CHAPTER 11
"That's enough talk, now we fight for real."
Gildarts clenched his fists and began to channel his magic. The ground began to break up and the very earth shook as Gildarts released his power. Sasuke began to smirk. He breathed out and drew his sword. His chakra flickered and formed into an aura. It was a dark menacing purple. Cana began to shake. Was Sasuke this powerful? Her father was stronger than ever.
How could she compare to this? She couldn't breathe. Her breath was stuck in her throat. Gildart's magic was saturating the air. Her knees were shaking. She couldn't move. She felt a hand on her head. She looked at up Sasuke. The teen was smiling at her, patting her head reassuringly.
"Don't worry Cana, this is my fight."
Before she knew it, she was picked up by Sasuke. The Uchiha dashed away, placing Cana onto the ground. She began to protest, but Sasuke slammed his hand into her neck, knocking her out.
Sasuke let go of Cana and dashed back to Gildarts. It hadn't been an easy decision to make, but it was for the best.
Gildarts nodded. "She would only hinder you. A wise choice."
Sasuke smirked. "I've been looking forward to this, Gildarts Clive. The Ace of Fairy Tail and the last Uchiha, man to man."
Gildarts stared into Sasuke eyes. There was no fear there. He wasn't sure what is was. It looked like a calm sort a. rage. The whole point of this trial was learning to fight alongside your fear. It could hinder you, but it could show you your weaknesses and improve you as a fighter. Getting rid of your fear would be stupid.
But Sasuke hadn't given up. The point of the trial was to show fear and act on it. You had to give up. But Sasuke hadn't done that. But had he expected Sasuke to give up? No, he hadn't. Sasuke wasn't like that. He was forcing his fear to disappear . He was discarding his fear. But would he pass? It had never been done like this. But could it?
He would find out.
Sasuke moved faster than the eye could see, striking at Gildarts with his blade. Gildarts stepped away and swung his fist at Sasuke, but the teen was already moving away with, Gildarts noticed, more speed than before. Sasuke swung a kick which Gildarts avoided, and spun behind the mage, stabbing behind him with his sword. Gildarts had to dodge to the side to avoid getting skewered. Sasuke rolled along, landing a kick to the back of Gildart's knee, but the S-Class mage barely felt it.
Gildarts went to grab him, but Sasuke managed to get out of range. Gildarts was impressed. Was Sasuke faster? The Uchiha was managing to dodge and had landed a couple of hits of his own, even though they had no momentum. Gildarts threw out a weak Crash Spell which Sasuke barely evaded and came in to attack. Could he step it up a level? He went to grab Sasuke, moving faster than before.
The Uchiha rolled away, coming up swinging, only for Gildarts to strike him with his palm. Sasuke tumbled back, springing again to his feet, but Gildarts saw a moment of frustration, a break in the teen's concentration. He moved in, dodging Sasuke's slice and swinging his right fist.
But Sasuke had evaded it. Gildarts attacked again, but Sasuke danced past his strike and retaliated, barely missing Gildarts with his blade. Gildarts tried to retreat, sending Crash Magic outwards, but Sasuke moved in. So far it had been a game of evade, attack, attack, evade.
It had been close, with Gildarts slowing gaining the upper hand. But Sasuke was moving differently now, he was sure of himself. Less cautious. Was he...? As Sasuke landed, his red eyes scanning the battle, Gildarts confirmed his theory. Sasuke palmed Gildarts's arm away, twisting and foot coming round, connecting with Gildarts's jaw.
The mage stumbled back.
"You're predicting my moves."
It had been too perfect. He had thought Sasuke was barely managing to dodge, but in fact he was calculating how close he could be without being hit.
"Very good. You move in a linear fashion, and you prefer to dodge left and hit right, using Magic to increase your effectiveness at close range."
Sasuke picked himself up, smirking. "You may be the Ace of the Guild, but my Sharingan are far beyond anything the Guild have ever seen."
Gildarts laughed. "You're doing well, you're sure of yourself, at the very least. But predicting moves can only take you so far."
Sasuke spun his sword, attacking Gildarts again. But the S-Class mage continued dodging, his Crash Magic coming closer to hitting Sasuke. They kept going, Gildarts beginning to hit Sasuke. He was using more magic to amplify his limbs, and less Crash Magic. Sasuke's sword spun away, clattering onto the ground.
Gildarts swung a punch, missing Sasuke. Sasuke slammed a chakra punch into Gildarts, sending him sliding away. Gildarts punched again, but again Sasuke dodged, connecting with a chakra punch, sending Gildarts stumbling.
