"L..Lord Natsu!"
Ultear exclaimed as she shot up from her chair. The tea table rocked violently as she slammed her hand in surprise. Cups flew everywhere with their contents. Some of them passing by Brandish.
Dimaria quickly raised her hand to stop their time, and they ended up floating in the air, covered in a golden aura. Ultear blinked her eyes several times as she gave a perplexed look. "Huh?"
However, she received a harsh ruffle of hair. She instantly retreated as she closed her eyes, pressed her lips like a child. Natsu nonchalantly remarked.
"Yo, Ultear."
Ultear snapped. "Lo…lord Natsu! Is ruining other's hair a hobby of yours?" Natsu replied as he even ruffled her hair even more.
"Awwwww, you're cute when you get angry."
Ultear's hair spiked up like a cat as her face became hot and red. Her iris dilated as her cheeks started swell like a chipmunk. She growled as she tried to pry off his hand from her hair.
"Lord Dragneel! Stop this immediately!"
Brandish pointed at Natsu and announced.
"Hentai. Do not worry, Councilman Milkovich, Natsu is a loss cause of a perverted pedophile. He only gets aroused to kindergarteners and have molested hundreds of girl's butts just by passing by. He won't try to violate your virginity right here and now where your mother's watching, nor trying to stick his magic wand to your socket and ejec…"
Natsu and Ultear growled in unison. "Oi." Natsu added, "If you say something useless again, I'll make you regret it."
Brandish took a large step away as she covered her mouth. "How lewd, are you trying to impregnate me?" Natsu stared at her momentarily as his draconic iris turned empty and hopeless. He stared at Brandish as if he was looking at some mentally sick patient. The bobbed haired girl remarked.
"Stop staring me like that." She added, "Besides, it isn't nice to interrupt our evening tea session. We had an important conversation rather."
Natsu answered as he looked around to check everyone, as he was about to close the portal behind. Yet, he instantly noticed someone missing, and it was obvious who it was. He could not miss his cute and adorable scarlet haired girlfriend/mate/fiancé who also happened to have an unmistakable goddess-like figure- Erza. Irene on the other side was encouraging her little imuoto(sister) to step through the portal.
Ah yes, Erza had never seen this kind of teleportation spell yet. Given that even Ultear, who had mastery and knowledge over countless magic, showed curiosity and confusion, it was no wonder that Erza would show similar reaction as well. She seemed almost shaken by the new means of transportation. Everyone sighed, except for Arnstrid and Ultear. Natsu proceeded to take the knightess's hands, but Irene stopped with a shit-eating grin of her own.
Natsu's perfect pink brow rose in wonder and curiosity. He anticipated what Irene had stored. He watched Irene seemingly pulling out a piece of strawberry cake from nowhere and presented to Erza. A cake with a glistening bright red strawberry with a healthy amount of cream on bottom, it looked absolutely gorgeous to the knightess's eyes.
She exclaimed after sniffing delicious scent to confirm whether she was hallucinating or not. "Nii-chan! Big sister…! This… this is…"
Irene teased, "Oh Erza~ I know you are scared but Natsu-sama's portal is so dumb and simple, it will never fail."
A tick mark appeared on Natsu's forehead as he growled softly under his breath. "Who are you calling stupid…" And the reaction was the same on Erza's.
"I…How dare you call me I'm afraid! I am not scared! Not scared at all!" Her beautiful voice echoed, perhaps little louder than everyone anticipated. But to Natsu, he had to grab his heart to stay focused. Yet, for Brandish, she couldn't help to speak out loud, "Erza, you are an idiot."
Ultear instantly agreed. "What did you expect from Meat? Look at those uselessly huge lumps of meat on her chest, did you honestly thought Meat could think, even at all?"
Brandish apologized to Erza with 90-degree bow. "I understand your struggle, Erza." Then she threw her thumb at her friend for the best of luck. "No matter what, we are always here for you, Erza!"
Erza's face flushed red, and her teeth turned razor sharp. Steam fumed out of her nostrils as she jumped. "AAAAARGH! Don't treat me like I'm some sort of idiot!"
Irene quickly rushed in and covered her sister's sight with strawberry cake. In fact, she did it so effectively that it entirely hid everyone. It distracted Erza from them faster than lightning dropping on a tree. The younger sister's expression shifted in a deadbeat, and her iris turned into a pair of heart with the color of a strawberry. Her jaw fell, and saliva drooled out from it, neverminding the lustful glare of her eyes.
"Ummmmm…. Strawberry cake…"
Irene continued to tease, and it worked marvelously. Erza followed the cake and stepped through the portal.
"Come on~ come on~ that's it~ Now who's a good girl?"
Yet those words fell short on Erza's ears. The planned seemed to work, yet Natsu couldn't help to sigh in misery. He closed his eyes for a second to calm his mind a bit and opened them again.
He froze.
Irene was staring at her own cake just like how Erza was. She now held the same heart-shaped iris and enthralled look on her face. Her saliva was drooling as well as she muttered something like: "Thi…this is my Strawberry cake, isn't it Erza?"
Pinkette growled. "You are hopeless." And swooped them up by their collar. The portal closed back. Just as he placed them back on the ground, Irene snatched the strawberry topping on the cake before Erza could grab it.
A streak of tear fell from Erza's frozen face.
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Prometheus
Chapter 49: Auguries of Demolition
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It was after an hour everyone started to calm down again. Wiping her tear off, Erza stammered as she attempted to regain her composure. She sniffled as her eyes still red, she looked around the hall she was in and recognized it. "The mansion?"
The hall was entirely made of marvel floorings and panels, and intricate golden decorations covering every inch of them. A diamond chandelier hung lazily on top of the ceiling, which had Roman styled dome structure. On its center, a streak of golden orange light leaked in the form of a solid beam, indicating it was already evening. The light bounced off from the crystal chandelier in a brilliant hue, illuminating the entire hall with the color of the evening sun.
In the center of the hall, there was a large rounded table with candles on. The candles were also something wasn't out of the ordinary. Each of them was colored vanilla, and its platinum cradle was also a work of art with every detail indicating it was made by an artist. That one cradle alone was enough for an ordinary person to buy a new medium-sized house and a new dorm with every furniture in if for Erza. With the candles, fitting designs of cups and plates were scattered, yet one in front of Brandish, and another for Ultear.
"Why are we exactly here?"
Natsu answered as he pulled a small loli figure behind everyone. "To make sure no one hears us" Then he called to Ultear and Arnstrid.
"Councilman Ultear and you, useless shit, there's something we must discuss…" Then he put his shoulder on Erza to move her forward.
"This is something that she needs to know as well."
Erza remained her perplexed look in her eyes. "Something I need to know about?"
Natsu nodded, while Irene and Dimaria shared a nervous expression. Brandish also had a difficult look on her face, and Ultear gulped down her saliva. They all knew Natsu's original intention, and their ultimate plan. Killing a god wasn't something trivial, nor something that must be discussed in openly. But that wasn't why they were afraid, they knew very well that he'll talk about Tartarus, it just was that the mention of their current mission of eliminating demons reminded of them the God of Life and Death and the final countdown that will eventually befall upon them.
