Heyya Guys! Chapter 13 has entered your world!
To answer a quick question: Natsu's Tattoo? Its the cover image. I hope that this now makes more sense!
Please Enjoy!
Natsu was excited.
He was getting a new weapon!
He was overjoyed at the prospect, usually, he preferred to fight with his magic, but as it was becoming more and more well known as a criminal, he was running out of magic's to use. A weapon would buy him more time!
Erigor had asked him why he even needed a weapon to use when he could use his "Weapons of Fear", Natsu had shrugged and said that they superseded his own fame, and if he was going to swing those around in front of people, he would become much more than a wanted criminal.
Though it wasn't the only reason. There were two in fact.
Natsu had promised someone that those blades wouldn't be drawn unless facing a single opponent whom had figured out his identity, or was deemed a capable foe.
The person he promised to was someone you probably wouldn't expect.
The King of Fiore.
Natsu remembered those days with a faint smile; The King was one of the few that had truly earned his respect and trust. He couldn't really tell if it was really the King or just his silver tongue, but Natsu didn't really care. The man had never led him astray, and tried to help him when he could; they owed each other a lot.
Natsu began to remember the Princess, Hisui, and felt a smile spread, but quickly shook his head.
Another time.
He focused on the other problem, the problem he has been trying to correct for years.
The blades themselves.
The blades weren't exactly, "Weapons of Fear". The weapons were actually concentrated particles of smoke, bound and held together by Natsu, along with two special ingredients. Pure magic and killing intent.
Natsu is unique.
Natsu's magic is extremely unstable for a few reasons. One being that his magic container has two polar opposites of magic, namely, a volcanic fire and a luscious forest. Normally, dragon slayers would naturally align to the dragon they learned magic from, and adapt to its extremes, which would later create dragonification, and as the bodies adapted, they too would become dragons.
Natsu was an anomaly. His wasn't able to adapt to either extreme as they are practically polar opposites. His body is unable to pick a side, and because of this, he is unable to under go dragonification. This creates a void of magic as it were, the line dividing his magic container between Fire and Forest. This line creates a completely unrefined and unbiased magic, something Natsu has come to call Barrier, or Pure Magic. It's highly volatile, and extremely dangerous to use. It remains in low concentrations in his body, and regulates the amount of Fire and Forest magic that enters and exits his system. It keeps the equilibrium in his body constant, and prevents any imbalance that could harm him.
That's why his Smoke has his magic seeded within it, and why he sleeps in forest areas or places with high levels of vegetation. It allows his forest magic to release and effect the environment without too much notice. It would be hard to explain an oasis that just suddenly appeared from nowhere in the middle of a desert wouldn't it?
Natsu is like a coin balanced on its edge. If he starts to tip, one magic could dominate over the other and he could die from the imbalance. The more he uses the farther the coin tips. Nobody knows what would happen if he bottomed out, but either way, it would be an extremely painful process, one he might not even survive. Whether his Barrier magic maintained it or not.
His Pure magic is extremely potent, and near impossible to control. He tried once, and nearly lost a hand from trying to use it.
And then the idea of the blades came to fruition.
He saturated a space with his smoke, condensing it into such a tight space that no light can exit, and it becomes void black. That is why it looks like it forms from darkness, because when he is in the dark, it's almost a completely seamless construct. He then eases out a miniscule amount of Barrier magic, and it encases his blade. It's so volatile it practically disintegrates everything it touches, and since the smoke is refined to a sharp edge…tada a sword!
However, the last ingredient is killing intent. Only when he has no intention of holding back do his swords remain for long, if they summon at all. There is no weak version of this technique, no softener, it's a Kill Move. If you aren't ready to kill, then you can't maintain the focus to fully harness them. Not many can hone themselves to that level of focus, nor have the skill to even compact magic to such a level outside their bodies.
Natsu wanted to find a way to mix his fire nature with this blade, instead of using smoke as a catalyst, using flame as an attribute.
That idea alone was enough to bring an evil cackle to his lips.
Natsu was completely lost in thoughts, hoping that his training with Mithfal would provide some light into how magic functioned in weaponry, when Erigor jolted him from thought.
"Hey Walker, isn't that your pals over there? Near the dead end to the left?"
Natsu stretched out his senses since couldn't really "see" when he was in his smoke form, and "looked" to where Erigor was saying.