Gildarts missed again, with the Uchiha punching Gildarts in the jaw. The punch moved the mages's head, but didn't do more. Sasuke looked at his hand. He was running out of chakra. Gildarts snapped his palm, his magic lifting Sasuke off his feet and sending him flying away. Sasuke got up, holding his ribs. He winced as he rose up.
"Why do you continue?" Asked Gildarts.
"What?"
"You know I'm stronger than you. I outclass you. Why do you persist? It's futile."
Sasuke spat on the ground. "You want to surrender, is that it? I learned the hard way that surrendering is the coward's way out. You can't afford to be scared if you want to accomplish something."
He pointed his sword at Gildarts. "I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
"That was what I stand for now. That passage is part of the Uchiha clan, part of me. I will not lose."
Gildarts smiled. He was beginning to enjoy this fight. He had learned that if you fought when you were scared, you would die. Attacking while you were afraid of hitting someone. Dodging when you were scared of getting hit. These were things people did when they were afraid. But Sasuke wasn't doing these things.
He wasn't showing fear, he was fighting it. He was close to passing, he just had to make sure.
"Come and get me then, show me your resolve."
Sasuke splayed his palm, sending a Chidori Spear at Gildarts. The mage swung his hand, breaking up the jutsu.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A fireball rocketed towards Gildarts, who shattered it with a swipe of his hand. Sasuke came in, drawing back his fist. Gildarts matched Sasuke's punch, creating two craters in the ground. They clashed again and again, no one want to back down. Gildarts smashed a fist down at Sasuke, who managed to block it with his sword. Gildarts pressed down on Sasuke, the Uchiha pushing back against the man.
"You're getting slower."
Sasuke gritted his teeth. "You think?"
He spun, barely missing Gildarts with a kick. The mage fired off two Crash Spells, forcing Sasuke to dodge back. Sasuke came back in, striking again. They went back and forth, striking at each other. Gildarts found he was smiling. He was enjoying it. Sasuke wasn't at his level, but Gildarts could fight seriously. Sasuke sprung round,
Gildarts catching him on the ankle with a weak Crash Spell.
Sasuke was sent sprawling. He managed to get up, legs shaking. He spun his sword, slicing at Gildarts, who caught his blade. He had surrounded his hands in a layer of magic, protecting him against Sasuke's sword. He snapped his fist out, smashing into Sasuke and lifting the Uchiha off his feet. Sasuke crashed into the ground, creating a massive crater. Sasuke clutched as his ribs. He winced. Broken. That last attack had hurt. That, along with all the other damage he'd sustained meant he couldn't move.
.
But he had to win. He had to become strong enough to be Itachi. Revenge. Revenge was the only thing that mattered. He needed to become S-Class. He hadn't realised how much he needed it until now. He had to win. He had to win...
.
Gildarts watched as Sasuke stopped moving. That last blow had been crippling. Sasuke had sustained a lot of damage over the battle, Gildarts was suprised he could still stand. Still, the Uchiha had performed extremely well. But would he pass? Gildarts wasn't sure. He fought well, but he hadn't shown the traditional methods needed to pass. He'd discuss it with Makarov. Personally, he wanted Sasuke to pass. He could be arrogant, but when you fought someone, you got a good sense of them and their personality. He liked the teen.
A rustling sound snapped him back to reality. Sasuke was... getting up? That was impossible. Sasuke couldn't get up after that blow. But what were those markings? His skin had become a muddier colour, with the whites of his eyes dark. A black mark resided on his face, and his hair had changed colour and grown out. His Sharingan still glew red. But most striking of all, slightly bony wings jutted out of his back.
Sasuke looked down at his palm. "What?"
Gildarts raised his eyesbrows. Even Sasuke hadn't experienced the state before. Some Magic involved transformations, but it wasn't common. Was it something that came with using chakra? Maybe, maybe not. He'd never seen anything like this before. But it looked like it would benefit Sasuke. Anyhow, he would have to be careful. The Uchiha had straightened up now, and he seemed to be in no manner of pain. Was he healing himself? Or was it the magic?
Sasuke looked down at his palm. What the hell was this? He'd got the familiar burning feeling in his neck again. But he felt stronger... better. There was an buzzing behind his eyes, but he ignored it. His ribs were fine, and his body was tingling. He was healing. Oh he liked this. But a small part of his mind didn't. He didn't know what this power was, he didn't know where it came from. Could it be trusted? He clenched his hand into a fist.
"Sasuke?" Gildarts stood there. His eyes were guarded, hands raised. He was cautious. Sasuke realised he was different. He ran his hand across his back, feeling the flesh jutting out. Using this power, he would win. He raised his sword and lowered into a crouch.