He continued. "There's something you need to know about, and I need to you be calm. What I am about to tell you isn't something that should be talked about in public…"
He observed Erza's eyes and watched her compose herself. He gave her his iconic serious look, and she caught it instantly, knowing how exactly serious he was. Given the nigh-godlike power that he possesses, she seemed to realize anything that comes out of his mouth are not jest or a joke. She gave him a similar look and announced, "I'm ready, onii-chan. Just tell me whatever it is, I can handle it."
Natsu whispered. "I know you can." Then his voice rose, "Remember what I've told you? I am here to save my brother from his curse."
"My brother created… machines to kill himself, all because he loved the world so much. These machines were designed to kill my only family left, and that infuriates me." He added. "I knew their existence thanks to my brother, but when I heard they dared to form the guild under my name, I realized I had to destroy them all."
Erza knitted her brows, slowly catching up, but not understanding it fully. "Onii-chan, I don't follow…You plan on destroying the guild?"
Natsu stepped back from Erza, and Irene's smile spread, Brandish's expression was still stern, and Dimaria was kept her pious professional look. Ultear's eye kept on dart between Natsu and Erza, not knowing how she'd react. Yet, it was only Arnstrid whose tension skyrocketed. The conversation she was hearing, and already knowing Natsu's plan, (even partial) sent chills down to her spine.
Natsu explained as even himself noticing the shift of the mood in the room.
"Erza, you know of Tartarus, right? Can you tell me what you know of?"
Erza exclaimed as she heard something she knew about and answered with confidence…
"Of course, I know of them, onii-chan! They are the part of the Balam Alliance. They are the root of all evil!"
Yet that confidence died down as she saw she didn't know much about them. "Other than that, their presence is rarely seen… we just know that they are just out there."
Her puzzled expression suddenly had gone softer as if she finally saw the big part of Natsu's picture. She whispered in understanding, her brows collecting themselves again as she stepped closer to him.
"You want Tartarus to be eliminated?" Then she looked around everyone for an answer. Their expression just confirmed that. Then she looked at Natsu, which he explained further.
"They are completely comprised of my brother's creations. He calls them Etherious. Demon. They formed Tartarus using my name and see themselves as the top of the food chain."
From the side, Irene added. "While you were busy fighting the undead on your side, Natsu-sama and I did some digging, thanks to Ultear. Natsu-sama was able to infiltrate the Tartarus' base, and I did something of my own…" She motioned to her.
"Turns out it wasn't only Tartarus that had foul intentions…I don't know if you believe me, sister, but the council turns out to be not too so good and merry."
The knightess questioned. "I'm not sure what you mean by that, sister… The council's not what I think it seemed?"
This time, it was Ultear who answered. "As a member of the council, I justify that to be the truth, Meat. The Magic Council is not what you think it is. The question is, can you handle the whole picture?"
Erza growled even though she started to feel small. She had to know the truth, but she knew for a fact that the truth is going to be something giant she cannot accept easily, something vile or unspeakable. It was going to be ugly.
"As I've said to Onii-chan, I can handle it. AND STOP calling me MEAT!"
"Alright, Meat bag. If you wish to know all the dirty secret that council had kept…" Ultear answered. Natsu and Irene glanced at her, and Dimaria and Brandish were leaning in intently. Arnstrid was only flinched to back away from the conversation. She still wasn't sure why she was needed here.
"The truth is, the council does not care about you. We-no… they don't care about the welfare of mages and guilds alike. Twelve out of eight, council members knows nothing about how to use magic themselves. Their only interest is in how to exploit mages and magic, and archive and mark only ones that are useful. The most useful of them all, they label them as forbidden and yet they continue practicing them in secret. In the world where arcane might determines the one's power, gaining more and more of them is their goal. In result, they all have pledged themselves to some kind of dark guild, or leading them… and all of them farmed a den of war hounds who only listen to their master."
Erza responded, her voice rose in shock. "The council is…?" then she looked around everyone again. They shared the same look, even Natsu. Which he placed a small child in front of him.
"For example, this girl here." The child tumbled her steps couple times as he pulled her roughly, which she growled in discomfort.
"Hey! I can walk myself! Let me go!" And Natsu complied by lifting her up in the air like a little rabbit. He ignored her and added,
"This is Crawford's pit bull, the self-proclaimed god slayer."
"I AM a GOD SLAYER!"
Natsu barked, instantly shutting up her complains. "Who told you to talk back to me!" The girl instantly apologized. "I..I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"
Natsu only scoffed at that. "From what I know, he is the only one. But Crawford swore his allegiance to Tartarus… isn't that right?" He motioned Arnstrid, which she quipped in fear.
"Y..yes! I'm the only one, and Tartarus helped him gain more power!"
"Are you okay, Erza? Knowing that the council is not what the world thinks it is?" Natsu questioned in concern. Erza answered as she took a seat next to the tea table.
"I…Onii-chan, this is too much to take in…But why tell me now, not before?"
And the answer he provided, "because, after the battle against the undead, I knew I couldn't keep you in the dark. I wanted to keep you away from the dangers of my mission, but now I realize that my influence here extends so much it has become impossible. My failure to recognize the danger of the artifact has caused too many damages, I should be responsible, not you, nor anyone."
Yet, he was rudely interrupted by someone who did not expect.
"Senpai!" Dimaria exclaimed hurriedly with her both hands gathered on center and clenching them tightly on the fabric. "Everything is mine to blame!" Her eyes traveled to Erza with guilt, before they settled on the floor.
"It wasn't you who should take all the blame. I mishandled the artifact before I knew, the librarian had it. I should have safeguarded better…"
Erza's eye widened at the revelation, herself slightly afraid that it was that blue haired girl who caused the problem. "You don't possibly mean Levy Mcgarden?"
Natsu held Dimaria's hand tightly and gave it a small stroke with his thumb. "It was my fault. We very all know what he is capable of." He reassured her. Dimaria tried to argue, but he gave a perfect smile of gentle sweetness. His cheek rose a bit as his lips stretch to form a beautiful apricot parabola.
It was enough to stop her talking. Dimaria even had to avoid looking at it to get herself together. Natsu refocused to the reveled knightess again.
"The point is Erza, I was selfish. I can only say, I'm sorry."
Erza shook her head. "No, Onii-chan. I understand… but please, don't keep any more secrets from me now on. Promise?"
She drew her pinky, just like that time when Natsu revealed his dragon form. Natsu remembered and responded with a pinky of his own. He swore again. "I promise. From now on, Natsu Dragneel shall no longer keep secrets from Erza Scarlet…."
A smile bloomed on the knightess's rosy lips. But it was short-lived as her brows furrowed again.
"But onii-chan, this is… this is quite a revelation." She added. "To be honest, I never thought highly of magic council…" She glimpsed at Ultear. "That includes you." Which successfully gained a tick mark from her. Erza completely managed to disregard her anger and continued.
"No one who expertise in magic likes their approach, but I had respect to those who maintained the order. Now that I know the truth, I am not sure what to make out of it, or what to feel."
She looked at everyone in the room. "Shouldn't we spread this to everyone? Isn't this what the public needs to know about?"
Ultear scoffed at that idea. "That is easy to say than done, Meat. Don't you know the council has eyes all over the place? After that battle, I'm sure they'll send someone who is more influential, or lethal."
