Chapter 24

One after another I took down the enemies that were in my path. Switching between my weapon using both broken key weapon and my sword and a few bits of my magic. We split up to cover more ground and to be sure to take out as many as possible. Eventually I ended up by Ryker and we where back to back with one another as Infir's forces surrounded us.

I kicked one of the creatures back then brought my sword up to block another. Ryker took out the one that went for my back he ducked and I slashed one that was jumping at him. I then jumped over Ryker and stabbed one in to the ground. As I worked on getting my sword out of the ground Ryker protected me.

I could here the ear piece buzzing with orders from the people at the command centre. "We need to bring there number down a bit before going after Infir." I exclaimed slashing down two shadow creatures.

"Your right but if it takes to long they won't have the energy left." Ryker agreed as he slammed one to the ground and kicked another back. I did a jump slash over Ryker and took out 3 more.

I threw Ryker my sword as I slide past him calling out my whip. I did a sweeping kick to knock a few on the ground then with my whip grabbed one by the leg and threw it at the line of creatures in front of me. I then summoned a short sword in my other hand to slash as creatures coming at me from the side.

"Its like Infir's toying with us the way that he keep sending his creatures at us."

"Your right, he's trying to annoy and wear us out."

"I'll admit it's a tad annoying but these weaklings won't wear us out."

After a few minutes or hours of making our why through waves of Infir's creature the relaxed feeling we had was all cut short when a voice came across the coms. "Luciella! Ryker! In coming!" But it wasn't fast enough. We just barely got out of the way as something crashed between us.

"Ryker you alright?" I asked through a cough trying to see through the dust cloud.

"I'm good, you?" He asked.

"Nothing to worry about over here. But what the hell was that."

I could make up a figure get up from the ground standing fairly tall. Then it raced toward me at such a fast speed I almost didn't get my blade up in time to block the attack. The clashing sound of the two blades colliding rang threw the air.

"Did you really think you two young rulers could really pull of the job your parents couldn't, when not in your true forms?" He laughed, I could feel the powerful dark energy coming off his body. "You must be stupid not to start this fight without releasing the seals to use your true powers in the weakling mortal's realm."

Ryker charged forward and tried to slash him from behind while his back was turned. He quickly reacted by kicking me back causing me to roll turing around and parrying Ryker's attack. He then quickly acted and hit Ryker with a blast of magic.

Damn it! I need to release the seal if we are to have a chance against him, I growled and began to work on that. It wasn't something that would take long hardly even a few second but Infir was fast. The moment he realized I was attempting to break the seal on my powers he rushed towards me and like in a blink of an eye was in front of me. He was about to slash me, so I had to stop as bring my blade up to block.

The force of the attack against my block caused my to leave a slight indent in the ground. Ryker once again tried to take Infir's attention away from me with an attack. I braced myself for Infir's attack so I didn't get thrown back.

I could get over the communicator they were going wild. It was a surprise to have Infir just attack us like this. We didn't expect him to do that. I quickly regained myself and went in for a slash but he dealt with the attack with ease forcing Ryker back a little to stop his attack then clashed with my blade to stop me before kicking Ryker which Ryker blocked using the sword.

Infir was fighting us with ease. Even through we couldn't use our full power at the moment it was aggravating. The way he was fighting us was like it was a game and he could kill us anytime. Which was the case at the moment.

Infir was about to slash Ryker right after knocking him down. So I reacted quickly and using my whip I wrapped it around his blade and held my ground and using all my available strength held his blade back inches away from hitting Ryker. Ryker acted quickly and moved away but before I could do anything Infir pulled me forward causing me to lose balance. Then in a quick motion using my our trick against me, using my whip he threw me attack Ryker causing us to crash into each other. This caused us to fall down to the ground fairly hard.

I then noticed Infir began to advance towards us. I began to scramble back to my feet we didn't have much time. "We need some kind of distraction. Now!" I hissed into the coms. Volleys of magic then came this way at Infir. I got to my feet but before I could even try to release the seal once again I watched as Infir cut through the attack like it was nothing.

"Shit, it didn't work." Ryker hissed getting to his feet. We were trying everything but it was hopeless if we are unable to release the seal on our full power.

He was then right infant of us as was going to slash. I just managed to block but the force of his attack sent my blade flying from my hand. He then went to attack me since I was basically defenceless but Ryker stepping in blocked with his sword. He trying to fight back so I took this as my chance to try once more. But their wasn't enough time as Ryker's blade was thrown from his hand.

"Ryker!" I hissed, I ran forward jumping in front of Ryker creating a barrier to hold off the attack. The barrier broke and I felt a sting sensation in my side. "Luciella!"

Infir's blade was in my side pierced through the barrier I made. Damn like this we really are powerless against him, I hissed. "I'm fine."

Infir then pulled out his blade and destroyed my barrier completely and hit me aside. I held my side as I force myself up from the ground just in time to see Infir after beating Ryker up slamming him into the ground and stabbing him in the chest.

