As soon as Natsu rushed the dark king, chaos broke out. Thorne's vines sprang out of nowhere blocking Natsu's path. Viron's portals appeared throughout the room threatening to pull everyone inside. There was no time to think, only react as Zadicous began to blast bolts of dark magic at the group. Jellal jumped to the side just in time as one of Zadicous's blasts flew through where he was just standing. Trying to get his bearings, Jellal began to look for an opening through Thorne's vines. There had to be a way to cut through them! If there wasn't they were all going to be sitting ducks.

As more bolts of dark began to rain down on the group, Laxus did his best to protect Mira and the other women. But what was strange is that they did not seem that concerned with events happening around them. "Mira, we have to move now!" Laxus yelled trying to be heard over the noise. Mira slowly turned around and glared daggers at him. Laxus stepped back from her in surprise. This was not the same warm, friendly woman from before. This woman was cold, cruel, and evil. "How did this happen? No, Mira you have to fight it! Please you have to come back to me!" A cold cruel smile crawled across Mira's face as she watched the man before her beg for his lost love. A very small part of her felt a twinge of pity for the poor fool before her. But the whole of her felt a dark glee of triumph and joy at his loss. Mira strode confidently over to Laxus. She put a hand to his cheek and looked straight into his eyes. "You really are a fool of a man aren't you? Your Mira is gone, all that is left of her is what you see in front of you. She is never coming back!" While digging her nails deep into his cheek, Mira ripped her hand away. Laxus did not even flinch as he felt his skin being ripped away. Instead he grabbed her arm and pulled her close. "I refuse to believe that my Mira is completely gone. She found her way back to me once before, and I know she will do it again. This spell might be strong, but she is stronger!" Mira glared at Laxus in total disgust as she ripped her arm from his grip. Once she was free she ran to Lucy and Erza, who had been watching her with bored interest. As she reached her friends, Mira raised her hand to signal Virion, and before Laxus could even move a portal opened up and swallowed the women up.

Natsu froze just before his next attack not believing what he was seeing. A black hole swallowing up Mira, Erza, and Lucy. Whirling around to face Zadicous, Natsu screamed. "What did you do to them? Bring them back now!" Zadicous cocked his head at Natsu, giving him a look of pity. "Why my dear boy, I am afraid you have been misled yet again." Zadicous gestured to his right side, and before Natsu's eyes Lucy and the others re-appeared. "These woman do not want to leave. They have come to the realization that this is where they belong."

Jellal's face paled as he came to the realization of what had just happened. The women had given in to the darkness to lead them to Zadicous. That was the only reason that they had found the king. They did it to try and save Gray, but little did they realize the consequences of what they had just done. Jellal looked over at Natsu and watched as the fire surrounding him burned higher and brighter. The fire dragon slayer was really close to losing it. They had to do something quick or they were going to lose their friends forever. Jellal's eyes final settled on Erza. She briefly met his gaze with disinterest before looking away. In that moment he knew that this could very well be the moment he was going to die. But he knew that Erza Scarlet would always be worth dying for.

Zadicous smiled at the men standing before him. It was truly satisfying to watch them suffer, and know that he was the one causing them this pain. Laughing quietly Zadicous turned to Maggart. "Please bring in my wife, we need to make this final showdown more entertaining." Maggart nodded, then exited the room. A few seconds later Maggart reappeared with Levy by his side. "Ah my dear, glad you could join us. You are just in time to hear the rules of our new game." Levy stood at his side her eyes dull and despondent, it was if her will to live was fast leaving her. Turning his attention back to Jellal and the others Zadicous continued. "Now I know you all have the idea that you want to kill me and my sons. And to be honest the idea of destroying you pleases us as well. So we decided to make a game out of this, winner takes all. Now listen closely because I will only say this once. Virion will open portals that will lead to separate parts of the castle. Here you will separately face off with either me or one of my sons. And I assume I don't have to tell you what the prize will be if you win."

Gajeel clenched his fists, his eyes locked Levy. "What are you too afraid to take us all on at once? You have to separate us to try and take us out one at a time." Zadicous narrowed his eyes slightly but held onto his fake smile. "If I were you I would take this deal." Zadicous gestured to Gray. "Because he does not have much time left. What do you really have to lose, well other than your lives?"

Natsu glanced at Gray, Zadicous's words sinking in. "Fine I accept the terms of your stupid game. Let's get on with this!" Gajeel growled and grabbed Natsu's arm. "What are you doing? This is obviously a trap!" Natsu glared at Gajeel in return as he wrenched his arm out of Gajeel's grip. "Don't you think I know that?! But what else can we do, Gray is dying! We have to do this!" Gajeel glanced at Jellal and Laxus. "I would have to agree with Natsu, this is our last chance at ending this." Jellal said as he gave the brothers a murderous look. "Fine! But I still think this is a dumb idea. We are all going to regret this!"