Natsu announced, "Which now brings to the main topic, and as a reason, I asked Councilman Ultear and Dogshit to come." "Four Horsemen of Apocalypse, who are they and why did I not see them in the archive?"
"Four Horsemen of Apocalypse," Ultear repeated. "I am aware of them, but technically they don't exist. Their existence had been classified, and yet they existed as long as the council itself. That is because they are the personal special force of Gran-Doma, the headmaster of the council."
"They operate within the political and arcane affairs, and often deployed as anti-party detergent."
Brandish spoke from the side, reiterating it after listening carefully, "So their purpose is to assassinate any emerging opposing party…Effective way of monopolizing the political force, but disgusting."
Natsu confirmed.
"So they are the black ops." "Tell me about their members."
Ultear continued. "Death, Famine, Fury, and War. No one knows their name, but we do all know that the strongest of them is War, and Death being their leader."
"But not until they announce them to the publicity. Their leader, Death… which went something like Alps Donut Jean-some shit just came to the guild." Natsu added, "The council wants me again, but that's trivial. The question is, why is the council- no. Gran-Doma is making his dogs known?"
Arnstrid wiggled from the side, and since Natsu was still holding her up in the air by her back, it didn't go unnoticed. He growled at the loli,
"Got something to say, faggot?"
Which she quipped, her voice trembling with fear. "Um…His name is Alphonse Donatien Jean-Jacques de Lamort…"
"Shut up!" He barked, which Arnstrid quickly added, "And….and…and every one of them is Demon Slayers! At least, that's what I think they are…"
Ultear remarked. "They sent them here because of the battle." Then from her lips, a smirk grew. "So they did send someone dangerous to get their eyes on Fairy Tail. I am not sure whether I should applaud Gran-Doma or laugh at."
Natsu restated. "By sending his lethal ops units, they are deliberately trying to kill off everyone who is related to war." He added. "They are making this public…"
Arnstrid raised her hand. "Um…"
Brandish pointed out to Natsu, who was still holding her up in the air. "Bring her down. You look like a pedophile."
Natsu's face turned blank as he released his grip. The goth girl fell down like a potato sack. He grumbled. "Make it quick."
"O…okay! Okay! I mean, why does council want to capture you? They can't possibly do that, no matter what kind of secretive forces they use."
Natsu's face remained frozen, and his eyes had gotten harsher. He just stood there continuously staring at her. Arnstrid hurriedly retreated from his soul-piercing eyes. It looked like she was being burnt by his sight alone. Before she knew, she was sweating cold all over her body, which led her to panic, then shudder like a mad patient.
"P…please stop looking at me like that." Her pale tiny pint-sized hands clutched her frills of her dress tightly to her chest. Her eyes fell to the floor.
Natsu emptily muttered. "What the fuck did they do to real shithead? I know you are fake. Where's the real one?"
"I… I am the real one… please don't hurt me!"
This time, it was Erza who barked. "Stop squeaking like a little kid and man up!" Arnstrid saw so many ironies in her sentence, she didn't even know how to respond. Yet, Natsu explained on the child's point to everyone.
"I am not only one they want. If they wanted, they would have tried to send something that could counteract my power, no."
Irene explained the rest as the rest of the puzzle, and they just fit themselves together like a landslide.
"Because they know they can't capture Natsu Dragneel, catching him is not their main goal. They just want FairyTail out of their picture."
Erza roared. Her eyes instantly went in flames. Everyone could see her skin reddening, her fist paling at the same time. The entire table rattled as she slammed it with her fist before it shattered into pieces.
"What?!" She growled. "Why! This is not fair! We risked our lives fighting those creatures!" Ultear responded.
"Did you forget meat? The council can do anything, and everything. They do not need whole facts, nor reasons with the power they hold."
Brandish commented. "It's an oligarchic dictatorship." Ultear added. "as long as they have control over every magic, it is. And not even a king can stop them." Erza gritted her teeth at her. "And you didn't even try to stop them? Aren't you a member for fuck's sake?"
Ultear sneered back. "Do you think I had a choice? Their plan was in motion even before I joined! I joined the council so that I can get my mother back! I took no part in their final plan!"
Natsu explained, "It's going to be when they succeed, and they had the perfect means of starting coup… they were about to start until I appeared."
"Then it's a blessing for everyone that you are here, Onii-chan." Answered Erza. However, he shook his head in disagreement.
"Perhaps, but now I've put the guild in danger." Dimaria encouraged, leaning in next to him. "But I am sure you can solve this, Senpai." She added. "You have us. From stopping Council from disbanding Fairy Tail to the bane of the God. Whatever you need, we will obey."
Irene nodded as well and stepped in front of Natsu. "Natsu-sama. You came to this world to rescue your brother. By doing so, you are also changing this world. I would have liked if the things were the way they were, but I don't mind this kind of life. Besides, now I have a wonderful man with amazing bedroom skills…"
She added. "You rule over me, Natsu-sama."
Ultear closed into the blond and scarlet mages. "You resurrected my mother." She spoke. "You did something that I sought after all my life, and I don't have to live with pain anymore. You are my savior, my lord."
The last one to speak was Erza. A smile formed on her lips as she looked at Natsu with a tender look, with profound trust.
"You already know my answer, Onii-chan. I am yours to rule, and I will follow you unconditionally."
Natsu stared at his girls without knowing what to say. He stumbled for the right word, but nothing came out of it. He spread his arms instead and approached them, pulling the entire group to his embrace. Both Irene and Erza opened their arms in exchange and returned the hug. Dimaria managed to squeeze between them and nestled in Natsu's chest. In the end, Ultear was left alone, missing the hug completely. Natsu teased. "Councilman Ultear, my back is wide oped-" Yet even before he could finish his word, Ultear jumped onto his back and draped her arm over his shoulder. She buried her nose into his back, Irene and Erza rubbed their face on each side of his chest, and Dimaria breathed heavily under the center of his chest. Things had turned more erotic than Natsu intended, but nevertheless-
"Thank you. I think… I think now I understand."
Yet, he gasped out loud when one of the girls, namely Irene, started to bite his nipple through his thin shirt. Then followed by Ultear's hand tightly clenching on his ass cheek, and Erza hand hugging his treasured gifted area.
Natsu's sweat dropped as his cheek turned red and his body heating up. "Oh~kay. This is not what I meant by hugging."
Irene teased with devilish glee. "We know, but it's just boring to let you have all the fun."
Dimaria traced her finger on his chiseled, hardened, broad chest in a circle as her old demeanor crept back in. "Senpai~ please remember to ravage us all you like after this fight~."
Natsu's gaze fell on all four girls, and his logical mind slowly turned to hunger. Which he expressed through his diabolic smile, his dragon fangs appearing between his lips alongside his perfectly arranged pearly teeth.
He growled like a hungry beast looking at his prey to feast.
"I'll make sure to remember that."
Shortly after, he turned his gaze to Brandish, who was shooting dagger at him as if he was a perverted child molester. She sighed deeply.
"Natsu, you hopeless perverted sex depraved animal, maybe I should just call the police that you are molesting a bunch of girls. Now stop staring me like that. You'll make me pregnant."
The pinkette shut his eyes in stress. "Oi." He called.
