A/N: Hey everyone!
A lot has happened since I last updated anything. COVID is still a thing for starters…
Work has kept me busy and among other things I'm either reading other stories. Or I'm brainstorming a bunch of ideas. I won't give too much away but the projects I may or may not publish are of the crossover variety. The stories still in development are mostly Sci-Fi (except previous projects that vary in genre). As for the two other ongoing stories? Their chapters are still being updated.
Celebrating two years of doing this story! Yay!
Bardock learned Kaioken via dreams and visions. It's pretty obvious in the story.
Gine will appear in this story. There will be no clues given to where she is until the big reveal.
All that said…
We lost Black Panther. Which hurt and stunned me because no one really knew. Chadwick Boseman was an actor who made an impact not just in his profession but outside it. To be in pain yet give his all each and every day for his fellow man speaks volumes. The world lost another light and the world is a bit dimmer with the loss of Mr. Boseman. Thoughts and Prayers go out to his family and friends. He will be missed always.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or Dragon Ball Z. All rights, characters, and media belong to their respective owners.
Cover Art credit goes to Deviantart artist hsvhrt.
Phantom Lord HQ (Mobile)
Upper Levels
Natsu vs Gajeel
Natsu immediately leapt back as Gajeel's Iron Dragon's Sword impacted the ground where he once stood. Natsu landed in a crouch before running back in. Gajeel lifted his magical blade before swinging it at Natsu. Natsu dropped to his knees and played a little limbo, ducking beneath the blade as it passed above his head by a few inches. Before Natsu ceased his momentum, he leaned back a bit further and grasped Gajeel by his ankle. As Natsu made the move to stand up, he lifted Gajeel's ankle high off the ground, causing the opposing Slayer to land face first.
Natsu leapt away the moment Gajeel recovered and swung his blade. Natsu didn't want to go on the offensive just yet. He watched as Gajeel got to a crouch, no longer having that infuriating grin of his on his face. Letting off a growl of annoyance, Gajeel aimed his hand in Natsu's direction.
"Iron Dragon's Club!"
An iron pillar shot towards Natsu, the fire user swiftly bringing up his arms to block it. However, Natsu used both strategy and instinct, allowing the hit to send him across the room towards a pillar. The attack didn't hurt, but it did rattle his bones a little. Natsu had to admit that Gajeel was not all bark after all. Hell, even his Dragon instincts were telling him to be on guard. He couldn't allow Gajeel to overpower him. Not this late in the game.
As Natsu neared the pillar, he angled and maneuvered his body so his feet would be the first parts of his body to impact the stone structure. Once his feet landed, Natsu aimed his gaze at Gajeel while simultaneously channeling magic into his feet. Using his flames as propulsion, Natsu shot forward at a speed that immediately caught Gajeel by surprise.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Gajeel's momentarily lapse in concentration cost him as Natsu sent him flying with a fiery fist to the face. Natsu dismissed the flames in his hand before getting back into a stance. On the other end, Gajeel had crashed hard into a wall before landing promptly on his back. Growling, Black Steel slowly rose up before getting to a knee. To think another Dragon Slayer had this sort of strength!
Gajeel was starting to get very irritated. There was no way Salamander was stronger than him! There was absolutely no way!
Glaring hatefully at his fiery counterpart, Gajeel took a moment to wipe his mouth off with the back of his hand.
"I'll admit Salamander, that was a pretty good punch. However…"
Gajeel quickly launched himself at Natsu, the fire user tensing in anticipation.
"Don't think you can win that easily Fairy loser!" Gajeel snarled.
Natsu leapt back as Gajeel smashed the ground with his enhanced strength. Gajeel refused to let up throwing a series of punches at Natsu, who simply sidestepped or dodged them entirely. When Natsu found an opening, he lit both fists on fire before hitting a series of Jab-Cross combos to Gajeel's face and torso. Gajeel's body rapidly contorted in agony with each blow. It were as if his face and body were burning hotter each time he was hit.
Natsu continued his barrage of punches for several more seconds before hopping up and delivering a kick to Gajeel's head, snapping it to the side. When Natsu landed on the ground, he performed several flips to get some distance between him and his target. Once he was at a comfortable distance, Natsu channeled magic into his legs and feet before spinning in a few circles and coming off the ground.
"Fire Dragon's Claw!"
Maneuvering and twisting his body, Natsu used the flaming tendrils coming from his legs to whip and hit Gajeel several times, burning his clothes and hurting him. After several hits Gajeel was sent flying back again.
Lucy was having an easy time. It felt good for the blonde to finally let loose after not seeing action with the siege group earlier. Plus as always, it gave her a chance to show the fruits of her training.
When the fighting had started for her, she handled a majority of the grunts using her whip and basic martial arts moves. To wrap things up she decided to summon Virgo to back her up. The duo of master and spirit easily handled the remaining Phantom mages using pure martial arts, having a little side help from Happy to end things. Once all was said and done, Lucy gave her thanks to Virgo, who replied that she enjoyed this excursion while also asking for punishment. Lucy sweat dropped and chuckled sheepishly before dismissing her.
"Virgo sure is weird Lushy. She reminds me of someone I know. I wonder who?" Happy thought aloud while munching on a fish.
"Yeah… keep wondering fur ball…" Lucy grumbled.
Both Fairy Tail members were then drawn to the continued sound of Natsu's fight with Gajeel. From what they saw, Natsu was clearly dominating in speed, strength and magic. It seemed that whatever Gajeel threw at Natsu, the salmon haired teen would either shrug it off or counter with extra 'oomph'.
When Gajeel was once again thrown into the wall, Natsu just slipped into a loose stance while keeping his focus on his opponent. Lucy and Happy just stood by and spectated the fight, keen on seeing Natsu deliver justice for all Gajeel has done in regards to his transgressions against Fairy Tail.
"Wow… only time I've seen Natsu look like that was Galuna or during training." Lucy commented.
"Aye. Natsu is really strong when he fights for his friends." Happy added with a confident smile.
Lucy took a moment to smile and nod.
"Yeah. That's exactly what makes Natsu the coolest ever. He never gives up."
"Aye sir!"
Gajeel emerged from the pile of rubble he had been buried in when parts of the wall and ceiling collapsed on him. He had lost the left half of his shirt and had several rips and tears in his pants. The Iron Dragon Slayer was panting slightly, the fight taking a slight toll on him. And he had yet to do any damage to his opponent.
("The hell is wrong with me?! I should be tossing this poor bastard around easily! Just how did he get so strong?!")
Gajeel peered up and with wide, angry eyes stared hard at Natsu. The rosy haired teen simply raised a brow. Growling, Gajeel clinched his fists tight as he felt a rise in his magic power.
("This… this guy… he's…!")
"You're starting to piss me off…" Gajeel growled lowly.
