chapter 26 enjoy
"ERZA, wait up a second!" Natsu shouts
She turns to see Natsu Jellal and Sorano, "what is it?"
"There something I neglected to tell you earlier!"
"I now where Nirvana is!" Jellal informed
"You...do!"
"Yes, that why I have to say regardless if we beat the remain Seis in time or not, we need to destroy it. It's too dangerous to leave by its self."
"That not all," they look to Sorano.
"What is it?"
"I can't afford to be drained of my magic energy if I am he will be unleashed assuming you defeat the others."
"What are you saying, Sorano?" Jellal asked.
"Each of the six-member of the Seis acts as keys. If all of us are defeated, an alter ego of Brain will be free. His name is zero, and he has an unshakable love for destruction."
"What else can you tell us?"
"Both viper and Racer are defeated, leaving Hoteye, Brain, Midnight, and myself if we all defeated or weakened, the seal will break."
"So, we have to keep you protected to keep this zero guy in check!"
"Yes!"
"What else can you tell us about Hoteye I know Brain recruited him after he took you and the others?" Jella stated
"His real name is Richard Buchana."
"Did you say Buchana!" Erza practically yelled
"Yes, why?"
"He's the older brother of wally Buchana, meaning we might be able to bring him to our side," Jellal said in a thinking manner.
"REALLY!"
"I thought his scent was familiar" he hated lying, but it needs to be done.
"Natsu, where are you" a voice, said
"Over here, Ultear!"
She came out behind a tree.
"Not only do we have to protect Sorano, me and Jellal have to watch our backs."
"Why?" Ultear's time to ask.
"Simple Brain left because I was there since I was the only one who could quickly deal with him. And if he finds out Jellal is here, he might try to strike to put everyone else at a disadvantage."
"This could be trouble" she then pouches Jella in the face "how could you be this stupid with this high of a risk Jellal!" Erza nagged.
The other three had dejected looks in their eyes.
"What about the other Ultear?"
"They split off into groups lamia scale in direction and blue pegasus in the other"
"And us right down the middle?"
"You know it."
Natsu looks to see Erza calmed down somewhat with Jellal having a slightly exhausted look in his eyes.
He couldn't stop the chuckle as Jellal just got a taste of what he has to go through when this is all over.
He looks to Ultear having the same expression, and Sorano shared there feeling.
"Enough chit chat, we're better off focusing on locating their base."
"Right," they all said in unison.
After a few hours, most of the dark mages were taken care of.
That left the remaining Seises to deal with.
Unfortunately, a few of them notice Jellal and no doubt informed Brain.
With brain
"Interesting!" Brain just got news Jellal is with the coalition.
"How does that help us, sir," one of the dark mages asked
"Jellal could be a hindrance for us or a benefit," he said with a slight chuckle.
"What are we, to do, sir."
"Keep searching for Nirvana, I'll take care of Jellal, and since he with the flame prince, I might be able to kill two birds with one stone."
"Got it, sir," he left to continue the search for Nirvana.
"I can't be reckless here; otherwise, all our plans with Nirvana could be wasted. Now I know just the spell that should deal with them."
"Midnight, wake up!"
The man in question woke up from his nap, "what is it you need, father?"
"There are two powerful wizards that could prove a problem to complete our goal. I need you to track them down."
"And kill them?"
"No, I need you to keep them preoccupied while put them to sleep."
"Why not just kill them?"
"There to powerful for you or me, but if we can incapacitate them, the rest should be child's play for you."
"So, who are they?"
"Jellal Fernandez and the other is the legendary flame, Prince."
"Oh, those two can definitely be a problem, then let's be on our way then."
With Natsu and Jellal
"I just got word from Happy. Jura is fighting Richard, Happy, Lucy, and Gray are taking out dark mages. The same thing for Lyon and sherry," he had two-finger to his head.
"What about Ichiya the tri-men and Cobra Natsu" Erza stated
Just then, they all got a map from Hibiki where their camp is set up.
"Cobra and Sebastion are searching for Nirvana to hopefully find it before the dark mage to keep it from activating."
"I hope he can."
"Erza, Ultear, Sorano head to Hibiki and the other right now"
"What about you two?"
"No doubt, Brain was informed of us, so he is going to be gunning for us."
"I have to agree with Natsu since we can't afford for Sorano to use up her magic energy fighting them off."
"Fine will meet up later come one ladies," they headed back to the others.
"Do you know where they are, Natsu?"
"No, but I highly doubt I won't take us long."
With Brain
Brain and Midnight were busy tracking down the two wizard saints when one of there Lackies approached.
"What is it?"
"Sir, we found it. We found Nirvana."
The father and son smirked at this.
"What do we do now, father."
With Natsu
"REPEAT THAT AGAIN!" Natsu held up one of the dark mages by the color.
"We found Nervana" only for Natsu to knock him out cold.
"Damn, we weren't fast enough."
"Looks like we are going to have found them first before they unseal it, Jellal."
"Follow me then."
Tri-men camp
"WHAT!" Erza shouts As Natsu told what happened via Ultears Lacima.
"Jella and I are heading there now to hopefully cut them off."
"Jellal where is Nirvana Sealed"
"Its in a cave at the center of the wood sea. But I have to say this don't underestimate Brain. He may not be as strong as Natsu and me, but he works in the bureau of magic development. He'll know a wide variety of spells that could prove difficult."
"Fine, I'll meet up with you later."
They failed to notice one of the dark mages scowing the wood sea, having noticed that Soarno was among them.