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-Midnight, Magnolia Train Station-
Steps were heard from afar with continuous wet echoes. That however turned into the sound of thin ice shattering under pressure, crumbling then pulverizing into granular dust. Then it followed by another and another until it created echoes throughout the environment. Fog covered the entire area, and the white moon that was above was bare to be seen.
By nature, this fog shouldn't be here. Which was it was most likely due to cold air that this mage generated. Wearing nothing another than his underwear, he didn't seem to be affected by the cold at all. His step fastened and its sound reverberating never stopped and only added tension to his nervous mind.
This man was none other than Gray Fullbuster. As promised, he had returned to the station, at the exact location where he had met that strangely fashioned man.
His legs halted as he recognized the surroundings. The track, the stairs and everything, he was able to recall. His eyes narrowed as he tried to focus to see anything, but because of the thick fog, detecting anything remotely similar to human was almost impossible. Not to mention that he could not detect powers or people.
Without the sound of his footstep, the train station felt dead. That shouldn't be strange considering the recent demolition of the place, but this was the first time he actually felt it through his bone.
The chilling sensation, even though he couldn't feel, it was all too real this time as it shuddered through his spine. He let out a sigh trying to keep his senses in check, and his breath materialized into a small billowing cloud before it condensed into moisture.
Then- a sudden tap on his shoulder-
Gray cried out in terror as he turned around. He let out his arm out and shot a javelin of ice. An arm appeared through the fog and swept Gray's arm with its elbow. The ice shot through the empty air and burst as it struck the wall. The mysterious arm twirled around expertly around his, and instantly its thumb pressed against Gray's wrist, immobilizing his hand.
Gray growled as he spread his free arm to shoot his ice to the attacker's face. He gritted his teeth, and his iris were already dilated into specks. It was a desperate attempt to take down the attacker clearly. Yet, a staff shot from below and struck his arm, off shooting way above where the face supposed to be. Then another arm shot through the mist and grabbed Gray's face, pushing him away.
The attacker sighed.
"Hah- you made me work out a bit there, Fullbuster."
Gray growled, "Wha- Jacques?"
"Ah~ You finally recognized me. It's a lovely evening isn't it?" It was him who answered, and Gray squinted his eyes dangerously.
"I came here as you've asked. Now tell me what you know about other Fullbuster."
"Impatient are we?" Jacques beamed merrily under his mask. "Hmm~that's right. You want to know about him because you and he are related, and you know that all too well."
"Just tell me who the fuck he is!"
"Violent are we? Expected behavior from brutes of FairyTail- and just like him…Hmm yes, you have the same hair color as well."
Graw's face crumbled into anger. "God damn it! Stop with the annoying nonsense!"
"Ooh~ I know that face~" He pointed out to Gray with his finger. "Come girls. That is the same look that man held three years ago! Ha! What a strikingly similar appearance you have there! Oh my, even the glares from your eyes…. Astonishing."
Gray rushed in and grabbed his collar and pulled him closer to his face. "If you don't fucking start talking, I'll fucking bust your head here, right now!"
Yet bandages flew and tied down his limbs and pushed him back like constraining a rabid animal into a cage. He quickly turned his head to see the new attacker, but it was that familiar life-less woman from before. Followers of Jacques. He barked out loud. "Let me go- God damn it!"
One of the women spoke. "You were trying to attack our master again. I cannot let you do that."
Jacques intervened. "It is quite alright. Let him go." With that, the woman released the ice mage from her magic. The bandages quickly wrapped into her body, and seamlessly disappeared with a faint glow. Before Gray knew, she was materialized out of the dense fog, and the other one stood on the other side. Their empty wax like eyes intensely observed all of Gray's movement, and every inch he moved made him self-conscious to the point he feared they might attack again.
He pulled his arm away in disgust and continued to face the masked one. Jacques's smile was too visible even though he was masked, even Gray could feel that unnerving smile to his bone, the one that sent chills down to his bone, giving goosebumps on his skin.
The masked man answered. "Alright. I'll just cut to the chase, then." He continued as he recalled his memories.
"Three years ago, my comrades and I were sent on a reconnaissance mission…"
Gray interrupted. "What was the mission?"
The woman rushed behind Gray, and attempted to silence him, but was stopped by Jacques's command.
"Arrête, modèle un!"
"Oui, maître." The woman halted again and moved back. Gray glared at the woman, but the gaze of her eyes, made him redraw. Even then, she didn't even move an inch. Jacques continued. "There is no need, ladies. Please do not interrupt us during this conversation."
"And to answer that question, Fullbuster, the mission is classified." Gray didn't respond to that, and he kept his mouth shut. Yet, the bit of scowl on his face and wrinkles around his eyes were enough indication for Jacques and go on. Then he tilted his head to the side and gave him another puzzling stare.
"But I should tell you anyway."
His pace quickened as he started to circle around Gray, yet his gaze left the ice mage's face and kept straight to the endless depth of cold fog. And Gray's head was fixated on the masked man, he kept his vigilance to the max as he was wary of any sudden movements of what this freakish dog from the council. The man in disguise's speech sped up instantly. "
About three years ago, I received an urgent message from my associate that I must investigate a dark guild named Tartarus, and turned out they had a dangerous weapon in their possession." He continued through as his heels striking the stone floor, its ominous sound traversing the deep fog. "So, I took my team and taken care of this weapon they had and managed to confiscate them all in secret, or we thought we did until they caught up with us.""There in the open field, we fought each other like hungry beasts thrown into a pit, like animals, like mindless creatures." "In that pit, I fought a man who wasn't a demon, yet a Demon Slayer, just like me… I found it unusual to find a demon slayer inside a demon's den, and yet, we battled. However, it was more a conversation rather than brutish fight that others performed." "The arena was filled with the blood of everyone, and at the end, Tartarus retreated… Their demons were dead, but not that man."
Jacques waved his index. "That man lived. It was only one that I could not kill, he was on par with my strength…and trust me, no living soul can match my strength, and yet, this man did."
A smile formed on his mask, and there was that particular breathing pattern when he did so. Cloud formed out of his mask.
"It was most interesting moment that I had in my entire life, I could not help to ask his name—and he answered," His movement halted and stared at Gray. "Silver Fullbuster."
"Ring any bell?" Gray took a step back as his eyes struck wide. His brain froze, his heart stopped for a second. Cold crept in from the bottom of his spine, and his knees gave up. The young Fullbuster collapsed his knee to the ground with painful bone clashing sound echoed.
For a moment, he had forgotten how his vision and focusing worked, had to recall how to breathe. From his lungs, organs squeezed, and its content escaped through his mouth without him noticing.
When his perception of reality returned, a powerful sensation of being struck on his head flooded in. Like he was struck by a two by four brick that's been thrown a half a mile away. It electrocuted back side of his head, and the pain traveled through his spine, paralyzing him once again, then escaping through his fingers and toes. He didn't even notice water dripping down from his chin.
It maybe is his tear, maybe it was his saliva overflowing. Perhaps nose water? Or all three. Whatever it was dripping down, he couldn't control it. Gray felt like brain-dead patience waiting for his terminal procedure.
Finally, he whispered. His was almost mistaken for his jaw as a slap of iron drilled into his bone— as it felt implausibly heavy. "Silver…Fullbuster?"