Dark satisfaction filled Zadicous as he watched the discussion happening below. He knew what their decision would be before they even said it. Zadicous watched as the annoying pink haired man stepped up. "You know our answer so let's get on with this!" "Very well! Your game Salamander involves the lovely Lucy Heartfilia. Your opponent is Thorne. Virion if you please, send them on their way. "Let the games begin!" Natsu clenched his teeth as he was sucked into Virion's dark portal. It felt like eternity before he was spilled out of the annoying black hole. Squinting his eyes Natsu took in his new surroundings. Before him was a large empty room containing one room. And before that door was the one person Natsu had been dying to get his hands on, Thorne. "Nice to see Virion let you come here in one piece. " "Whatever, even if he hadn't I still can take you down!" Natsu scoffed. Without taking his eyes off Thorne, Natsu noticed a familiar scent. Lucy. Turning around Natsu began to frantically look around for Lucy, but he couldn't locate her. "Where is she, you bastard? What did you do with her? Tell me!" Laughing Thorne pointed towards the ceiling. There tied to the ceiling with fear in her eyes, Lucy could see the entire scene.

Before Natsu could even make a move a giant vine wrapped around his ankle throwing him into the wall. "Now, now don't go forgetting me. This is our fight we can't go chasing after pretty women." Growling Natsu shot up as he ignited his hands. "That was a cheap shot you dirty bastard." Thorne grinned as he made another vine shot towards Natsu's head. Barely avoiding getting his head knocked off Natsu dodged the shot. "Fire Dragon Roar!" Fire shot out towards Thorne's head only to be intercepted by a wall of vines. A look of shock crawled across Natsu's face as he noticed that there was barely any damage to the vines. "Come now, this can't be the best you can do. I thought you were the great Salamander, where is all this power I have been told about?" Natsu grinned as his entire body erupted into flames. "Don't kid yourself pal, we have just gotten started!" As he lunged at Thorne again Natsu was able to avoid the storm of thorns that were shot at his head. Finally being able to catch Thorne off guard Natsu kicked off the wall and punched him in the gut. Flying back Thorne used his vines to stop his fall. Gasping for breath Thorne gave Natsu a dirty look. "Not bad but still not good enough. A vine that had been crawling acroos the floor wrapped around Natsu's chest. "Thorns of Blood!" Hundreds of thorns shot out of the vines and buried themselves deep into Natsu flesh. Natsu screamed as poison began to sear its way into his blood. No this was not over, not even close. Anger welled up inside him fueling his fire. Fire that burned the vines around him. Thorne stumbled back in shock as he watched his vines burn to ash. "How are you doing that? It's impossible, my vines are indestructible!" His blood dripped to the floor as Natsu faced his enemy. "Never underestimate a wizard from Fairy Tail."

Lucy watched in horror as Thorne sent more vines to ensnare Natsu. She had been so stupid to give into the darkness. She wanted to save Gray so badly she hadn't stopped to consider the repercussions of her choice. As soon as she had given in all she could think about was getting to Zadicous, to receive her power. But as soon she was sucked into Virion's portal all that darkness was temporarily removed. Zadicous said it was for her to learn that darkness always wins. Right now all she wanted was to help Natsu stop this madness. Lucy screamed as Thorne landed another blow to Natsu. Natsu's chest was sliced open from the vines thorns. "Natsu!" Lucy screamed only to realize that he couldn't hear her due to the room's enchantments. The fight continued to rage on, sometimes Thorne gaining ground sometimes Natsu. "Damn it! There has to be something I can do! I can't just sit here!" Think Lucy, think!" The ropes that bond her were made of pure magic, so cutting them was not an answer. Maybe if she transferred her magic into the ropes she could overload them and they would bust apart. But there was also the possibility of strengthening the ropes and just draining her powers. It was her only chance though, closing her eyes Lucy began to transfer her powers into the bonds.

"Not bad Salamander, I see the stories weren't completely wrong. But still you are no match for me." Three vines shot out at Natsu, dodging them with ease Natsu turned towards Thorne with a grin. "Missed me!" Natsu continued to taunt Thorne until a heavy objected knocked him to the ground. "Ow! What the hell!" Natsu complained until he noticed the blonde hair spilling onto his face. "Lucy!?" "Natsu, are you alright?" "Me? I'm fine, you're the one that came crashing from the ceiling!" A bored sigh interrupted them. "Hate to interrupt the reunion but this is a fight!" Helping Lucy to her feet Natsu faced Thorne. "Right! Stay back Lucy, he is mine!"

Lucy noticed a strange aura forming around Thorne. This wasn't his normal magic, she had been around him enough to know that. The aura around Thorne was growing darker as the temperature in the room began to drop. "Thorne what are you doing?" Lucy screamed. Thorne laughed at the panic in her voice. "Ah Lucy, when I saw you fall from the ceiling I knew you would never truly be mine. Not until this boy is destroyed!" A terrible realization hit Lucy, she knew what spell he was using. "Death's Thorn!" "Natsu move!" She screamed as she rushed forward and pushed him out of the way just in time. A black bolt shot out of Thorne's hand and pierced Lucy chest. Natsu watched the entire thing as if it were happening in slow motion. "No!" Rushing forward he cradled Lucy's head in his lap. "No, no, no this can't be happening! I promised I would get you out here safe. Hang on, just hang on!" Natsu continued to whisper to Lucy until he heard a laugh. Natsu took his scarf off made a pillow for Lucy's head. Then slowly he rose to his feet, unbelievable fury boiling his blood. "You will pay!" Then he rushed for Thorne!