Natsu's brows furrowed a bit. Right now he was confused as to why Gajeel hadn't come to engage him. Sure, he should pressing the advantage he had but he wanted to properly gauge Gajeel so he could give himself the green light to go all out. But Gajeel was beginning to baffle him with the odd behavior. Guess the Iron user wasn't used to being on the losing end of a fight…
Without warning, Natsu felt Gajeel's magic skyrocket. The Fire Dragon Slayer glanced over to his partner and the look on her face confirmed it… Gajeel was done playing around.
Gajeel's eyes went completely white as he tilted his head back and roared in a fashion similar to a dragon.
"You're starting to piss me off!"
Gajeel's magical aura encompassed his body, partially hiding the transformation that was taking place. Natsu's sharp eyes widened slightly as he saw that Gajeel's skin had turned into metal. The transformation only took a few seconds and when it was finished the Fairy Tail members couldn't help but gape at Gajeel's new look.
Although they looked like feathers, Gajeel's arms were coated in scale made from various metals. Gajeel's face on the other hand looked like the scales of an actual dragon. Lastly, Gajeel's pupils now resembled slits of a reptile. If anything, this look would have struck fear in any who stood in Black Steel's way.
But not Natsu.
That said, Natsu tightened up his fighting stance, narrowing his eyes and baring his teeth. Given Gajeel's current level of output, Natsu knew he was in for the real fight now.
Stepping forward, Gajeel's now sharp, iron hands twitched at his sides in anticipation. He may have bowed to Jose. But he sure as hell wasn't going to bow to Fairy scum. Leveling Natsu with a bloodthirsty grin, Gajeel let out a mix of a chuckle and a growl.
"Congratulations Salamander. You've finally done it. Now you've earned your one way trip to hell courtesy of my Iron Scales. I'm going to enjoy tearing your sorry ass limb from limb." Gajeel stated.
Natsu ignited his entire body and pushed his magic output. Lucy and Happy had to squint at how bright Natsu's flames were. On top of that it kind of clashed with the brightness coming from outside.
"Bring it on Black Steel. You want some?"
Natsu and Gajeel both took off towards each other at blinding speeds. Both mages readied their fists in what was about to be an epic trade off of punches.
"Come get some!" Natsu roared.
Meanwhile
Over Magnolia
Bardock vs The Black Hand
Bardock found himself sailing back as 'Sword' zoomed in and aimed several slashes at his form. But he was starting to slowly build his power up to a level where he could dodge her attacks with greater ease. It was surprising but the entirety of the Black Hand had manage to get Bardock to try.
The oddity of it all started moments ago. While Fairy Alpha (plus Elfman), more or less stormed Phantom's mobile fortress, Bardock took on Jose's false soldiers alongside the rest of the guild before breaking off and taking on the mysterious Ki warriors.
As the fight wore on between himself and the group, the scarred Saiyan noticed a change within the group. It was a change he had seen in the last of Garlic Jr.'s men back on Galuna Island. Their Ki, individually and collectively, rapidly shot up giving the Saiyan slight pause. Not only that, their eyes had all become a glowing, ruby red that he wrote off as being a Makyan thing. Now that wasn't so much the case.
("Their energy feels so damn sinister. Just what the hell happened?")
Bardock leapt upwards to avoid a slash at his midsection before his foot was snagged by an outstretch arm. 'Warrior' managed to reel Bardock in before abruptly letting go, setting the Saiyan Rebel up for a dive bomb punch courtesy of 'Brute'. Bardock grunted as he was launched downwards to the ground, only to halt himself in the air.
Bardock gingerly rubbed his midsection, keeping in mind the slight pain he felt just now from that hit.
("Huh… I felt that one.")
Bardock didn't get the time to dwell on it more before he phased out to avoid an attack from 'Staff'. Bardock phased back in and immediately began to dodge swipes and stabs by the male human. Bardock allowed this to continue for several moments before leaning right and grabbing the man's weapon. 'Staff' was shocked before Bardock brought him in for a harsh punch to the face, which in turn made the human male let go of his weapon. As 'Staff' was sent back, Bardock growled in annoyance before throwing the weapon away, turning around and rushing at 'Brute' who in turn was rushing at him.
Both Saiyans forearms impacted and the stalemate lasted a second before they commenced a melee befitting that of true Saiyan warriors. Bardock still held the edge in every category but 'Brute' was still a Saiyan, despite having the invisible leash around his neck.
("My only question is who's holding it?") Bardock thought as he countered a jab.
The Saiyans continued to let punches and kicks fly before disengaging and separating from each other. Bardock powered up and ignited his aura while the larger Saiyan did the same, his aura being ominous black just like Spice's.
Both Saiyans rushed each other again and this time the melee had a greater intensity than it did before. As the titanic clash of strength sent shockwaves across the airspace, both Saiyans seemingly zoomed across several points, disappearing then reappearing again just to fight. The engagement went on for several moments before being rudely interrupted by 'Warrior' and his outstretched arm.
Bardock snarled as he leaned back, dodging the offending limb. Setting himself in a position to attack, Bardock was about to aim towards the other threat before blocking a punch from 'Brute' with both arms. Bardock bared his teeth as he let himself being pushed back, hoping to lull 'Brute' into creating an opening. Sadly though, 'Brute' had no intention and simply used Kiai in his fist to send Bardock sailing through the air.
Bardock lowered his guard and once again halted himself in the air, ceasing his momentum. Ready to re-engage his opponent, Bardock's momentum started forward but stopped when he had to dodge and evade slashes from an more eager 'Sword'. She only managed to get a few off before Bardock simply 'shoved' her aside with a small Ki blast to her left flank, causing her to cry out in pain as she was sent off into the distance.
Bardock went back to rushing 'Brute' who was now reinforced by 'Warrior' and the now rearmed 'Staff'. As Bardock increased his power output, his senses alerted him to something going on within the mobile guild hall.
("Jose's coming to play while the kid is facing nail face. Dammit I need to wrap this up!") Bardock thought with a growl.
Eyes narrowed and aura ignited, Bardock roared as he came closer to his opponents. With the situation changing, the Saiyan Rebel decided then and there to take the gloves off.
Phantom Lord HQ (Mobile)
Assembly Hall
Erza had mopped up a lot of the Phantom mages that came her way. They were left with concussions, shattered dreams and the less fortunate having their jewels punted into their abdomen. Given she could sense her comrades, Erza knew that Natsu was fighting Gajeel while Lucy and Happy stood by in support (or at least she assumed so about the two). Gray and Elfman had already taken out the remaining Phantom mages and were on there way down.
Erza had managed to find herself in a large chamber that resembled that of a throne room. There were several doorways which led to separate hallways like the one she just came from. She gazed around and hummed thoughtfully.
("Strange… I am curious as to what purpose this room serves. But given it's Jose, It's best not to question it.")
Erza perked up when she had heard footsteps. She glanced towards her left and was happy to catch the sight of Gray and Elfman. Strangely enough, Gray was carrying a blue haired girl whose magic power matched that of the one he was fighting earlier.