Jacques and his women did not respond to that, only the man in charge watched the fallen boy with his arms crossed, waiting for further response. Dark haired teen mustered up another monologue. "
But… that's impossible." All the sudden, rage rushed into his blood. It impelled him to thrust onward with murderous intent. Perhaps even more so with blood congesting in his pearl white cornea.
The teen grasped the man in disguise by his collar and brought him right to his face. Veins popped everywhere on Gray's face, even to his neck, and blood pumped so much so, his entire body turned red. He barked at the masked man as if he was going to bite his head off.
"You liar!" He growled again, this time saner. "Don't you fucking lie to me, don't you ever say that name!"
He shook Jacques violently. "That man died fucking died ten years ago!" Yet, Jacques remained calm, and slowly raised his both hands.
He grasped Gray's then slowly- "AAARRGH!" Gray screamed as Jacques dangerously warned. "Do not touch me again." J
ust by grabbing his wrist, this man managed to make Gray kneel. The pain was excruciating as it was mixed with faint magic that Jacques used.
He was amused by Gray's reaction. "You seem to have this very interesting relationship with his man because clearly, he is still alive."
Gray growled through agony. "I know you are fucking lying to me, I saw him die with my very own eyes!"
Tears began to roll down from his eyes. "I watched him die by that demon… and yet you're telling me he's alive?! Shut it with your bullcrap! Did I really come here to listen to this bullshit?!"
The masked man crouched down and pulled his right sleeve up in swiftly, and the effect of its sound was too loud. It was clear that he wasn't pleased with Gray's action.
"Look at this arm and say that again, Fullbuster!" Jacques sneered.
"I lost half of my skin because of his magic, and that is proof all you need."
Gray shouted again. "He can't use magic!"
Jacques stopped what he was doing and stared at him for a while. A big sigh followed.
"Very well then. You seem confused still. It is up to you whether you believe or not, however, if you are truly curious…"
One of the women pulled out a scroll from her back and handed it to him before he handed it to Gray.
"I shall show you where you need to go. It's not like you have anything else to do, Mr. Fullbuster?"
Gray stared at it scroll before snatching it. Yet his eyes never left Jacques's. He questioned.
"Why are you telling me all this? What's the point of telling me all this bullshit, you coward?!"
The skull-faced individual leered Gray and answered with a foreboding smirk.
"You've got no one to tell." He paused, putting his hands behind his back. "So, Monsieur. Will you be visiting Tartarus? " Gray scoffed at that as he rose back to his feet, but as soon as he realized that this freak was right, corners of hips lips rose without him being aware of.
"You know what? You're right." He eyed the scroll for a second. "I don't care if I am walking into a dark guild or not. All I care about now is to find out the truth."
His stark, dark iris rose to meet the man's decorative skull mask. "This better not be bullshit."
The man turned his back around as he mused out loud. "Well then. I suppose my job here is done for today. I bid you good luck on finding him."
His two females subordinated followed closely after and disappeared into the fog. Gray's eyes were still firmly fixed on that masked man, he could not take his eyes off even though he was no longer there. He did not like that man, but to a point, he could not deny him.
After leaving behind everything, there was nothing he could do anymore. To simplify, he no longer had a purpose. Near death of his master- twice, and death of his parents long ago. He had no relatives, he put himself into an exile- the answer was, he was a rogue.
Perhaps he was a rogue from the start. Drifting away, never settling in. He muttered again, "This better not be another bullshit." There's nothing he could do now, another than wander like a vagabond. Except… if it's really him.
If he was really alive and associated himself with a dark guild… Why would he join a dark guild? Why didn't he even bother looking for him? Why did he keep himself secret from him? Such questions now plagued his mind, to the point that it haunted him. Almost.
Gray just now had a new mission, new goal to achieve. Yet he screamed into empty air. "God damn it!"
He didn't realize he was grasping on the scroll too hard. "God damn it, God damn it, God damn it!"
He collapsed again to the floor. He spread the scroll open, but he didn't exactly watch the contents inside.
He couldn't focus. His fingers curled into the paper, and tears dropped onto it one by one.
It smeared, tainting the content with a darker shade. He trembled as vexation and self-hatred, confusion and inner turmoil stormed inside him.
He whispered the words, the same one he said before. Like some sort of incantation, and repeated that over and over again.
Like he was a broken tape.
"This better not be bullshit! This better not be bullshit! This better not be bullshit! This better not be bullshit…"
"This better not be fucking bullshit…"
.
.
.
"Boss-sama! Your objective was a success nanodesu~. I salute! nanodesu~."
A woman spoke from the fog as Jacques approached the figure.
Besides the newcomer, two more emerging figures stood beside her. One of them seemed to be much larger in size, and other was slender.
Jacques questioned them all three. "Did you record the evidence?" The slender man answered as he showed a lacrima in his hand.
"Ah yes. It is all right here. Just as you've asked, dear boss." Despite him reminiscent of a living skeleton, his voice was unexpectantly deep.
The tone was deep and smooth as butter yet had a tendency to sound as if he was gloating all the time. Also, at the end of his words, how he put it, there was a powerful scent of noxious lust.
Even as just figure only visible, his pose was enough to scare off all men, fitting to the man's voice and tone of speech. His usual pose seemed to have a striking resemblance to of a pin-up girl from a magazine.
Jacques exclaimed as he ignored the slender man's nature, obviously practiced and adapted after seeing way too many of it.
"Oui, incroyable."
"We now have one more reason to rip Fairy Tail asunder."
.
.
.
-3 A.M. Mansion-
"So, what are you going to do, Natsu?" Brandish questioned.
By the time she asked that question it was nightfall. Moon was already high up in the sky, and the room was brightly lit, the candles were just almost a luxury.
On the other side of the room, Natsu sat on a chair, leaning his chest against its backrest with his eyes befalling gently on the girl's sleeping bodies, stroking their hair gently like they were treasures.
Irene was next to Natsu and rested her head on a table with arms as her pillow. Erza had a roll of fabrics and using that as her pillow, yet her pose was same as her sister's. Dimaria was resting seated straight, yet one could tell her she was sleeping due to his chest rising up and down, and her head tilting to the side. Ultear had her body on the corner of the wall, and Arnstrid was on the floor… with chains on her neck.
Everyone was beat due to brainstorming all night, the evidence was clear as multiple papers and documents, maps scattered all around the table. Only the sleepless one was Natsu and Brandish, as the former didn't require to sleep, and the latter had way too much coffee than she had to.
"What are you going to do, Natsu?" She asked again for his lack of response.
"Obviously we have lots of options." She suggested.
"Like Irene said, we can cripple their army and magic before blackmailing both of them. Mari's plan sounds solid as well, I think. Erza's plan… personally, I don't like it, but it could work."
Natsu chuckled as his gaze broke away from the girls. "What's wrong with waging war against Tartarus and the Council?"
Brandish answered. "Too much work to do. I'm lazy." She made her way to Natsu while making sure not to awake any girls.
"Not very efficient. Not my cup of tea…besides, it will just look like another coup in the eyes of a monarch." She added. "And what's your plan? You haven't said anything yet. Got anything on your mind?"
Natsu slyly smirked. "I do, but they won't like it." He added. "There's no need to get them involved in this."
"Why?"
"Well, for starters…" He petted Irene's hair lovingly. "…Irene still needs rest to stabilize her Dragonification, Dimaria needs to keep her status as a priest so that she can keep everyone here in check, I still need Ultear in the council… and as for Erza." He sighed deeply.