He didn't even remove his blade from Ryker's body as he made his way over to me and grabbed me by the neck and lifting me up off the ground. He was faster then me and stronger then Ryker, in our current state we didn't stand a chance.

"If you enjoy playing mortal so much. I'll kill you in that pathetic mortal form your mother had you in to hid you from me for all those year."

"N-no d-don't!"

I could feel as the Imphire energy began to cover me forcing me to change into my complete mortal form. I tried to fight it off the best I could with my limited amount of mana. Despite my best attempts for a moment I know he had me appear in my mortal form. The one which reveals my secret that I've kept for all these years since I faked my mortal form's death.

I clawed at his arm as he was trying to brake my neck. He's going to kill me… its over. We've failed.

Right as I gave up all hope in braking free a blast of fire magic hit Infir. "Who did that?" Infir growled turing around.

"Do you really think your any match for me mortal?"

"He's not fighting you alone."

I couldn't see who they were as Infir was blocking them from view.

"R-run away!" I choked out.

"We can't do that, your our nakama and we are not letting one of our nakama die."

"Hahaha! Thats right… I remember these three. What fun it was using them to cause such pain to you. Using them to break you was the plan, and have one of my minions take you out when you where weak. But of course he was able to get you before I could complete my plan."

"What the hell is he talking about?"

"You never told them? I'm surprised, being around them after what happened, between you I'm surprised you didn't try to kill one of them."

"S-shut up."

"Not only them but nearly the whole guild. After so long so much torrtcher, and harm they had caused you. I'm surprised you didn't kill them."

"I would have enjoyed watching you getting over taken by-"

I then race my nails across Infir's face. He then threw me aside, "Alright, I'll take care of these mortals first, making you watch. Then Luciella, I'll snap your neck or you'll-"

"Never!"

"We'll see."

He smiled turning his attention away from me and to the mortals that were dumb enough to fight him. This allowed me a glimpse at how they were. I had a feeling of who it was but the conversation, but I wasn't sure till I saw them. Natsu, Erza, and Gray. Those idiots, are they trying to get themselves killed! I hissed I was about to get up and stop them when something stopped me.

"Lu, they are distracting him. Knows our only chance."

"… Damn it. I hate it when your right."

Ryker and I took the chance they were giving us, to finally break the seal which was stopping us from releasing our full powers. When the seal finally broke it was just in time to watch Infir strike them down. "No!" I yelled.

I ran forward and kicked Infir in the face sending him rolling to the side. "Sacrificing the lives of these mortals just to be able to break the entire seal on your godly powers. I didn't think you were capable of pulling off such a dirty trick Luciella."

"She might not but I sure as hell am!" Ryker roared as he slashed Infir with his claws. Ryker was then holding his own against Infir but barely. As that went on I went over to see if Natsu, Gray and Erza were still alive.

"Luciella! You need to bring them back now!"

"Era? But Ryker's fighting Infir. I can't leaving him alone to fight Infir! We are stronger together."

"Luciella, you need to."

"… alright. Silver, Bolt get over here and help Ryker as I take care of this. No holding back."

"On it my Queen. We are almost there."

"Good."

I then picked up the limp bodies of Natsu Gray and Erza, then opened a small portal in front of me and went through it closing it behind me. I was then rushed to the medical tent putting them down on beds, Era them came in with the goddess of life and the god of death.

"Their dead aren't they?" I asked with a sigh. "Yes… but I've yet to lead them to the after life my queen." the god of death Grim told me.

"Why not? I know it a war for our home Grim but the balance is fragile."

"Your right, and my underlings are busy dealing with all the other deaths that are occurring, but I'm dealing with them myself."

"That odd."

I didn't really think much of the goddess of life Liv being here as she's normally with Grim. But this considering the context I began to question it.

"Era what's the real reason you had me bring them back here? Grim doesn't personally deal with the dead. So I know something is up."

"Yes… well."

"It has something to do with the future doesn't it?"

"Yes."

"What?"

"If Grim leads them to the after life like normal. You and Ryker wont be strong enough to take down Infir."

"There is no chance at all? I'm a little surprised at that."

"The one.. Igneel's kin. He has a lot more power then a normal person. And the other is a demon slayer, and the women has some very strong magic as well. Even with the underlings, quiet a few have died. There is only one out of many outcomes we will win if they die."

"And if they life how many out comes?"
"3 of which Infir's defeated."

"Which is better then one. I get it… so what's the price for this. Bring back 3 people from the dead is not free."

"Your right about that my queen. However this once we'll allow it. But it won't be easy, you must enter purgatory and find them yourself."

"Purgatory… I get it… so what's the limit. You wouldn't make it easy for me even if I am your queen or the fate of our home is in danger. There must be some catch, a side from me personally going into purgatory."

"This hourglass is the limit, time is different in purgatory, so this will tell you when you time is up and send you back, with or with out their souls."

"Got it."

I took the hour glass from Liv. "I must warn you, they may not initially want to come with you."

"Right… anything else?"

"No thats it."

Grim then made a gate to purgatory for me, the last thing I heard was from Era. "Best of luck my Queen."