("Well then, this is an interesting development…") Erza thought.
The knight then smiled and crossed her arms as both males and their guest stopped in front of her.
"My, oh my… Gray you fiendish little pup, what on Earth Land have you been up to?" Erza asked.
Gray then glanced at Juvia, whose head was lying on his shoulder. He couldn't help but sigh in exasperation and roll his eyes.
"She just fainted on me all of a sudden after our fight. Honestly, she's… different. But she's a good person deep down." Gray explained.
Erza nodded before taking a step forward. She brushed Juvia's now messy bangs away from her forehead.
"She's beautiful Gray…" Erza commented softly.
Gray for his part looked at Juvia with an emotion in his eye he didn't identify. For his part, Gray didn't trust himself to speak and simply nodded with a soft look.
The moment lasted for several more seconds until it was interrupted by a change in the air. Erza, Gray and Elfman all stiffened, sweat dripping down their faces when they felt the sinister presence enter then permeate the room. It was then a slow clap was heard, followed by the steady tap of shoes on the ground.
All three slowly turned their heads to one of the two doors flanking a space reserved for Jose's throne. Coming out of the door to the right was Jose Porla, painted lips curled into the cruelest grin he could muster.
"Bravo my dear fairies. Bravo, indeed." Jose mockingly applauded.
Gray wordlessly handed off Juvia to Elfman, who was going to protest before seeing his comrades. Both Erza and Gray were nervous, that much was true. But they stepped up and were ready to take on Phantom's head man. Both the Knight and Ice mage stood shoulder to shoulder while Elfman glanced between their backs and the face of their foe.
"I have to give you credit. Easily defeating one of teams is truly a great feat. But I do wonder how you will fair against someone above your caliber?"
Gray and Erza narrowed their eyes at the Wizard Saint. They both knew that this would be their toughest fight in over a month. The strongest opponent they faced then was the team's otherworldly, other universe mentor. But he wasn't here right now. So until him or even the rest of their team could back them up, it fell on their shoulders to fight Jose. Luckily, neither exerted a great deal of magic and both were still fresh from their fights.
Gray slammed his hands together, before separating them and summoning two swords. This was his Ice-Make Twin Excalibur. It was thanks to sword lessons with Erza, along with a study of different fighting styles using different weapons, that made him quite the combatant.
Erza decided to go with her Black Wing Armor. She would get the benefits of full offense and speed in this armor set. Given who her opponent was, she was going to need it.
Both members of Fairy Alpha increased their magic output, letting their power visibly build. Elfman for his part was sweating bullets as being surrounded by the magic auras of three strong mages made him falter.
"Elfman."
Elfman snapped out of it and looked to Gray. Without taking his eyes off of Jose, Gray already had something in mind to avoid unnecessary distractions.
"Take Juvia to a safe place. And you stay out of this too. This is about to get ugly and neither Erza or myself can babysit you." Gray ordered in a cold tone.
Elfman would have said something but Erza immediately cut in before he could.
"Gray's right. With the amount of power you currently have, you would only slow us down. Get to a safe distance and whatever you do, don't look back." Erza added.
With Juvia cradled in his arms, Elfman for his part looked conflicted and a bit hurt. Had the incident with Mira and Lisanna all those years ago made him that rusty? He was nearly an S-Class caliber mage in his own right. But had he really been holding himself back so much that he couldn't back his friends?
Setting a determined expression, Elfman hummed then gave a nod and made his way out. Erza and Gray didn't bother turning around, knowing for sure Elfman followed their collective instruction. As the male Strauss made his way out the chamber, Erza and Gray settled into stances, unblinking as they stared down Jose.
Jose leveled his hand in front of his face, palm facing outward. With a single swipe, dark powerful tendrils shot out towards both mages. Gray for his part simply kicked off the ground, sidestepping to the left before rushing forward. Erza on the other hand hovered off the ground before dodging to the right and flying forward.
Jose grinned as both mages were attempting a unique setup for a pincer move. Gray practically sprinted, keeping to the ground and aiming for Jose's left flank. Erza kept in the air, going for Porla's right flank.
One high, one low.
Jose waited until the last second to block Gray's slash with a dark barrier. At the same time the Wizard Saint caught Erza's blade with a dark empowered fist. Neither mage flinched at the show of force. But they would soon realize this opponent would not let them off easy.
Jose blasted Gray back with a shockwave before gripping Erza's blade tight. It was only thanks to the amount of magic power in the blade that Erza's sword didn't break. But she couldn't help the grunt she let out when Jose brought her close only to punch her.
Erza sailed back before righting herself in the air and landing. Gray was several meters away in a low crouch, swords still in hand.
Jose simply laughed before launching a powerful magic wave towards both mages. Gray planted both swords in the ground before erecting a barrier. Erza flew high enough to where the attack didn't touch her at all. However, her senses alerted her to an influx of magic and some rapid movement. Snapping her head left, her eyes widened as Jose quickly appeared behind Gray. Gray for his part couldn't afford to react to Jose's speed. Jose after all was one of the more powerful, more deadly wizards in the Kingdom.
Gray quickly took his swords out of the ground and hopped over a magic blast that was aimed at his back. Jose hummed, slightly impressed with Gray's reflexes. The moment Gray landed, he quickly dodged maneuvered several magic blasts aimed at him. While Jose continued to toy with Gray, Erza zoomed in and slashed at Jose, only for him to once again block her attack. Unlike last time, he decided to block her blade with a magic barrier instead of his bare hand.
"Ice Make Lance!"
Jose's grin dimmed a bit, as he erected another barrier to block Gray's attack. But the Ice mage wasn't done. Gray slammed both hands on the ground, instantly freezing it. Gray then utilized the moisture in the air, jumping up and summoning frozen platforms. Gray used three platforms before they shattered, leaving him high in the air. The raven haired teen summoned a bow and arrow, aiming right at Jose. Gray drew the arrow back before letting it fly.
Jose would have blocked it but Erza wouldn't allow it. Taking one hand away from her sword, she summoned the axe that went with her current armor set and slammed it close to where Jose was standing. The move made Jose stumble before he felt the sharp impact of a frozen arrow to his shoulder, tearing clean through his cape and top.
Erza performed several leaps and flips before landing and slipping back into a stance. Gray used Ice Make Grappling Hook to make his way to Erza's side. Once he did, he slipped into his maker stance and held off from attacking. At this point, he was going to take Erza's cue or let her take his. Their teamwork, especially when working with Natsu and Lucy, had improved greatly over the last month. Sometimes they strategized, other times they didn't. But there was such great synergy among them that there was often no need for verbal cues.
Jose straightened up and turned towards both Fairies with a dark frown.
"I'm impressed. You've conserved your energy against my guild, even my best members. Even now your skills have warranted my attention and a bit of my respect." Jose said.
Erza exited her stance and held her blade to the side.
"There's more to it than our hard work, dedication and our magic." Erza clarified.