This magic…
It was Erza's…and Celestial, which meant Lucy.
Natsu let himself solidify, falling out of Erigor's wind. "I'll release you here! Pleasure doing business with you!" Natsu shouted as he fell giving a thumbs up to the sky he knew Erigor would see.
"Don't get to cocky! You will see me again! And I want a rematch!" he shouted at the falling dragon slayer.
Natsu laughed as he plummeted, letting his adrenaline kick in as he fell, taking in note of the battle field.
There was a large dead end in a canyon trench, where a large amount of large serpents seemed to be attacking from. Erza and Lucy were fighting them. Lucy was standing on top a large boulder a little distance away, helping out her summons with callouts and such. Erza was taking them all head on, dancing and slashing in a chaotic dance. Gray however…
He was laying on his back, sprawled out spread eagle, a large blue mushroom growing out from the top of his noggin.
Natsu immediately saved the image to his "Later Laughter" folder and dove straight for the monsters coming up on the unprotected Lucy, who had used her magic to summon Taurus, and was too far away to help. He let his Fire magic fill his body and let it roar outwards. Fire magic didn't like to be contained.
He landed with a large crash a few feet in front of the boulder Lucy was standing on, and let hs magic fill his lungs. It had been a while since he got to do this!
"Fire Dragon:…"
Lucy, calling out his name and thanks and the magic build up behind her gave Erza a pretty big hint, and told her to get the hell out of the way.
"ROAR!" Natsu bellowed and released his magic.
A massive beam of dragon flames spewed from his open mouth, washing over the serpents like a wave of doom. It didn't vaporize all of them, but the several in the front and middle were completely roasted to the point only charcoal remained. It didn't last long though as their blacked bodies broke apart and fell to the earth, gravity being too much for them.
Natsu wiped a bit of drool from his bottom lip, nobody saw anything. he would need to practice a bit before he did that in front of anyone, it would be way to embarrassing.
He looked back at Lucy, "is there a reason you guys are all the way out here?" Natsu asked flatly, though he felt like he already knew the answer.
Instead, all he got was a cry of dismay, "Awe Natsu! You completely cooked them! What are we supposed to eat now!"
Natsu was a little confused, but then nodded, they were creatures after all, food was food.
"There are a few in the back that aren't completely toasted, try those. Though if they aren't any good let me know, I got some food, or will in a moment." He nodded, before heading over ot Erza, who looked to be staring at the ground in concentration.
He was walking over when he heard a familiar voice. "Natsu!"
He turned and almost fell over from the little blue bullet that collided with his chest.
"Hey little guy, why are you all the way out here? You could have made it back to the guild by now if you had followed the tracks back to Oshibana and then taken the train."
Happy didn't respond as he busily tried to wrap himself up in Natsu's scarf, enjoying the warmth. Natsu smiled and let the issue drop, he was probably right anyway, why press it?
He kept walking to Erza, who was still staring at the ground, but seemingly following something.
"Oi Scarlet! Do I get a "thanks" or…"
She looked up at him quickly, before thinking and realizing her mistake, "inexcusable, Natsu, I need you to hit me for my penance!"
Natsu backed up nervously and held his hands up, "I'll pass. I'm not big on hitting women, especially when they are an ally. Call me sexist, I don't care."
She looked up at him in surprise and then nodded in grim affirmation, "Very well, I shal take it upon myself."
Natsu felt his eyes widen and then he ran forwards, "NO! nonono its fine! You're Ok! We are all friends here!"
She looked up at him in surprise, "Friends?"
Natsu nodded frantically, "Sure! Yeah, we are friends! So please don't-"
And then his instincts screamed at him to run.
"Shit!" he cursed and dove at her at high speeds, taking her far out of the reach and pinned her to the wall behind him, before putting his back to her and placing both his palms on opposite sides, surrounding her like a fence. A phosphorescent green aura surrounded him and then trees exploded from the cliff face he was behind, wrapping in front of him like a tightly woven shield.
Just as Erza was about to retaliate, a mighty roar pushed into her ears and the sound of wood breaking filled the air. a monsters maw appeared in front of them, before halting inches away from Natsu's face, being held at bay by the trees holding it in place. Erza peered over his shoulder, staring in wonder and horror at the creature in front of her. It was the serpent.
The serpent Natsu had just finished turning to charcoal.
"We need to get above ground, I got a hunch" she shouted in his ear to get over the sound of creaking wood.