"Come on then." He began to move his wings, slowly at first, but he got faster and faster until he began to hover. Wind hit the ground, buffeting dirt away. He kicked off the ground, flying at Gildarts. Sasuke speed had changed drastically, and Gildarts barely managed to move each time, Sasuke's sword glancing off his face. Sasuke flipped in mid air, dragging his feet along the ground.
Gildarts touched his finger to the cut on his face. He had barely been touched, but Sasuke had made contact. Sasuke bounded back in, swiping his sword at Gildarts. The mage threw Sasuke away, sending a spell at him.
Sasuke tucked in his wings and plunged, dodging the Crash Magic. His mobility and speed had increased too. Sasuke landed clumsily, rolling away to avoid Gildart's attack. His new form was a benefit, but he needed to get used to it. And fast. Gildart's punch caught Sasuke, sending him crashing through a tree.
"Chidori Spear." Chidori burst out in a spear, flying at Gildarts. It was black in colour, larger. Gildarts broke it apart and caught Sasuke's blade. He wrenched Sasuke's arm to the side, sending him spinning. Gildarts launched a spell at him. Sasuke tried to tuck his wing in and flatten himself, but it moved awkwardly and Sasuke's wrist was caught by the magic. The sword spun away, clattering onto the ground. Sasuke raised his fists, bouncing on his toes.
"Hand to hand? No magic?" Gildarts did the same, smiling. Sasuke came in, jabbing at Gildart's face. Gildarts blocked and threw another punch which Sasuke dodged. Gildarts was suprised, but he relished the fight. It was simple, man to man, with chakra and magic only used to strengthen limbs. Sasuke leaped in, kicking out. Gildarts parried the kick to the side. They continued on, Gildarts blocking, Sasuke dodging. Sasuke feinted low, throwing a kick that barely missed.
Gildarts took a heavy step forward, angling his fist at Sasuke's jaw. Sasuke was sent flying into the air, but managed to land in a handstand, throwing a back kick that caught Gildarts in the chin. Sasuke lashed out, but Gildarts smashed his fist onto the back of Sasuke head, sending the Uchiha sprawling into the dirt. Sasuke kicked away one of Gildart's feet, forcing the mage to clumsily block the fist that Sasuke sent his way.
Sasuke's front kick caught him in the face, sending him stumbling. Sasuke's hand to hand combat training was superior, but Gildart's natural strength and skill gave him an edge. Sasuke seemed to be tiring a lot less as well. Sasuke fell into a backwards handspring and got into the air, flapping his wings. His control wasn't perfect, but it was getting there. He flew down, using the momentum to attack.
Gildarts got out of the way, but Sasuke came after him, throwing all his weight behind his strikes. Gildarts dodged all of them, but not without difficulty. Sasuke moved faster than the eye can see, getting behind Gildarts, forcing him to step back. Sasuke jumped up, slamming an axe kick down on Gildarts. The mage stumbled, so Sasuke caught him on the ankle. He attacked again, but Gildarts grabbed his trailing leg and slammed Sasuke into the ground and sent him sailing through the air. Sasuke managed to land in a crouch, releasing a jutsu.
"Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu."
The fireball, larger than normal, hurtled towars Gildarts. He didn't have the time to break it up, so he held out his palm. He concentrated his magic round him, causing the fireball to funnel past him. Even so, he still felt the burning heat against his skin. That was the sign of a powerful attack. Even when it was diverted, he could still feel the energy. Sasuke threw knives at Gildarts, blades cutting his cloak, but missing his skin.
"Chidori Stream." The black lighting sparked along the ground, but Gildarts was agile enough to avoid it. But Sasuke had maneuvered Gildarts where he wanted, and plummeted down, cleaving down with his sword. Gildarts slammed his hands either side of the blade. Sasuke's heel caught Gildarts on the jaw.
Gildarts needed to finish this now. He snapped his hand out, crushing against Sasuke's chest. The Uchiha flew backwards, smashing into the ground, creating a crater. He got up but fell to his knees again, struggling to breathe. Gildart's attack had crushed his ribs, but he'd forced magic into Sasuke, slowly down his regeneration. Sasuke clutched at his head. Ever since he'd transformed, he'd had an annoying buzz in his head. It had grown into a throb, the more damage he'd sustained.
.
"Give up, let me take control." A familiar hissing voice was in his head, bouncing around his skull. He couldn't put a finger on who it was.
"No, stop!" He pushed back with his mind.
"You're not even in his league, just give up and let me help you..."
Sasuke tried to resist, but he was weak from all the damage he'd sustained. He roared, but the unknown force was winning. He tried to stop it, but it felt like he was falling into a abyss...