"I am not sure if I can make her endure all this anymore."
Brandish looked away in annoyance. "Erza is strong enough. From what I hear, she fought zombified Ajeel alone and won."
She put an emphasis on the word zombie because she knew they can regenerate.
"And nearly was killed," Natsu argued.
Brandish disagreed, however. "Ajeel is powerful. Very powerful." The dragon in disguise raised his eyebrows, and Brandish rephrased. "He is kinda strong."
She paused again uncomfortable how he kept on giving her a look. "…Maybe? Stop giving me that look, are you trying to make me pregnant you hentai?"
Natsu slowly raised his hand and turned it into a fist. "Anyways!" she coughed quiet enough to not to wake anyone.
"The point is, he is just as strong as us, and Erza killed him. Sure, she may be weak, but she is more than capable enough."
Natsu's fist went limp. "No, you're missing the point—" He raised his hand again. "She was almost killed!" He exclaimed. "I cannot put her into that kind of danger again!"
"Maybe you should put more trust into your fiancé?"
Natsu corrected her. "It's 'mate' for us dragons."
The bobbed haired girl rolled her eyes. "What, you're gonna bite her neck as it's some crazy dragon ritual next time you have sex with her?"
The pinkette shook his head. He tried to say something to her, but he just dropped it.
"What would I even be, if I can't protect her. What does all my power even mean?"
"Stop it." Brandish asserted. "You are not you when you beat yourself up like that." "What happened to that monster who annihilated the entire continent?"
Natsu stared at her before he looked down again. There's a hint of aggression in his reply. "I still don't care about them. If they get in my way, I will kill them all."
"Obviously you still care enough to love Erza and Irene… and Dimaria. You still haven't killed us yet."
"You guys are a different story." Brandish didn't respond to that and proceeded to get another cup of coffee.
Natsu warned. "Whatever that dark liquid is, stop drinking that. Too much caffeine in blood can cause seizure—"
Brandish cut him off with a small smirk. "It's called coffee for us humans. The brown stuff? You should try it too."
He waved it off. "Chemicals don't work on me."
"Even booze?"
"What's that?"
"You're no fun, Natsu."
Natsu chuckled, but that didn't last very long. That was until Brandish questioned him again.
"You still haven't told me about your plan."
"I plan to destroy them on my own." He answered. "Not a war, It will be a one-sided slaughter."
Brandish smiled. "As I expected. It will be simple then. But I thought you didn't want yourself to be known in the world anymore. What happened to discreet approach?"
Natsu snickered. "Well, I am only known to a handful of people, and even them do not know what I really am." "So far, I consider it as a success." "Besides, I am going to destroy them both, and no one will never know who or what truly killed them."
Brandish silenced herself as if she remembered something. Her pupil was wider than usual as he stared at the empty air, before staring at him with a hint of fear. "But you can destroy them right now remotely, less than a blink of an eye, can't you?" She added. "Why aren't you doing it?"
The God dragon responded quietly. "You'll see."
The bikini-clad woman stepped down from the table and sighed. She took the cup and drank the whole content down to her throat. "Well, there's nothing I can do to stop you, but seriously. You need to put more trust over your…'mates.'"
His gaze automatically avoided the turquoise girl and landed on the scarlet duo. "I will when this is over."
The girl shrugged again and began to walk out of the door. Natsu remained silent as she left the room. Yet, before she left, she paused. Then she turned with her brows collected, pointed out.
"You know, if you really want to protect Erza from risking killing herself, maybe you should consider building her own armor."
"Her armor?" Natsu repeated.
"Yeah. She is a re-equip mage, and you know re-equip magic… besides, you build your own armor. Why not for her?"
The pinkette nodded in interest. "Huh. I haven't thought about that."
He was actually considering it. Brandish them motioned him to come closer, which Natsu refused. She sighed in irritation and moved next to him. "You should thank me for giving you such brilliant idea."
He smiled at her, yet without a cunning diabolic smile that looked too perfect to be the truth. This time, it had none of that. Brandish remembered this was kind of smile he only displayed to his lovers. Without her realization, rose-colored dust was already sprinkling down on her cheeks. Her eyelids fluttered and tried to escape his gaze.
"Stop staring at me like that ecchi hentai…" She peeked through her escape. "Come on, you need to come outside. There's someone you need to meet."
She turned away and quickly rushed towards the door. She motioned him again. Natsu's smile spread apart even further. He rolled his eyes and made his way to the door just like her.
"Is this why you were drinking it all that… coffee? Secret meeting with me?"
Brandish quickly made her way out of the room, and Natsu followed closely behind, never losing that smile for once. And the person he met was not what Natsu was looking forward to.
A man with white hair with the monk-like outfit, it was his first time to see its kind. Yet, he had the clear energy curse resonating within him. The man was not a man, but a demon. Etherious.
The smile was slaughtered on Natsu's face the moment he saw him.
His eyes turned blood red, and the rage, ire, vexation that erupted out from him was literally emanating from his face. Natsu hurled himself towards the demon and growled to its face. "What the fuck is thing doing here?"
.
.
.
"Hello, uncle… It's nice to see you too in person."
The monk spoke with too many dark bags underneath his eyes, and itself was red from sleep deprivation. His voice was weak, and his posture seemed he was about to collapse anytime soon.
Brandish had to intervene before Natsu did something dangerous and explode everything by the mood that man was in, that seemed highly imminent.
"Hold on-! Natsu, this is Larcade. Larcade Dragneel. He is one of my comrade and… he is Lord Zeref's son."
Natsu's eye narrowed dangerously as he closed into Larcade. The monk had to back up in one big step as he had gotten extremely uncomfortable just by standing near him. He muttered as his face started to pour out cold sweat.
"Ummm… Can I… Can I have some private space here?"
Natsu simply ignored his request and closed in even further to a point made Brandish to fume hot pink-red steam from her nostrils and her ears.
The demonic dragon's dark beady iris scanned and traveled every inch of the man's face, and lastly. Natsu sniffed him.
Larcade bolted back in the possibility of his gender being defiled. "OUUUUUAAAAH! NO! Just NO! This kind of relationship is strictly forbidden by the lord!"
Yet the dragon had no idea what caused him to blitz off like a rat. "What the fuck are you talking about?"
Yet what Brandish saw was different. It was about to become an intense session of uncle to nephew gay love, but it didn't… It just left her highly disappointed which lead her to sigh aloud to an entire room.
Larcade's face lost color as it completely drained of blood as wheezed out words from his lung.
"Brandish…why are you sighing?!"
The bikini girl barked in response. "Larcade! Natsu wants to make love to you! Now get back over—"
Natsu slammed his palm into her head and gripped her skull like screamed in agony.
"Ow ow ow ow ow! It hurts! Let it… let it go!"
Pinkette growled as his face darkened a hundred shade of black. "Stop it, or I'll make you."
Never in her life, she thought she would be in the same place as Irene and Dimaria, now she understood them perfectly.
She whispered in fear. "O…okay."
Natsu had to recollect his mind to refocus to the monk who stood in the corner.
"So, see if I got the right idea… Zeref made you to resurrect me, and you're calling Zeref your father because of that. Right?"