To this Jose raised an eyebrow. He had a feeling she was going to make some speech that churned his stomach. Even so, he was curious as to what she was going to say. So he was willing to hear her out.
"By all means enlighten me." Jose intoned with a swipe of his hands.
Erza held her blade out with great resolution.
"We find our true strength in our hearts and with each other. Where Phantom clearly fails, we shine. We are Fairy Tail because we fight for each other and the people of the kingdom. Even if you break every bone in our body, shred every muscle and turn our organs to mush, we will fight on!" Erza stated with passion.
"If anything I'd like to keep my organs from turning into mush. Plus I love my muscles as they are thank you." Gray interjected with a wary expression.
Jose on the other hand simply grinned cruelly. Of course the Fairies would spout such drivel. Such a shame though. As talented and strong they were, they were undoubtedly too naïve for his tastes. Too pure.
"Very well then Miss Scarlet…"
Jose chuckled and closed his eyes, causing both Fairy mages to go on alert. The moment his eyes opened again, both Erza and Gray felt a greater sense of danger than before. Jose's sclera had gone from white to black while his pupils shifted to an ominous violet.
"If that is the case, then I shall show you depths of despair you have yet to experience! Prepare yourselves!"
Upper Levels
Dragon Slayers, like actual Dragons, were rather destructive.
Hence why Natsu and Gajeel's fight had escalated once Gajeel's Iron Scales were brought into play. It also didn't help that Gajeel was extremely mad. Hell he was beyond livid at this point.
Anyways, the fight had hit a stalemate once Gajeel brought in his trump card. But that stalemate was still tilted in Natsu's favor, if barely.
He used his magic to superheat his punches and take well placed shots at Gajeel's torso when there were openings. But it came at a cost as he too took punches. His clothes, once near pristine condition, suffered numerous tears and holes. His body of course showed damage but it wasn't too bad.
As blood ran down his left temple, Natsu growled as he dodged another punch before hitting Gajeel with a right uppercut. Gajeel recovered as best he could before hitting Natsu point blank with an Iron Dragon's Club. Natsu was immediately pushed back after barely bringing his left forearm up to block the attack.
The Fire user gritted his teeth in pain, glaring at the ground before setting his eyes back on Gajeel. Natsu quickly took his forearm away and rushed Gajeel again.
"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!"
Gajeel thought he was ready but quickly found that to be a lie. Natsu's head immediately impacted his, cutting through his protection and allowing a head wound to open up. Worse yet, Gajeel could tell that the hit nearly gave him a concussion.
Natsu righted himself in the air and landed on his feet, only to move again when Gajeel shot numerous kunai at him. Natsu weaved his way through to take another shot at Gajeel, opting for a kick to the chin that sent him up to the floor above, going straight through the ceiling. Using his momentum, Natsu also made it to the floor before landing on the other side of the hole he made. His landing came just in time, as he had to dodge a swiping kick from Gajeel who had recovered rather quickly. Not letting up and getting a bit creative, Gajeel swiped his right arm, knocking Natsu off to the side. Natsu tumbled several meters before managing to plant both hands on the ground and getting himself into a crouch.
Growling, Natsu glared at Gajeel who was in the process of turning back around.
"Fire Dragon's…"
"Iron Dragon's…"
Both Slayers cheeks puffed before they let loose a torrent of their respective elements.
"Roar!"
The combined might of both attacks created a strong magical backlash which destroyed much of the roof over their heads, the surrounding walls and even parts of the floor. Both mages slid back and glared through the dust cloud. Natsu took the initiative and rushed forward, going right through the dust cloud. Natsu let his left fist fly while Gajeel used his right.
Both mages struck each other in the face and generated a shockwave that continued to destroy more of the building. In fact, both mages could tell that the floor would not last long beneath them at this rate.
Natsu kicked off the ground, rushing in before leaping in the air and performing a superman punch, stunning Gajeel. The Fire user then followed up with several up with several jabs to the face and a few body shots. But Gajeel countered the onslaught… hard.
Growling, Gajeel lifted his leg before turning it into a pillar and slamming it into Natsu's midsection. After taking Natsu off his feet, Gajeel seized the other Slayer by the throat before hoisting him up and slamming him down. Natsu grunted in pain before feeling himself come off the ground again. This time Gajeel leapt into the air, still clutching Natsu by the throat, before coming back down to the unstable floor once again slamming the fire user. Gajeel leapt in the air one last time only to be taken off guard by a punch from Natsu. The salmon haired teen would have punched Gajeel again, only to be slammed in the side by Gajeel's Iron Dragon's Sword.
Natsu found himself going through the floor and landing hard on top of rubble. The son of Igneel groaned as he slowly sat up. Though he was focused on the fight, Natsu could distinctly hear his companions cry out his name in worry. He had already wasted over a third of his magic fighting Gajeel. He couldn't afford to be delayed any further in finding Erza and Gray.
Taking the time to get some air into his lungs, Natsu looked across the room to see Gajeel struggle to keep going. He could see it clearly. Gajeel looked ready to keel over. Hence why Natsu empowered a lot of his punches and kicks when dealing with Gajeel's Iron Scales.
Baring his teeth, Natsu shot forward, taking Gajeel by surprise. The Fire user dove to the ground face first, sliding until his hands grasped Gajeel's ankles. Grinning with confidence, Natsu called forth a spell he had come up with recently.
"Flame Pillar!"
Dipping into his magic reserves, damn near pushing him to half remaining, Natsu summoned a vertical column of fire that consumed himself and Gajeel. But Natsu wouldn't receive the damage he was dealing to his opponent, who was screaming like a banshee as his scales were melting and his skin was blistering. The column of fire lasted for a few seconds before ceasing. Natsu let go and rolled several times to the side before getting to his feet.
Gajeel on the other hand fell to both knees, his trump card no longer protecting his body. Panting in both pain and fatigue, Gajeel kept one eye open as he stared at the wall ahead. He couldn't let it end this way. At this point, Gajeel was low in magic reserves while Natsu brought his close to half. Yet it almost seemed inhuman how much stamina the Fire user had to compensate for such a loss.
Gajeel had picked this room for a reason and he was at a point where he needed a pick me up. He had been fueling himself up this whole time yet once the fight started, all that fuel went to waste. Glancing down at the floor, Gajeel knew then and there what he had to do. In order to show the Fairies who's boss, he needed a snack.
Reaching down, Gajeel used one arm, which felt so heavy at the moment, to pry one of the metal sheets off the ground. He slowly brought it up to his face ready to eat it and get back in the fight…
"No you don't!" Natsu interjected.
Only for Natsu to slap it away before decking him hard in the face. Gajeel fell on to his side. Grumbling a string of curses as he slowly got back up to his feet. Though it took about a minute, to Gajeel it felt like hours. His body felt heavy, at least heavier than usual given who he was and what he was capable of. There was barely any fight in him and Salamander was sharp enough to know what Gajeel was trying to do. It looks like he had lost this fight.