.
Gildarts breathed out. That fight had been hard, it was hard to not fight to kill yet use your full power. But Sasuke would definetly not be getting up. He had put up a good fight, but that form was slightly worrying. He concluded although he would have to talk to Makarov, but Sasuke would probably pass. Gildarts walked over to Sasuke, crouching down to piggyback the teen. He needed to find Cana. She was probably around here somewhere.
Cana listened as Sasuke and Gildarts fought, their struggle sending waves of destruction outwards. The ground took as the two Titans fought, smashing their powers into each other. Cana could feel both of them going at each other, trying to win. She considered trying to help, but she knew she'd only get in the way. She fiddled with the kunai in her hand. She'd always been a fidget, it helped take her mind off things.
She had time to think. What would she say to Gildarts? She wasn't strong enough to call herself his child, but then again, she'd got stronger faster than she expected. But what difference would it make? Would it make any difference? Probably not. Was it worth it? Maybe? She wondered what would've happened if Sasuke never trained her. She'd probably using Card Magic, and she'd be weaker for sure. She turned the scenarios over in her mind, wondering and thinking. She heard Sasuke yell and an explosion soon after.
She remembered him telling her to be strong. She'd never told anyone about Gildarts, not even her friends. It always made her feel anxious just thinking about it, so could she even talk about it? What if he rejected her? What if he didn't care? She couldn't. She wouldn't. But she wasn't completely convinced. She had her friends. She had a lot to lose, but not everything. The booms had stopped now. She knew what she was going to do. She picky herself up and, on shaky legs, began to walk.
As Gildarts was walking, he felt some movement on his back. Was Sasuke waking up? He had probably used all the regeneration healing and waking himself up. But he would still be tired. He would've expended all his chakra healing from that last blow. He be concious, but extremely battered. He'd be surprised if the Uchiha could move. He felt Sasuke's legs tighten round his side.
Only years of battle experience kept him alive. He instinctively dodged to the side, avoiding the knife plunging at his neck. He dodged again and heard Sasuke laughing. He shifted his weight, throwing Sasuke off him, the Uchiha aiming a Chidori at him. Gildarts dodged to the side, swinging his fist back, but Sasuke jumped away with inhuman agility and pulled his sword from the ground. It was then Gildart's eyes got a look at Sasuke's face. He was still in the same form as before, but his eyes were yellow tinted purple, and a streak of white was present on his face.
"You're not Sasuke." Gildarts muttered.
"Quite right." Sasuke's voice had a hollow, hissing quality.
"Then who are you?" He replied.
Sasuke laughed, leaping in with his sword slicing. Gildarts blasted the attack away, catching Sasuke on the hip with a spell, spinning him round. But Sasuke used the momentum to get close to Gildarts, stabbing at him. But Gildarts grabbed his wrist, crushing it with his magic. The sword fell out of Sasuke's hand as he hissed like a snake.
Gildarts snapped his palm, hitting Sasuke in the chest, sending him flying. Sasuke managed to catch himself in midair and came back in, kicking Gildarts and sending him sliding back. Gildarts studied the teen as Sasuke flapped his wings. He was moving differently than before, and was his regeneration stronger? He had to test it. He smashed his magic into Sasuke's wing, sending him spinning in midair, right into Gildart's fist.
Sasuke tumbled back, managing to get up. His chest was covered in bruises, but he was otherwise ok. That wasn't good. He'd meant to break Sasuke's ribs with that strike. Sasuke was striking lethally now, trying to kill him. Gildarts blasted Sasuke into the air, but the Uchiha spun and launched a fireball at him. Gildarts shattered it, avoiding the knifehand strike that followed. Sasuke snapped his foot out, hitting Gildarts on the shoulder. He pivoted and cut at Gildarts using a kunai.
Gildarts pushed out both palms, but Sasuke somersaulted over the magic, cleaving down with the kunai. Gildarts swatted his attack aside and elbowed him away. Sasuke made a hand sign, and two clones puffed into existence in the air near him. Seizing their swords, the Sasuke's attacked. Gildarts exploded his magic out, but the Sasuke's stayed far out enough so they wouldn't be hit.
Gildarts punched away the two clones, bending the real Sasuke's leg away at an unnatural angle. Sasuke hit the ground, repairing his broken ankle as he cut at Gildart's legs. Gildarts jumped up, smashing down on Sasuke. Sasuke stumbled away, repairing his damaged chest. Sasuke soared out of range of a magic blast, stabbing down. But the mage wouldn't let Sasuke get away with that. He released the full force of his magic, blowing Sasuke's wings clean off, burning and scarring him.