Larcade's eye grew wide for a second. "How did you know?"
Natsu crossed his arms as he looked at him with a pathetic stare.
"I can just see it by just looking at it. It's that obvious."
"Now, why are you here?"
Larcade mood piqued positively as he heard that. Which he used it as an opportunity to remove himself from the corner as he saw it fit to have a 'safe' discussion.
"Ah yes, uncle!" Though, the god dragon wasn't ready to bear hearing that title, at least from this…demon.
"Uh, no. Don't call me uncle. So far as I know, you are still a book of Zeref."
Larcade was conflicted, with his pink eyes and dark circles surrounding them, a drop of tear formed.
"That's mean…"
That didn't mean Natsu was conflicted as well.
"Well… if you somehow become unbound to it and manage to become a full-fledged demon, then you can start calling me uncle…"
The albino haired monk's depression was somewhat alleviated, but the general cold mood of the room did not change a bit, thanks to Natsu.
No one was daring to speak, and that applied to Brandish as well. He had to clear his throat loud enough to break the silence. "Alright, now, go on."
He instructed to the monk. Larcade's face immediately shifted and his brows knitted themselves to center. His tone had gotten dead serious to further emphasize the important information he carried, which allowed Natsu to actually listen.
"Uncle, Then please forgive me for going straight to the point." He paused. "I was the one who triggered Tartarus's attack."
Larcade shut his eyes tightly in fear of getting struck like Brandish, but none came other than his iconic Natsu's dumbfounded stare.
"So? That's it?" It was the monk who became perplexed by his apathetic reaction.
His brain rolled and flipped upside down to search for words. "Ah, allow me to rephrase it… I manipulated them to think you are their enemy…"
"I got that part. I don't understand why this was so important." Natsu bluntly stated.
Larcade again was lost for words. He had to check if his uncle understood him correctly. But seriously, he was concerned about his lingual skills, and slowly a fear of the possibility of Natsu not understanding the consequences of such event crept on the back side of his brain.
"I…uh…You do realize what that also means?"
"What?" By now, Natsu was disinterested.
Brandish reiterated in his place. "It means the guild is in danger as well. Erza and her friend… Mirajane?" She grimaced a bit.
"Ah." Natsu softly exclaimed, which followed with… "Okay."
Larcade nervously cleared his throat. "Eh-hem, Well, uncle… I…" Which Natsu interrupted " Uh wait, hold on."
"Did you do it out of your own volition or did my brother made you do it?"
Larcade was more than happy to provide with an explanation in that regard. "It was his orders. However, I could not understand his intention of it. If not worse, he has no memories of it."
"Has no memories? Explain his intentions then." Natsu pressed. "He…wished to test you but did not explain why. It is all mystery that's why I've asked Brandish to arrange this meeting."
The prime dragon wasn't too pleased to hear sudden introductions of unknown factors. Both of them could see it on his face.
Larcade continued. "It was as if he wasn't himself." By now, Natsu finally showed his seriousness and started at the random wall as he started to contemplate. His eyes leered to Larcade for a moment.
He growled."Why didn't you tell me this from the start? Obviously, he was the one who caused it… and yet, no one knows why."
Larcade found himself safer by silencing himself completely. He and Brandish shared several nervous glances wondering what he will do. "Natsu, please don't tell me you're going to meet his brother all sudden when we're all under pressure."
Larcade argued. "But this matter is urgent. Our lord—"
"That's an idealistic view. It is more imperative for us figure out how to fix this hot mess without Natsu bringing Armageddon to the entire world. Lord Zeref can wait."
Natsu muttered. "I'm little offended."
Larcade implored him, however. "You must meet father! I can clearly sense something is wrong! You're the only one here who's capable here. Even August is missing!"
Yet, Natsu moved casually as if he wasn't listening to that. He strolled to the closet and pulled out neatly folded blankets, then he walked passed both of them completely ignoring. Larcade gasped in shock. "But even August is…"
Which Natsu interrupted. "I am going to meet Zeref." This time, Brandish urged. "Natsu!"
"At the same time, I'm not," Natsu added, which both of them stared at him with a puzzled look. The pinkette explained. "Well, it seems like it is necessary to meet my brother right now before anything worsens… I have several armors that I can remotely control, which means I can be at multiple places at once. But before that, there are few things I need to prepare before the deal with those two. But first of all…"
He walked back to the hall where everyone used it as a war room. Incidentally, it was also a place where his girls were sleeping. Brandish, and Larcade followed behind, wondering what he'll say. They watched him placing the blankets over sleeping girls. First was Erza, then Irene… Dimaria and Ultear. All except that gothic child. He finished his sentence.
"I'll have to take care of them first." He turned back to the two and added, "You two should go and get some sleep. It's not too long 'til the sunrise."
Brandish's brows rose, and her lips gathered. She couldn't say no to that suggestion, and how he put it… As for Larcade… he was just being Larcade, that was all.
.
.
.
Far away, somewhere on Ishgar
Apollo, one of his tier three armor that was capable of extravehicular and deep space exploration, it was one of his fastest armor out there. Due to its intense, extraordinary purpose, it was also one of the best-protected armor as well. The armor was entirely white with occasional black strips on every edge, and the face plate was covered with a reflective gold material with two blowing aquamarines underneath it.
Natsu locked onto his brother's energy and sent it to him. Armor bolted off to the sky and flew towards its destination.
*THHOOOMP!*
The armor didn't take long to arrive and did so by simply plunging from the sky. It struck the ground with its fist and knees, and the earth trembled, throwing dirt and rock everywhere in the result.
Armor stood up from the crater and detected Zeref sitting on a rock not too far off. He still had his jet black robe matching with his dark hair and emo getup. It spoke, or rather, Natsu spoke remotely through its mouthpiece.
-"Brother!"- -"I came to see how you're doing!"-
The armor's joints and hydraulics whirled as he approached Zeref, and sat next to the rock.
-"I see.. that you're still emo as ever."-
Still, there was no reply from him. Feeling slightly awkward, Natsu stood up again and decided he should just get straight to the point.
-"Zeref, I heard everything from the demon you've sent. Larcade, that was his name."- Natsu's voice resonated the air a bit with its metallic ringing.
-"Is he speaking the truth?"- He again, but this time, putting little bit more pressure.
The first time, there was a small whisper from Zeref, but that was all needed for Natsu to pick up. He gave him a pressing looking, even though it can't be seen, and actual Natsu was hundreds of miles away.
-"Brother?"-
Zeref stood up and threatened. "I said, stay away… Natsu." Through the armor, he could see his brother's hands were shaking, and tears dropping out from his eyes. The dark hair that hid his eyes, he could not see, but it was still a clear sign that Zeref was facing some turmoil.
-"How about, no?"-
"Stay away!" He screamed with the curse activating all around him. A burst of his curse exploded outwards consuming all living beings and turning them all dead. Trees withered, and the grass turned brown, flowered became black as charcoals. As the energy struck the armor, it alerted Natsu with red lights and warning signs.
[Warning! Unknown Energy Source Detected… Analyzing…]
Which he turned it off immediately.
The armor spread his arms to show off it had no effects on it. –"See, I'm fine. Sure you've ruined the scenery though."-
Zeref growled as he tightened his fingers.
"That's not it… Natsu." "You must stay away from me."