"Lead the way" Natsu said sarcastically he was stating to sweat as another serpent came crashing through, and then another. Serpents began to borough through his defenses from all angles, hungry for their flesh, and Natsu was starting to shake.
These trees weren't native, they were forced into being by his magic, and they had no nutrients to absorb or adjacent substance to draw from. They were drawing on his magic to live, and drew from it more to reinforce and repair themselves. He was starting to feel the drain
And it wasn't slow.
He had magic to spare, but the more he emptied the more dangerous it got.
"Get out of here before they start coming from the top! Use that Black Winged armor I heard so much about!" he grunted.
She looked at him like he was stupid, "I can't carry you straight up! The wings aren't strong enough!"
"Then don't! Go! Ill figure something out! Go! Before I punt you!"
She hugged him from behind, almost to reassure him, "No, ill lend you power until Lucy can take them down!"
He looked over at her in shock, not believing what he heard, "You think she can immobilize them? I disintegrated them and they healed, how do you think Taurus would be able too?"
She just hugged, "I'm not leaving, I won't abandon a friend."
Natsu felt a cord struck within him, a memory crashing to the surface."
"NO! I WONT! I WONT LEAVE A FRIEND BEHIND!"
He felt anger swell inside of him.
"Natsu!" happy called out from his hood, startling Erza for a moment.
"What are you doing here!" she nearly screamed at the cat.
He ignored her, "Natsu! I wasn't hurt by your flames! Remember when you fought lullaby! I was in your hood and I didn't get burned!"
Natsu felt like facepalming, "My cloak is part of my magic! It's immune to flame! Erza can't fit in my hood!" he said in slight irritation. These two weren't any help.
Erza twitched, before muttering out, "Very well"
And then she started lifting up the back of his cloak.
"Hey! What the hell you doing Scarlet!"
She was blushing madly, "Forget about me! Just roast them!"
She requiped out of her armor and switched to basic clothing, before stepping under and draping the cloak over her back, practically steaming from embarrassment. Her "assets" pressing into Natsu's back as she squeezed in behind him. She hugged his torso and tucked her head into the side of his neck.
"Go!" she shouted
Happy grabbed the hood and pulled it over all their heads and wrapped himself around Erza's neck, preventing her from touching Natsu's scarf.
Natsu fought back his blush and let his embarrassment fuel his flames, "DAMMIT!" he roared as he started concentrating his magic in his lungs.
Using both magics in tandem was one of his most prideful achievements. His barrier magic helped with it, but he still felt like a badass when he did it.
Though now he was a little too embarrassed to care.
"Fire Dragon: ROAR!"
He shot out an intense flame, blasting outwards. The tree's he created completely combusted, nearly exploding themselves, and the serpents roaring in agony as they cracked apart. As they vanished, he sent out some of his smoke to help extinguish his flames.
He wasn't able to focus.
Because of…of two…BIG reasons.
As soon as the flames were gone, and his smoke had absorbed most of the heat, he immediately retracted his arms from the sleeves and dove out of his cloak. He rolled and ran a few yards away, letting Erza scramble with his cloak as he took a few breaths to control himself.
'Thank you Tharos, for always telling me to buy something in 3 sizes larger, something to grow into is an awesome policy!' he mentally praised. If he had bought a form fitting one, Erza would have been pressed even tighter!
He doubted he could even concentrate with those two things on his mind.
Erza finally managed to get her head in the hood part and was able to look around, seeing Natsu a fair distance away, she coughed to get her breath back and calmed down, letting her blush fade. She requipped back into her armor under the cloak and threaded her arms threw the sleeves. Her crimson hair spilling out as the hood fell, letting Happy fall back into place in the hood. Erza noticed the cloak was actually rather spacious, and wondered why Natsu ordered one so large, it was way big for him, but refrained, he obviously had a reason, and she definitely wasn't judging him for it.
It saved her life after all.
She thought about giving the cloak back, but decided she would hang onto it until he asked for it back.
And then she remembered.
"Natsu! We need to find Lucy and Gray and get to high ground!"
Natsu nodded and started running, "Ill grab Lucy! You find Gray!" he said sprinting off.
She looked a little indignant at being given orders but got over it, this wasn't the time. She sprinted off, where did that Ice Mage go?
Natsu was running towards the boulder Lucy was on, and felt his heart stop.