Sasuke smashed into the ground, yelling in pain. Gildarts watched as the scars and burns began to disappear. New flesh emerged, twisting over the old, forming together to make wings. But Sasuke was grimacing in pain. Whoever was controlling Sasuke felt the pain too. He was damaging Gildarts, but he was using magic for regeneration. He had enough for the small injuries, but large wounds, like those wings, would be harder and require more magic. Using up magic would tire Sasuke, so in other words, he needed to get Sasuke to use as much magic as possible and tire him out. Still, that regeneration was strong. Sasuke's wings had already regenerated.
He had to be careful, Sasuke wasn't afraid to kill him. The Uchiha extended his sleeve, shooting a white serpent at Gildarts. Gildarts smashed it away and ducked under the following attack, his hand connecting with Sasuke's chest. The Uchiha was sent sprawling, looking at his hand in frustration. It seemed whoever was controlling Sasuke wasn't used to his body.
A white snake wrapped around Gildart's ankle. The mage barely got his guard up before Sasuke lunged in with a knife, grazing Gildart's arm. Sasuke whipped round, aiming at Gildart's neck. Gildarts broke the ground with his magic, freeing his ankle. Another snake emerged from Sasuke's sleeve, wrapping around Gildart's arm. Sasuke pulled himself towards Gildarts, kicking out. Gildarts blocked the attack, barely avoiding the blade that followed.
A blade of chakra flared around Sasuke's hand, the Uchiha bringing it down on Gildarts. The mage caught the blade, blasting Sasuke in the ribs. Sasuke somersaulted away, healing his broken ribs. Gildarts focused magic round his hand, punching Sasuke away. Sasuke flipped, dragging across the ground. Sasuke lowered himself into a crouch, black electricity beginning to crackle.
"We're finishing this?" Gildarts asked. He drew his fist back.
Sasuke began to smile. "Yess."
The two fighters kicked off, running towards each other. They bought their striking hand's back.
"Crushing evil, spreading truth:"
"Chidori Lament."
"Empyrean!"
The attacks smashed into each other, breaking the ground and causing massive explosions. Black lighting ripped through the landscape, Crash Magic causing craters in the ground. Everyone else felt the impact as the two titans went at each other. Magic and chakra exploded outwards, causing widespread destruction all around them.
Sasuke was sprawled on the ground, arm limp by his side. The last attack had blown him backwards, causing massive damage to his organs. Gildarts stood across from him. His clothes were torn to shreds and he was bleeding all over his body. He had been thrown back, but he was still standing.
He had been hit but Sasuke's attack, but before it touched his flesh, he'd negated Sasuke's attack and hit him with his own, blowing the teen backwards and heavily damaging the Uchiha. But he had held back with his last attack. Even with less power, Empyrean was more than enough to beat Sasuke down. The Uchiha lay motionless on the ground, repairing the damage. The marks faded, and his eyes returning to their normal colour.
Gildarts touched the wounds on his body. They were all shallow, but it was impressive that Sasuke could cut him. He breathed out, finally relaxing. It was all over. Sasuke looked like himself again. What was that form? Sasuke seemed to be in control for a while, but that had changed.
That voice definitely hadn't been Sasuke's. Was that form influencing his personality? He would have to talk it over with Makarov. That had been a good fight, leaving Gildarts satisfied. That last part had been difficult, but he'd managed it. A voice suddenly snapped him out of his thoughts.
It was the girl, Cana. She seemed to be worrying about something.
"I came to Fairy Tail to search for my father."
Cana's heart was pounding in her chest, her nerves racing. She'd never been this nervous.
"Really? That's the first I've heard of this. Is it someone from the guild? Do I know them?"
"It's, um, you."
Gildarts cocked his head. "What?"
Cana was shaking now. "You're my father Gildarts."
Silence.
"WAIT, WHAT!?"
.
A/N: Sorry for the wait everyone! Loads of stuff been going on lately, but managed to get this up before the end of the month. Sasuke fought Gildarts here. He could keep up with Gildarts when he fought seriously but couldn't beat him full power. We see Sasuke's new form here. The Curse Mark. As for who is controlling him, I think some people would know. We see Cana talking to Gildarts here, different from canon.
I'm a bit rusty, so I might make a couple of mistakes here, but I enjoyed writing this chapter anyhow. I'm not sure if the Curse Mark gives it's user regeneration, but I'm putting it in here. I'm curious to know what people think of this chapter. New chapter coming soon hopefully.
Thanks for reading, and leave a follow, favourite or a review.
Cheers,
Katsu :)