Shakily, Gajeel peered up to glare at Natsu one last time in defiance. Natsu simply glared back, fists clenched tight at his sides. The two stared each other down for several moments before Natsu rushed forward and delivered the knockout blow that took Gajeel off his feet and sent him outside. The Iron user ended up on his back, lying on top of rubble and debris from all the destruction he and Natsu mutually caused. He tried to sit up one last time before falling back down and passing out. Black Steel had finally seen defeat at the hands of the Salamander of Fairy Tail.
The son of Igneel stood tall, wind picking up making the tail ends of his scarf flap to the side. He felt a great sense of pride in what he was able to accomplish. To be able to defeat another Dragon Slayer and without having to waste so much strength…
It felt good.
Still, the fight wasn't over. Even now he could feel the collective magic power at the guild slowly drain as the others fought the shades. Adding on to that, Natsu could feel the magic of Erza and Gray going down as well, the duo no doubt fighting against Jose. As much as he wanted to take a breather and bask in his victory, he couldn't.
"Natsu!"
The dual voices brought a curious hum from Natsu as he turned around. The young man's eyebrows shot straight up as he felt two bodies impact his, making him lose his balance.
"Whoa!" Natsu exclaimed.
Wrapping his arms around whatever tackled him, Natsu did his best landing on his rear. He blinked before looking down, only to chuckle at the happy expressions on his partners.
Both Lucy and Happy snuggled into Natsu's chest before Happy leaped out of Natsu's arms, landing on the floor.
"You were awesome Natsu!" Happy cheered.
Natsu smiled, scratching his cheek with a finger while keeping his other arm wrapped around Lucy. Said Blonde smiled as she too looked at the team's mascot.
"Really?" Natsu prompted.
"Aye! I knew you were the greatest ever! That metal headed jerk never knew what him!" Happy exclaimed waving his arms around.
Natsu grinned cheekily while Lucy giggled at his side. Though he was sore and down to half strength, this little moment with his two favorite people felt good. Once they calmed down, Natsu and Lucy got to their feet together. Natsu peered down at Lucy with a gleaming grin.
"Fight's not over yet."
Lucy tilted her head before nodding in agreement. Both teens reluctantly separated, as Natsu stretched, adrenaline dying down a bit to remind him of his aching body. The son of Igneel looked up at the remains of the ceiling thoughtfully.
"Jose's the only one left isn't he?" Natsu asked aloud.
Given it was rhetorical, both his companions just looked at him. Natsu rolled his shoulders before taking off towards the exit, his partners right behind him.
"Let's go finish this!" He declared.
"Yeah!"
"Aye sir!"
Sky over Magnolia
Bardock backhanded 'Sword' after she tried to slash him. He then phased out to avoid a strike from 'Staff'. The male human of the opposition was baffled at the speed for a hot moment before pain radiated in his back. Bardock phased back into existence to kick him hard. Bardock then back flipped to avoid harassment from the Namekian. Bardock then backpedaled as his head effortlessly dodged the strikes from 'Warrior'.
Not really in the mood for games, Bardock phased out, startling 'Warrior' much like how he startled 'Staff'. 'Warrior' then felt Bardock perform an elbow drop that dented the top of his skull. Blood flew from the Namekian's nostrils and mouth, as pain overridden everything else he was trying to do. Out of commission for the immediate moment, 'Warrior' plummeted from the air.
Bardock watched with a firm scowl as his opponent left the airspace and was on a crash course with the ground. The Saiyan Rebel then brought up his right forearm to block a punch. He never turned his head to see the obvious culprit was. 'Brute' gritted his teeth audibly as he tried to move Bardock. But the smaller Saiyan would not budge.
Twisting his face into a vicious snarl, Bardock flared Kaioken to life, releasing a shockwave to knock the opposition back. Bardock allowed his aura to settle into place before glancing to his right. The entire Black Hand had regrouped, looking exhausted and beaten. Once the Saiyan Rebel felt Jose enter the playing field, he felt it necessary to wear down this new group before finishing them off.
Bardock also felt that Makarov was moving towards the battlefield. This came after the alien warrior confirmed that the elderly man's power had returned to him.
("Better late than never. You were more or less useless old man. Might as well sit back and see how it's really done.") Bardock scoffed mentally.
Turning to face his opponents fully, Bardock also made sure to note of the situation on the ground. Mira had relocated the wounded now that the guild hall was about to be wrecked completely. Fairy Tail's defense force was crumbling and with Jose's specter warriors not showing a trace of mercy, it was only a matter of time before the guild hall fell. But to Bardock it didn't matter. It was simply a building. Nothing but some place where the fruitcakes got drunk, took jobs and more often than not brawled for the hell of it. He had an inkling that they might care but he didn't. Right now, all that mattered was winning.
Unleashing his aura with an audible roar, Bardock rushed forward only to disappear. The Black Hand went into defensive stances, only to be too slow. Bardock reappeared, snapping a kick to the head and neck of the Namekian in the group. After making short work of him, Bardock twisted around threw a powerful gut punch into the large Saiyan, making the bigger warrior keel over.
The Saiyan Rebel shot higher into the air, drawing 'Sword' and 'Staff' to him. Once he reached an acceptable height, he dive bombed. He was too fast with Kaioken. Much too fast.
The moment Bardock found himself between the two humans, he crossed his arms across his chest, back to the ground below and aimed Ki blasts at both combatants. Though he had both targets in mind when firing point blank, Bardock wanted to start whittling down his opposition one by one. Keeping his glance to the right, Bardock fired off both blasts and sent both fighters back in pain. Then he seized the moment and made his move.
The leader of the group had gritted her teeth, as she made an attempt to recover and rush back into the fight. But to her horror, Bardock was in front of her in an instant, hand raised in her face. She had been assigned this mission to simply offer a powerful wizard her team's services. She had been assigned because of her combat prowess and leadership. She was part of a team that should have outmatched an aging Saiyan who serve as part of a grand plan for her superior. Now though?
Bardock released a shout and a powerful Ki empowered wave engulfed 'Sword', her screams of terror audible for a short moment before ceasing. After lowering his hand, Bardock gazed dismissively and in disgust at the female human's remnants. With Kaioken still active, Bardock then tuned his senses for his next victim. He wasn't disappointed with what he found behind him.
Turning around, Bardock found the male human frozen in fear. It was to be expected. Plus it wasn't anything new. People naturally feared any Saiyan when fighting them or being put to wholesale slaughter.
Shaking off his fear, 'Staff' rushed in hoping to avenge his leader and maybe live a little longer. His efforts were proven to be futile in seconds.
While holding his weapon high enough for a feasible guard, 'Staff' clearly underestimated the damage a Saiyan could do. In a flash, Bardock appeared before the human male and slammed an open palm strike through the human's weapon. The strike easily found purchase on the male's face, instantly doing damage and stunning him.
