded near Natsu and it exploded smoke. Natsu could barely see anywhere.

"What was that?" Natsu coughed as he made his way through the smoke. When it cleared away, all the members of the Oracion Seis were gone. "Great. Those losers actually escaped. Oh well. I better go get Mavis."

…

The University

Once Natsu made sure the weapons were secured, Natsu continued to go get Mavis. He just missed Precht as he exited the building and Salamander landing in the area. Natsu changed clothes and went to get Mavis.

"Hey, Mavis. Zeref wanted me to….. Mavis!" Natsu called out as he saw she was unconscious. He ran to her side and tried to help her.

"Precht….no!" Mavis said in her state, but was still out of it.

"Precht? What does that mean?" Natsu questioned, but there was no time for that. "She's in bad shape. I need to get to a hospital." Natsu pulled out his phone and called for an ambulance, but he's wondering what could have possibly happened to her.

…..

The Hospital

"I'm telling you, Zeref, I don't know what happened." Natsu said with him in his costume as he was outside the hospital he brought Mavis to and called his brother. "She was like that when I found her."

"Is she going to be okay?" Zeref asked.

"The doctor said she should be. How far are you?" Natsu asked.

"Only a few minutes." Zeref said.

"Good. I'm going to stop by Weekly Source. Maybe I can get a lead as to who did this….and at least pick up my paycheck." Natsu said and ended the call. "I just don't understand. Who would want to hurt Mavis?" Natsu tried to figure that puzzle out as he was on the move again.

…

Weekly Source

"Hey, Betsy." Natsu said as he went to see a fellow employee. "Is there any chance I can see Mr. Mailer?"

"He's talking to Robert right now, but I think it's okay." Betsy said and allowed Natsu in. Mailer was talking to his right hand-man, Robert, about something big that happened.

"I want this on the front page." Mailer said.

"You got it, sir." Robert said.

"Excuse me." Natsu said.

"Dragneel? What do you want?" Mailer said.

"Well, I was hoping to get my check." Natsu said. "More importantly, my brother's girlfriend was attacked and I was hoping I could get a lead to what happened here."

"Hmm. I wonder if it was that new villain." Robert said.

"What?! What new villain?" Natsu said.

"You heard of Dr. Precht? Turns out he killed the doctors that were operating on him with these fancy arms of his." Mailer said.

"He killed them?! That can't be." Natsu said.

"I'm afraid it's true, Natsu." Robert said.

"No way! He was my brother's teacher. He looked up to him. I can't believe he would actually do that." Natsu said.

"Well, I pay for your photos. Not your opinion." Mailer said. "You want your check, talk to Miss Breen. Now get out!" Natsu couldn't believe that Dr. Precht would do such a thing. Natsu questions if he really could have been the one that attacked Mavis.

…

Natsu

"No, Natsu. There must be some mistake." Zeref said. Natsu called his brother again with Natsu searching for Dr. Precht. He told Zeref what happened, but he was in denial.

"I check it out myself, bro." Natsu said. "I went to the hospital he was at and found out about it. I don't know if he really attacked Mavis, but that seems likely."

"I…I just don't understand it." Zeref said. "Why would he do this to Mavis? She was among his favorite student."

"I don't know, but it's not looking good." Natsu said. "Zeref, I know he was your favorite teacher, but he's running from the authorities and he's hurting people. You know what I need to do."

"Yeah. I know." Zeref said no matter how much he didn't like it.

…

Jail

"This is so stupid." Zancrow said with Grimoire Heart back behind bars.

"Settle down, Zancrow." Azuma said.

"No." Zancrow said. "It's bad enough that we're in jail, but now Ultear is telling us that she's quitting. So much for not abandoning your friends."

"Sorrow times indeed." Rustyrose said.

"Hey. I hear something." Kain said. Zancrow thought he was being stupid again, but they all began to hear some stuff as well. It sounded like a fight. Their cages opened up and they saw Dr. Precht was the one that let them out.

"What is this?" Azuma said.

"You four being liberated." Dr. Precht said. "I'm in the need of some help since I've recently become a criminal. Thought I start out small with powerless folks such as yourselves. I have big plans and I'm going to need some help."

"Who are you?" Zancrow questioned. Dr. Precht thought about that. Since he has a new life, he needs a new name.

"I was reborn in darkness. Thought I was going to die, but I beat death and came back. I think I might like the name….Hades." A brand new villain shall bring doom to Magnolia.