-"Can't do that brother. Not until you tell me what's going on."- He added, pointing where usually August was.
-"Where's the old man?"-
"August's where about is none of my concern." The black mage spoke through his teeth, yet Natsu wasn't willing to turn back yet.
-"I heard you ordered Larcade to infiltrate and manipulate them into attacking me. Why is that?"-
"Natsu, don't make me repeat myself… you cannot be around me."
Yet he declined.
-"and you don't make me repeat myself as well." -The brother's intense stare seem to be fighting each other more aggressively than their words. Eyes of Zeref had a look to stop Natsu, and Natsu had the opposite.
"Gah! Why won't you listen to me!" With it, Zeref charged with dark flame-like energy gathering into his right hand. Air rushed past, and like an arrow splitting the wind, he bolted straight to Natsu's chest. Natsu growled as he put his arm up to guard himself.
-"Damn it, Zeref! I don't want to fight you!"-
However, the impact was made with a sound of metal crushing. With a sharp ear-splitting metallic noise reverberating the entire area, Natsu was pushed back, losing the footing, rolling backward before he had to plunge the ground with his fist to stop the momentum.
Natsu quickly glanced the damage being done. The forearm was disfigured by the sheer force that Zeref had put in. However, its integrity was still manageable state, so he decided to deal with him.
-"Alright…"- He muttered as he faked his struggle. Zeref seized this opportunity to come closer to strike him again. He looked like he was about to kill him, and that meant destroying the armor and dragging Natsu out. Unfortunately, Zeref was wrong on so many levels.
As Natsu saw he was close enough, he fired off his blaster on his hand, which was more than enough to throw Zeref backward. The dark mage responded with a grunt, and before he landed, Natsu flew off and tackled him in the midair. Controlling his armor, he gripped his brother's face and struck it down to the ground with gravity, momentum, and his booster working in unison.
Zeref quickly responded with his own countermeasures. First, he grabbed Natsu's arm and started to pour in his black magic, which was supposed to take away Natsu's vitality.
That meant very little to inanimate objects like his armor that have been remotely controlling, which Zeref is not aware of.
With the free arm, Natsu grabbed his brother's grip and pried out before using it to punch his face multiple times.
-"Go to sleep! Go to sleep! Go to sleep!"-
But alas, this was all just useless as even Zeref can't take damage to this kind of attack. Even his face deforms, and his fingers break, he'll heal soon anyways. Zeref shouted in ire, "Natsu! Why can't you just stay away from me!"
However, his question was met with another punch to his face, before being thrown into the air. His body flew like a puppet with strings cut off. Natsu engaged his boosters to follow him. However, when he arrived at where Zeref might be, he was gone. Natsu instantly activated his visor again to locate him, but his sensors could not pick him up. He urgently switched to thermals, movement sensors. The both of them fruited the same result, he was gone. It was as if he was simply evaporated… until…
A massive spike of energy behind, and a shout bellowing: "Stygian Blast Circle!" and dark energy fell on the armor, striking him with incredible power.
Another sound of metal crushing resonated with echoes, and Apollo's white paint had gotten scratched away and revealed the metallic underneath, which dented to a shape that it should not be. It even revealed the internals glowing with millions of blue lights.
And the impact left shockwave blast to circle the entire area. Trees were rooted away, knocked back, and boulders were cracked, the ground erupted by sheer force. When the shock wave was gone, the scenic forest was turned into a ruin.
The armor was kneeling on the ground to compensate the force. However, the new wave of Zeref's attack wasn't finished as he summoned black orbs to attack him. The armor was bombarded with the dark orbs all around. Though it was quickly ended with Natsu's blaster threw an uppercut at Zeref's chin. Natsu jumped and became airborne. He stretched his right arm to his back as far as he could and hurled a devastating blow to Zeref's stomach while he was still in the air.
Another shockwave to destroy the area and the dark mage plunged into the ground, making a small crater. Zeref screamed as his face turned pale. He looked even terrified. "It's happening again…! Natsu, Go away! Get away from me!"
Natsu screamed back.
-"Not until I get an answer from you!"- By the look of it, Natsu knew another wave of Zeref's curse was coming soon. As right now, Natsu did not understand why his brother had to be this difficult. Did he not realize his curse has no effect on him since he is not 'here' right now?
To Natsu, it felt like an excuse. The curse eventually activated, yet at the same time, a message popped on his HUD.
[Energy Source Fully Analyzed… Countermeasure Calculated, Ready to Deploy.]
'Ah, that's convenient' Natsu thought as he immediately activated. He stretched his arms against Zeref, and the energy released from the armor clashed with it, scrubbing the jet black energy into white ether-nanos.
The blast of Zeref's curse never made it more than a meter radius, and those got out ended with a violent shock. It threw both brothers from their position and collapsed on their back. The ground still shook afterward, and the air pressure around it shook violently as if it's a miniature hurricane. Dust and debris sucked in and covered the whole ground in fog.
Soon, the dust settled. The armor slowly rose up, and its lights illuminated through the remaining dust. On the other side, Zeref was struggling to stand up, but eventually doing it at the end.
Both remained silent. Despite the shock, one thing was clear. Nothing died, nor decay.
All that left was ruin, but that's was just a small area, on the greater spectrum, no critters were hurt. Natsu and Zeref saw a single bird returning to her former nest, and one by one, albeit slowly, animals returned to see the spectacle that's been done.
Both brothers remained silent.
Natsu raised his hand for a handshake. -"Truce?"-
Zeref stared at it momentarily before grabbing it with heavy breath.
"Truce."
.
.
.
Back at the Dragneel Mansion
On Natsu's head, there were holographic images displaying information and what he saw through the armor. Of course, he never ceased to stop looking at it, but this was the first time he could actually relax for a bit.
For a second, he thought he might worsen the situation he was in. Thankfully, everything worked out. Even now, he was still talking to his brother through the feed. His voices could be heard quite loudly, and the destructions of the forest clearly rang through the entire hall of the mansion.
Though, it was fortunate that he found himself a private to do it… but that wasn't all why he relocated himself to a separate room.
It was what he was working on.
The room was dark. Pitch black, and the sun was still yet to rise. He briefly looked at the time, and it was closing at 5 a.m. The sun should rise any minute now…
That meant he had to rush finishing the project that he was working on at the same time he was battling his brother. Yes, he was building something while fighting simultaneously, and even so, he didn't seem all too bothered by it. It was as if he was listening to a radio while working or, talking to someone during his work to get rid of his boredom.
It was an act of someone who was used to it too much.
Natsu stopped as he the first ray of sunlight leaked through the window curtain. The sun started to rise. Another day began without him knowing about it. He blinked once and twice, rubbed them for a quick massage and walked to the window to see the rising morning sun.
The pushed away from the curtain and let the full light break through. Light bounced inside the room and struck something shinning. It seemed metallic due to its gleaming surface, but the material wasn't.
The object looked like a figure, yet as tall as a person. This was the project he was working on during rest of the night… and it was nearing its completion.
There was mistaking it for what it was. It was an armor.
A set of armor so advanced that the user might never fully understand all of its features without the engineer explaining to one. Natsu smiled at his new work of art as he knew who it was for.
And it was meant to be a surprise gift for Erza.
"Now let's see…how should I surprise her?"