'Staff' gasped in pain as his brain slowly registered the fact he may be dealing with blunt force trauma, a concussion and broken bones. But his brain didn't have time to deal with the impromptu medical diagnosis. Bardock let loose a flurry of blows that weakened 'Staff' to a critical state. The Saiyan Rebel then kicked him away, the wounded human holding each half of his weapon tightly. Bardock then disappeared, timing his next move just right before reappearing. Without changing his position, Bardock waited until 'Staff' neared his side before giving the human's skull a harsh elbow to the side, stunning him even more.
Bardock let 'Staff' drift away for a split second before grabbing the man by his armor and throwing him high into the air. Bardock took the moment to prime a Kaioken empowered Riot Javelin. After all, he could spare the power if he wanted to. The Black Hand was no longer a threat or a challenge. Simply just trash and weeds waiting to be taken out.
Bardock flung his right arm forward, turning around to not even look at the inevitable aftermath. When he heard the explosion behind him and tuned his senses for any signs of Ki, he knew that was another target down.
("Two down. Two more to go.")
Before Bardock could seek out the rest of the Black Hand, he leaned back as he dodged a claw like strike from 'Warrior'. The Saiyan Rebel then brought his left arm up to block a kick, before shoving the limb away and getting some distance. The Namekian snarled and settled into a stance. Bardock snorted before doing the same. If he wanted a fight to the death, he would give him a proper one.
Both fighters waited a moment before rushing at each other, engaging in punches and kicks far too fast for the normal eye. But if one looked closely, Bardock simply blocked or dodged before retaliating with powerful blows that weakened 'Warrior'. As more blows connected, the Namekian started to bruise and bleed more easily, clothes becoming tattered from the abuse.
When 'Warrior' had unknowingly let his defense lapse, Bardock connected a left cross that sent the Namekian back. The Saiyan Rebel then resumed a normal posture as he watched 'Warrior' pant heavily from fatigue and injury. Before he could move in for the kill, 'Brute' came behind him and put him in a full nelson. Not bothered by this Bardock simply growled before tilting his head forward and bringing it back hard, impacting the large Saiyan's face. After stunning 'Brute', Bardock then hit the large warrior with an elbow to the gut before rushing at 'Warrior'.
'Warrior' looked on wide eyed as Bardock quickly closed the distance before phasing out of existence. 'Warrior' frantically looked around before feeling a strong arm wrap around his neck. The Namekian struggled in Bardock's hold for several seconds as the Saiyan simply applied pressure. Using his increased strength and placing a hand behind the Namekian's head, Bardock twisted and heard an audible snap.
Bardock allowed the body out of his grasp and pointed his palm towards the falling corpse. Once it was at an acceptable distance, Bardock blasted it with a Ki orb the size of a big ball. A blast engulfed the corpse, leaving nothing but ashes.
("That takes care of evidence.")
Bardock looked up with narrowed eyes at the last member of the Black Hand. A Saiyan just like him.
("And then there was one…")
'Brute' growled before settling into a stance and powering up. His aura was a black, ominous flame that made Bardock pause a bit. The Saiyan Rebel narrowed his eyes and simply crossed his arms. Kaioken being in use for an extended period had gone well, but Bardock was wary of using a 'multiplier' as best described by him. From his visions, between Kakarot's training under the blue chubby mass known as King Kai and Kakarot's fight against Vegeta, adding on a multiplier to Kaioken added higher strain and higher risk to the user's body. So as it stood, even with the other Saiyan digging deep into power he had not used for the fight, Bardock could end this anytime he wanted to without risk of straining his body.
("That said, simple observation and training isn't enough to master this damn technique, useful as it may be.") Bardock noted.
Once 'Brute' had reached max power, Bardock uncrossed his arms and slipped into a stance. Seconds later, 'Brute' rushed forward while Bardock remained still. Bardock waited until 'Brute' was a few meters away before hitting the larger Saiyan with a powerful drop kick. The force of the blow sent 'Brute' back and Bardock immediately flew after him.
Roaring, Bardock decided to go for the finisher. As the momentum of 'Brute' slowed, the only thing he could note was the flash of maroon that seem to obscure his vision. Bardock started attacking 'Brute' viciously from all angles using high speed and quick, powerful blows. If one were to look closely, some would see a maroon or ruby colored lance dancing in the sky.
After one more run, Bardock phased several meters in front of 'Brute' and cocked his right arm back. A brilliant flash of blue mixed in with the maroon aura, as Bardock rushed into the personal space of 'Brute' and thrust his hand forward. The larger Saiyan was then engulfed in a blue beam that stretched across the sky for miles on end. The beam lasted for maybe 30 seconds before dying down. Bardock slowly lowered his arm and dismissed Kaioken.
Heaving a sigh, Bardock gave an experimental roll of his shoulders before looking around. The guild hall had collapsed thanks to Jose. Inconsequential in all honesty though. At the end of the day it was just a building. The members of Fairy Tail could always build a new one. Shaking his head, Bardock looked over to what was left of Phantom's mobile guild hall. Looks like Makarov and Natsu had made it to Gray and Erza in time. That said, Bardock couldn't allow Makarov to take on Jose. No way in hell.
("Can't be late to the party now can I?")
With a grunt, Bardock took off for the guild hall, hoping to send a proper message to Jose in person. And the Saiyan Rebel was intent on doing that without Makarov interfering.
Phantom Lord HQ (Mobile)
Assembly Hall
Gray and Erza had been pushed around, getting some blows in but then again they were facing someone at the caliber of their master. Jose was impressed with what he was seeing. He knew Erza was capable of one day being Wizard Saint material and she proved it. Gray on the other hand was a surprise. Jose knew of the boy's teacher and simply downplayed her power. Sure she was powerful but she wasn't worthy of the title of Wizard Saint when she was alive. Hell, Josoe would even go further in saying she wasn't worthy of it dead either. Still, Gray was powerful in his own right and he was well on his way of joining the ranks of S-Class wziards.
Then of course his simple spar with the Knight and Ice mage was interrupted by the timely, not so timely arrival of Salamander, Lucy Heartfillia and some small animal. Despite using close to half his power against Gajeel, Natsu was even more tenacious than his teammates. Jose had to be ruthless with the Dragon Slayer once Natsu drew more blood on him than Erza did. The combined assault of Fairy Tail's strongest team put Jose at a disadvantage. They had collective numbers, skill, synergy and a great teamwork. They made Jose work for a victory. Him. The true master of darkness and leader of the most powerful guild in the kingdom. It irked him. Infuriated him!
Yet, Jose continued to simply grin an evil grin. He was honestly quite content with what he was experiencing. These Fairies had bright futures ahead of themselves. Unfortunately for them, he was well determined to snuff the lights of those futures out one by one.
Hence, why Jose stood tall, bruised and a bit bloodied, cape no longer on his person.
