"You were—from Tenrou Island back then," Natsu broke off.
"You had your chance to defeat the Black Wizard Zeref, back then," Zeref said. "But you didn't."
"Wait. Why are you here now?" Wendy asked.
Zeref's fingers curled slightly. "To break...the cycle that we call 'life'. But to do that, I need a human medium. One with powers that rival and equal to Acnologia."
"You needed Glacia," Gajeel finished.
"Her transformation was incomplete. I'm simply here to speed up the process. The magic behind the divine blood of dragons can only do so much," Zeref mused. "Once the eclipse is over—"
"NO!"
The quartet looked towards the landing above.
Chapter 29
He couldn't believe it. He refused to believe it. But the truth tore his heart in two, just as his light blade did the same to the girl he loved.
It was her blood that stained his arm; her heart that he had just pierced; and it was her eyes that stared back at him one last time.
As if the world froze over, Rogue could only watch in grief as Dobengal placed a hand on Glacia's shoulder while he pulled his arm out of her chest, blood droplets falling to earth.
Blue eyes began to close for eternity as the body fell backwards, about to hit the floor if Dobengal hadn't caught her as he fell on his knees, tears falling uncontrollably. It didn't matter if it was an accident. It didn't matter even if the shadow had covered her over. The wound was too deep and had struck a vital organ. There was no chance of survival. It was—and always would be— his fault.
As he shook with silent fits, Rogue felt tiny rivers flowing from his eyes. Sting couldn't remember a time when he had seen his best friend like this.
"You—you killed her," Acnologia stated bluntly, shaking in rage.
"You fool!" Zeref shouted up to the Dragon King. "At the very least, retrieve the corpse!"
Something inside Rogue snapped when those words were spoken. Acnologia had not taken one step when Rogue charged at him, his strength amplified to the point where he couldn't control. He didn't want to control it.
"Tch!" Zeref crossed his arms before himself, a black magic circle appearing in front of him. "Retrieve Tiamat's corpse!"
Demons began to emerge from the circle, running towards the landing where Dobengal held Glacia's lifeless body.
"Oh no you don't!" The Dragon Slayers of Fairy Tail rushed forward, forgetting the Black Wizard as they destroyed the demons he sent their way.
"Glacia..." A bloodied hand reached out to brush away pure white bangs, halting in hesitation. "Tell me...tell me this is just some sick prank...you're faking, right?"
"Get out of the way, boy!" Acnologia roared as he sent a Shadow Dragon's Punch at Rogue. The latter ducked, leg shooting out as he kicked him in the chest.
"I won't let you come near her!"
Piercing light began to radiate from the sky. The moon passed over the sun, returning the light it had blocked. The eclipse was over.
"I said—" Acnologia began to transform. His skin cracked, black scales with blue designs creeping over his skin. Fingers curved as they became rough hands with wicked talons. Fangs began to replace teeth as a set of wings burst from his shoulder blades and a tail from the end of his spine. "Out of the way!" he snarled, flying past Rogue. His hand stretched out, the Dragon King narrowed his blank eyes on his target—but an obstacle was in the way. His clawed hand reached out, talons gleaming—
"Memory-Make: Veiled Barrier of Auster!"
An aurora-like shield surrounded Dobengal and the lifeless Glacia. Acnologia's attack rebounded off the barrier.
"Rufus!" Sting yelled.
The Memory-Make wizard stood in the doorway, a fatigued look on his face. Now I can see why the girl passed out earlier, he thought. It takes much more magic than a normal defense.
"Tch!" Zeref whistled loudly, drawing the attention of Acnologia.
The dragon snarled, flying towards the Dark mage, who leapt onto Acnologia's back.
"Come back here, cowards!" Natsu shouted up at the two.
"Destroy the castle," Zeref ordered, to which the Dragon King nodded.
But it was totally unnecessary. Other dragons within the castle stomped through the throne room, taking flight as the stone floor cracked under the weight of tons on dragons. Stone could only take so much.
"Look out!" Rufus yelled up to Dobengal.
The floor beneath him crumbled, causing the two to fall through the chasm. A hand just barely held onto the edge, but struggled to keep it that way.
The part he held onto broke. He would've fallen had it not been for Sting grabbing the ninja's wrist. Suddenly, the weight pulling his right arm down vanished. But that meant—
Sting, Dobengal, and Rogue watched in horror as Glacia's body fell into the darkness with other rubble. She was gone.
"We can't stay here! We'll be buried too!" Regaining their sense as the pit filled uphalfway, the mages of Sabertooth made a run for the exit.
The Dragon King flew away, with Zeref upon his back. "This will not end here," Zeref whispered, knowing that Acnologia could hear him. And that was his intention. "We'll meet again...Natsu."
The castle fell apart as the last mage left the failed structure. Walls toppled, columns were brought down, and the doorway gave way. There was no way back in.
As soon as Sting turned his head, he saw Rogue throwing a punch at Dobengal. And...he did nothing to stop the Dragon Slayer.
"It's your fault!" Rogue grabbed the ninja's collar. Sting swore that right now, his friend was the god of death himself. "It's your fault she died! She didn't deserve it! Glacia deserved every right to live!" he screamed, throwing his victim's words back at him.
"Whoa, Rogue, cool it, man! You know he was tricked into it! How were we supposed to know that Acnologia overshadowed—"
"It wasn't an accident! You said it yourself, didn't you?! You'd sacrifice her for the world!"
Dobengal managed to push Rogue's arm away, looking away in guilt. "I did...didn't I?"
"...that's a lie, isn't it?"
The mages of Sabertooth turned in the direction of the voice. Vóreia approached them slowly, trembling in fear. "...You're lying, right?" she pressed, tears ready to burst at any minute. The split-tailed Exceed gripped her fan tightly, the tessen spread out. "Glacia didn't die...she wasn't murdered...right?"
"Vóreia..."
"Tell me you're all lying," Vóreia repeated.
Rogue stepped away from Dobengal. "Go on," he mocked. "Tell her."
This was new. Sting had never seen the callous side of Rogue before. In fact, he didn't think it existed.
"Vóreia...it wasn't an accident...I killed her," Dobengal finished.
Vóreia shook in rage, holding onto her fan for dear life. "You're lying...you're just trying to cover up the fact that Acnologia—"
"Vóreia..." Dobengal held up his right arm. "It's Glacia's blood that stains my hands...I killed her..."
A battle cry sounded, and Vóreia's iron fan soared past Dobengal, slicing his right cheek, breaking the emblem of Sabertooth. Sting winced, even though he wasn't the one cut.
Falling to the ground, Vóreia cried openly as her tessen returned to her side.
"July 7...today's July 7..." Vóreia wiped her eyes furiously. "Glacia's birthday...it's today...she's eighteen..."