There was a weird liquid running down its face.
He immediately lit his feet with fire and leapt high into the air with a little rocket propulsion. He scanned the area, looking for any signs…
That liquid, it left a trail…and the smell…
It was blood.
He took off, following the trail where it leads, letting the landscape pass in a blur.
He looked forward and Saw Taurus, running up the step Cliffside, Lucy in his arms.
She wasn't looking good.
He let loose his flames and shot up the side, catching Taurus in nearly 4 seconds.
"Give me!" he shouted, and Taurus, seeing him charging at him, panicked.
He tripped on the steep incline, and dropped Lucy to the ground, where she cried out in pain.
Natsu was at her side in a second. Her fists were bloody and cut, and her leg had a large slash across it.
She had almost been bitten, and managed to get out of the way, but not without drawing blood. He immediately lifted her from the ground and jumped to where he had last seen gray, he had mushrooms in his hands, so that means there was plants nearby. He shot down the canyon, looking and looking.
Found it.
A small grove of trees and plants near the back of the canyon, it was a little close to the serpents circle, but it was close enough. He placed her down gently and began his method of treatment.
Part of his lessons with Tharos was solely based on the plants in a forest, and what that can and can't do. Medicinal, poison, bandage, acidic, edible etc. and it make his a pretty good medic. He quickly summoned some plants and got to work, vines from fastenings, wood for brace, and some fruit for later.
Priorities ya know?
He made a reach towards his inside pocket when he realized something.
He didn't have his cloak on, Erza did.
"Fuck!" he cursed and took off after her.
He found her in nearly 20 seconds, but it seemed like months to Natsu. She was standing next to a now shroomless Gray, walking back with him. He quickly picked her up bridal style and sprinted back, ignoring the fatigue. Gray shouted after them and gave chase, but was soon left in the dust. Erza shouted in protest with a large blush but he wasn't paying attention.
He skidded to a halt a few feet from Lucy, who was breathing heavily with blood starting to leak from her vine bindings.
Erza was in shock, "Lucy!"
Natsu grabbed Erza by the shoulders and grabbed her cloak in the center, electing a startled surprise from her and ripping it open, before staring intently in the middle like a hungry wolf.
This was the scene Gray walked into. Natsu, seemingly ripping open Erza's shirt and staring at her chest.
Not something one would expect to see when walking into a clearing with an injured teammate.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!" Gray shouted in dismay before throwing a small blunted ice lance at Natsu to knock him away. The ice never made it to him as the grass grew incredibly long in an instant and grabbing his lance, forcing it into the ground. It then grabbed him and bound him ot the earth as he cursed.
Natsu ignored him; he had better things to do.
Erza was still sitting there with a shocked face.
Inside his cloak were a number of sown shut pockets, each containing a label. He found what he was looking for and ripped it open, grabbing a small bad fron within it. he rushed back to Lucy.
"Hold her, this is gonna hurt a lot." He said sternly, no time for debate. Erza complied without audible questions and held her in place.
Natsu took in a deep breath and took off his shoes, letting his toes sink into the earth.
Focus.
He slowly placed the bag on Lucy's wound, and then poked a hole into the bag, letting a clear green slave slowly come out, gently tracing the wound. It absorbed quickly into her skin, and the blood stopped seeping out, color returning to Lucy's face. Erza was about to celebrate, but noticed Natsu wasn't done, which meant the pain was going to show up soon.
A vine like plant snaked up Natsu's legs, tracing up hs body and growing out to his left hand, where a flower bloomed.
It was green and blue flower with purple leaves. Natsu ripped a leaf of and placed the leaf under it, letting ti collect the liquid that dropped out. when the flow stopped, he gently lifted it over to Lucy's injury, and gave Erza a look.
That was the only warning she got.
He then gently poured the small amount of liquid into the center of the ound where it was deepest, and then laid the leaf over the top of the wound, like a gauze. He then covered it with one of the bigger leaves he had and waited.
The effect was almost immediate.
A second later, Lucy's eyes widened to nearly impossible proportions and she let out a guttural scream, it was so pain filled it brought tears to Erza's eyes as she held her down.
5 seconds past.
Lucy then fell limp. Natsu catching her head before it hit the ground. He then checked her pulse, and lifted the larger leaf he put on top and looked at the wound.
Mwahaha! Cliff Hanger of the Century!
Have a lovely day and I'll see you all Next time!