On the other side, Erza had managed to stand up in heavily damaged armor, sword in an angled grip. She had clearly not gone unscathed in this fight and had she taken on Jupiter, it could have been worse. Gray was on his hands and knees, starting to feel the sure signs of exhaustion creeping into his body. He knew fighting a Wizard Saint would be different but damn. The saving grace for him and Erza was they occasionally sparred with Bardock as a means of testing themselves. Having your butt handed to you by an alien warrior could toughen you up in more ways than one.
Natsu was on one knee, clothes in even worse condition than what he fought in against Gajeel. Coming to the aid of his teammates had been crucial. He couldn't forgive himself if he didn't fight by their side. Sure he was all in for fighting opponents one on one but Bardock drilled it into his head that certain times called for compromise. Now was definitely one of those times.
Lucy and Happy had taken their place behind the trio of mages, looking on with worry and evident fear. They knew fighting Jose would be an uphill battle. But when even three members of the strongest team in the guild struggled to beat him, things were grim. The only upside of the whole guild war was that they would win. The only problem?
If Jose recaptured Lucy then everything was meaningless to this point.
Jose chuckled a little before raising his hand. A swirl of darkness came to his right hand and the Fairies all tensed. Before he could let loose a devastating wave of magic power, a voice rang out in the chamber.
"That's enough Jose."
All heads snapped to the entrance to the chamber, the same entrance which served as an exit for Elfman and Juvia. Standing there, with a band-aid on his forehead was Makarov Dreyar. And he was not happy.
"Master!" Erza exclaimed with a tearful smile.
"Gramps…" Natsu muttered with a weak smile.
"Bout damn time old man." Gray remarked with a smirk.
Makarov strode forward, his newly returned power radiating bright like the sun. The warmth that radiated from him spread to Fairy Alpha, giving them more hope and courage after having faced trials all day long. The eldest member continued forward before stopping next to Lucy.
"Are you alright my child?" Makarov asked.
Lucy blinked a few times before nodding.
"Yes Master. It's good to see that your back." Lucy replied with a grateful smile.
"Good to be back dear." Makarov responded with a nod and a smile
Makarov walked forward so that he stood between Jose and Fairy Alpha. The two men held a stare down, Makarov glaring in rage while Jose simply grinned.
"Now then…" Makarov began.
Before Makarov could begin the inevitable showdown, the roof exploded. Everyone minus Jose covered their heads as bits and pieces of debris and dust rained down. Once everything cleared up, a big hole was left in the wake of an already devastated ceiling. Floating down from it was a figure the Fairy Tail members were all too familiar with. Once the sounds of his boots hit, it confirmed what they had hoped for.
"Bardock!" Fairy Alpha exclaimed.
Said alien warrior glanced over his shoulder and saw the others. There was a flicker of approval and pride in the fact they had managed to defeat a great majority of Phantom Lord, including their heavy hitters. Hell, making it this far just to face the guild master, who was a Wizard Saint was an accomplishment.
He didn't care for their happy or relieved expressions. He didn't even care if they were hurt. They had done what was asked of them. And that was simply to win.
Bardock huffed out a breath before letting his scowling visage settle onto the frowning form of Jose.
"Hmph. So not even the Black Hand was able to defeat you. Either I underestimated you or they were weaker than I hoped." Jose commented in disappointment.
Bardock narrowed his eyes and bared his teeth at that. Jose should have learned by now that it was never safe to underestimate a Saiyan.
"I think you and I both know which option is obvious." Bardock growled.
Jose simply chuckled before dismissing his power and lowering his hand.
"I must say. Today turned out rather… unexpected. But I learned a lot in these past hours." Jose stated.
Everyone listened intently, while keeping their guard up. Whatever Jose was planning, they could handle should he try something for what seemed like the umpteenth time.
"To think that your guild had wizards of such caliber. They hold such power and yet I can't help but wonder why?"
Jose was very contemplative before his expression morphed into something nasty.
"You see, for the longest time Phantom Lord has always stood in Fairy Tail's shadow. Myself and Makarov always taking the best clients and recruiting the best talent for our respective causes. Yet at the end of the day it's always Fairy Tail. Everywhere I go, the citizens sing nothing of praises for your guild."
Then Jose closed his eyes for a few moments. The Fairy Tail members then detected the power build up, as if Jose was going to attack or something to a similar degree. Instead Jose's eyes snapped open and let his power unleash itself in a shockwave.
Bardock for his part simply narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. The others had held their arms up to keep dust out of their eyes.
"And I for one am sick to death of it!" Jose snarled.
Jose's outburst helped the wheels turn in the minds of all the Fairies present. There may be a good reason, petty as it may be, as to why Jose felt what he felt. Settling down a bit, Jose took a few moments to control his power.
"Titania, Laxus, Mystogan, Salamander and now some brutish warrior is a part of your guild. All their talents and potential wasted. It sickens me to no end Makarov." Jose sneered.
"Is there a point to all this? I'm getting bored here and your rambling is giving me a fucking headache." Bardock interjected unamused and irritated.
Although blunt, the Fairies nodded in agreement with Bardock's statement. Just where was Jose getting at?
"It started out simple yet it evolved into something great. Yes, my plan was quite marvelous indeed." Jose continued on.
So he'd been planning this? That much was obvious. But, like before they collectively thought to what end?
"When members of my guild managed to report to me that a wealthy client needed my aid, I for one was giddy as usual. But when I found out my client was Jude Heartfillia…"
Lucy flinched while everyone minus Happy narrowed their eyes. So Lucy's father was a part of this to some extent? It just confirmed what she heard Jose tell her. It also meant that the reach and influence of Jude Heartfillia was not to be underestimated. That said, there were a select few in the group who were in favor of paying the Heartfillia Patriarch a visit when everything died down.
"I then realized that my plan could finally come to fruition. While showing you your superior Makarov, I was also going to capitalize on the opportunity to seize immeasurable wealth in the form of the Heartfillia fortune." Jose finished.
Two birds one stone. A chance to remove a rival and make a lot of money in the process. Honestly had Bardock not been involved, the fight (or guild war) that escalated between both guilds, would have come down to the fight between the guild masters.
The Saiyan Rebel understood very clearly why Jose went through all this trouble. That said he was irritated, bored and exasperated. There was one thing on his mind though that lingered…
"How?" Bardock asked.
Fairy Alpha and Makarov eyed Bardock a moment before looking to Jose. They too were curious as to what Jose's endgame was.
To their discomfort, Jose chuckled darkly before grinning even wider, showing teeth this time.
"Why simple of course. Gajeel and the Elemental Four would have defeated Titania and her team. My guild hall all but annihilating Magnolia, leaving nothing but a scar for Makarov to mourn over. And…"
Jose's eyes drifted to Lucy, which made Natsu find the power to stand up and be by her side. Lucy felt her skin crawl at Jose's gaze.
"Miss Heartfillia would live the rest of her life in the deepest, darkest cell I could find while I bled her father of his money." Jose finished explaining.
Lucy's face morphed into one of outrage and horror at the implication. He was going to throw her somewhere that wouldn't allow her to see Fairy Tail or the outside world again and that was the worst part. It was bad enough he was greedy but since her father got himself into this mess, it didn't matter all that much to her.
Natsu and the others on the other hand was visibly appalled and outraged at Jose's declaration and intentions. To think that a Wizard Saint and master of a Light Guild would go so far! They each made their mind up that they were going to hurt Jose. Hurt him bad enough to where he would never bother Fairy Tail or Lucy ever again.
Bardock on the other hand couldn't help but widen his eyes at the revelation. He blinked a few times, hoping he didn't hear what he feared to be true.
"So basically… you did this for power, money and greed?" Bardock prompted in disbelief.
Jose blinked in surprise for a few times at the simplicity of the question. Clearing his throat, Jose grinned again.
"Yes." Jose answered.
Bardock then placed a hand on his hip and used the other to pinch the bridge of his nose. He needed to take a few deep breaths before his temper got the best of him. His temper had always been legendary amongst the Low-Class Saiyans. That said, his temper wouldn't help here.
Letting his hand leave his face, Bardock looked to the nearly destroyed ceiling with annoyed glare.
"Why the fuck do I have to deal with this bullshit?" Bardock wondered aloud.
Everyone sweatdropped at his question. Whether it was rhetorical or not, no one really wanted to answer. Fairy Alpha could see that their mentor was annoyed to have dealt with something so petty.
"That said, your talents are quite amazing. Surely someone like yourself would enjoy being at my side rather than Makarov's?"
Bardock and the others trained their eyes on Jose, who was still grinning. Crossing his arms, Bardock scoffed at the loaded question.
"And I should care why?" Bardock questioned with a raised brow.
Jose chuckled at that. Straight to the point. Something both men could appreciate.
"Because each of the guild masters know of the brief history you shared with the Magic Council. You have little use for authority and all you seek is greater power. In fact you can say that we are more alike than you think."
Bardock's brow settled and his eyes narrowed. He glanced over his shoulder to see Makarov look away with narrowed eyes of his own. So he knew?
Bardock growled at the fact that somethings just weren't kept secret until properly reveal. He was going to have words with Erza later. The Council he couldn't touch but he would leave a message soon. The Saiyan Rebel looked forward and allowed Jose to say whatever he had left.
"You love a good fight, lust for it even. You have no care for those who offer no benefit towards your objectives. You simply see many as means to an end. All you seek is resources to continue whatever it is you so desire to do." Jose elaborated.
Jose lent an outstretched hand, something of which made the Fairy Tail members nervous. If Bardock decided to turn on them now, there was nothing that could stop him. But deep down they knew he wouldn't be tempted by what Jose was going to propose.
"So what say you? Care to join Phantom Lord and rebirth the guild anew?" Jose offered.
Bardock looked at the hand and then back at Jose. He switched between the two a few times before dipping his head down and smirking. He then started to laugh and tilted his head back to allow his laugh to echo through the ruined chamber.
Jose frowned and clenched his hand into a fist, coating it in magic power.
Bardock sensed Jose's power rise and calmed down, keeping his smirk.
"Oh wow… you really are an idiot." Bardock all but insulted.
Jose snarled at being dismissed and downright rejected. But Bardock could honestly care less. Jose then answered Bardock's insult with a violent retort in the form of a magic powered blast known as Dead Wave. Bardock's smirk dropped and he deflected the attack with a backhand. The resulting blast destroyed a wall but that wasn't the main focus of everyone in the room.
No, the main focus was the alien warrior, who for a split second, felt an intense shift in his own power. He eyed Jose with a cold disdain that he held only for Frieza and his ilk. Jose flinched at the look and was startled when he saw something… strange.
It happened within a tiny amount of time, but the Saiyan Rebel's eyes flickered from onyx to teal for only an instant before going back to normal. Jose would have commented had it not been for the overbearing presence the Saiyan was giving off.
"I'm really going to enjoy kicking your ass. Try not to blink, you just might miss me." Bardock warned with a glare.
Bardock shot forward, immediately catching Jose off guard. The wicked wizard would have gotten an attack off… had he not been in immense pain. Bardock buried his fist in Jose's gut, practically lifting him off the floor. Bardock growled while Jose was gasping for air. The Saiyan had enough annoyances for one day and formulated the perfect plan to finish Jose off.
Extending his arm to the sky, Bardock blasted Jose through the ceiling with enough force to leave him over the remains of the guild hall. Bardock got into a crouch before igniting Kaioken one last time and shooting off into the sky. As Bardock closed in on his prey, he noticed Jose had yet to regain any of his bearing. It honestly wouldn't matter if he did at this point.
Bardock roared as he performed the same maneuver he used against 'Brute'. Only this time, the Saiyan Rebel was holding some of his strength back in order to make sure Jose could still be delivered to the Magic Council as a present.
A lance of maroon dance across the sky as it his Jose numerous times, leaving him more wounded than he was before. The attacks increased their pace for several seconds before ceasing abruptly. Jose just hung in the air, half alive and eyes wide. For all his planning, for all his machinations, he never thought he would see the day he would meet someone so superior.
The soon to be former Wizard Saint was now about to descend towards the ruins of his mobile fortress, certain death awaiting him. But the Saiyan Rebel would not allow it.
Bardock raced in, spun and delivered an ax kick to Jose's back, his lower back to be more precise. Both could hear and feel the audible cracking sound.
Bardock had more or less ended Jose's time as a wizard.
The blow from Bardock's kick sent Jose into a fast dive, the dark wizard no longer conscious. Bardock then raced down to the Assembly Hall, landed on his feet and held one hand up, catching Jose by his back.
Scoffing, Bardock moved forward, tossing an unconscious Jose onto the floor and right onto his damaged and fragile back. His clothes now in tatters and figure brutalized, Jose Porla was no longer a threat.
The Saiyan Rebel continued to walk tall, ignoring the looks the Fairies were giving him and Jose.
"I'm going to have to pass on that job offer. Besides you remind too much of my old employer you lipstick wearing bastard." Bardock said in a cold tone.
And just like that Bardock continued his way forward before eventually taking his leave and flying away.
Fairy Alpha and Makarov Dreyar had to take the time to comprehend what they just went through. Hell, they needed to comprehend what they just witnessed. But that could wait.
It was on this day that Fairy Tail had toppled Phantom Lord, thus ending the guild war.
A/N: And that's the chapter.
The attack Bardock used was similar to Goku's Kaioken Assault against Nappa. Think of it like Rebellion Spear just flashier.
So far it has been pretty divergent from Canon. That was my intention. At the end of the day, Fairy Tail needs to be more capable of confronting the threat. Bardock can't be there to fight all their battles. After all, he will have his own host of enemies to deal with.
All questions, reviews, comments and criticisms are welcome. You guys, readers and writers alike make this site awesome. I am thankful for being able to share my creativity with you and seeing your creativity flourish.
You guys are awesome!
See ya Later!