"Looks like Brain has a traitor amongst him" he carefully left to tell him the news.
"Girl, I'm going to meet up with Natsu, and Jellal keep hunting the dark mages, ok!"
"No argument here," Ultear stated.
With that, Erza bolted off to where Nirvana is located.
With Natsu and Jellal
"Were not much farther, we should be there in a few minutes."
He was suddenly stopped by Natsu, "what is it."
"Don't bother, I know your their Midnight!"
A dark figure walked out of behind the brush.
Booth Natsu and Jellal were on guard.
"Let's see how two wizard saints match against me," he said, cruel smile.
Brain was just with insight, preparing the spell when one of the dark mages approached him.
"What is it"
"Sir, it seems you have a traitor amongst you."
"Impossible!"
"Your wrong. I notice Soarno was amongst the enemy, and from what I can see, she not held hostage."
"Damn, I'll deal with her later, for now, focus on taking out the remaining coalition mages!"
"Got it, sir," he ran off to inform the others.
"Damn, can you feel that Jellal?"
"Yes, it's the magic from Nirvana."
"Is that how you found it?" Midnight asked
"Yes, when we made it Master Bob's house, I could feel the faint traces of Nirvana."
"How is that possible?" Midnight asked.
"I don't know."
"Well, whatever the case, you two are too high a risk for our plan to succeed.
Jellal naively blasted him with his magic only to go around him.
"Crap how he do that?"
"I don't know, Natsu. What about those flames of your they should be able to burn it away."
"I can't this place is way too dangerous to use Azure flames. unless you want the whole forest to burn down."
"Great gues will just have to brute force it then."
"Looks like your right."
"Hmm will see about that" Midnight got into his own fighting stance.
With fierce determination, the wizard saints manage to put Midnight on the ropes.
It didn't take them long to find the weakness of his magic.
"PURGATORY DRAGON BREAKDOWN FIST!" he sends a massive fist of crimson flames toward Midnight.
He reflected only to dodge Jellal heavenly body beam attack.
"Just a little bit long Midnight" Brain nearly had the spell ready for them.
Natsu and Jellal were to focus on Midnight to notice a magic circle form underneath them.
"Crap, he was a diversion!"
"Damn!"
They suddenly fell to there knees as they fought off the sleep spell.
But it wasn't good enough.
They soon fell asleep.
"Nice job, Midnight. now we can unseal Nirvana."
"Our plan had almost come to fruition."
"What should we do with them."
"I doubt until we fully awaken Nirvana, we can turn them to our side."
"Should we take them with us or leave them."
"The spell won't last long with wizards as strong as them" with the power of his staff, he tied them to a nearby tree.
"That should hold them for now," they continued onward.
After a few minutes, the whole valley was bathed in white and black light.
Everyone across the forest saw it in an instant.
"Damn were too late," Lucy cried.
"No, where not," Hibiki stated.
"What do you mean?"
He finally fills them in on everything he knew about Nirvana.
With Jura
Jura was starting to reach his limit in his stalemate between him and hoteye.
But it was broken up Hoteye was enveloped by black magic.
Then he got the same speech from the old timeline before decided to head back to the others.
With cobra
"So, that's where it is!"
"That's Nirvana," Sebastian said
"Yep, which means Natsu probably there we batter hurry he might be in trouble."
"What are we waiting for then" Sebastion pick up his dragon slayer racing toward the light.
After several minutes of flying, he caught the scent of Natsu.
"Take us down."
"Right," he flew down to see both Natsu and Jella bound to a tree.
"Natsu Jellal," Erza shouts, making herself known.
She requiped a sword breaking the binding magic.
"Natsu, you have to wake up" Cobra didn't get a response before punching him in the face.
"Ow what happened," he said with a dazed look in his eye.
When he finally got his wits together, Jella was up as well thanks to Erza punching him awake.
"Do we wait for the others, or do we go on head and stop them?" Cobra said.
"It will take time for Nirvana to fully awaken, and if we have everyone, it will make out job easier."
Natsu pulled out his communication lacrima, "Ultear gather everyone and meet up with us soon!"
"On out Way Natsu," she cut off the connection.
"I'll go look for the member of Lamia Scale," Cobra stated before him, and Sebastion headed off.
After about an hour of waiting for everyone was gathered, including a now reformed Richard.
"So what's the plan, Niichan."
"Unforuytanlty to destroy Nirvana permanently, we'll have to let it resurrect its self. otherwise, the whole forest could be destroyed with it."
"So we just have to deal with Brain and Midnight," Erza declared.
"Yes, and since he helped create many magics. He no doubts put up several obstacles to slow us down!"
"Then what are we waiting for" Gray declared, running off only to be stopped by Erza.
"Idiot, we have to be careful going forward or us joining together will be a waste." she raged.
This stiffens the other who aren't use to her wrath, especially Jellal.
Natsu and Ultear hid there smirk at this.
"Are we going to stand here and talk, or are we going to stop Brain" Carla declared.
With newfound conviction, they chased after the remaining Seises.
And true to Natsu words Brain didn't hesitate to put some blockers between them.
Thanks to Richard and Virgo, they were able to get past the barriers he set up.
Unfortunately, those weren't the only obstacles.
Brain had set much to Natsu annoyance living dolls or golems made from the rock.
Unfortunately, they didn't make it far before Nirvana took its true form as walking decayed city.
And because of this, Natsu and Cobra were out of commission.
But thanks to wendy, they were back on their feet.
"Thank wendy, this really helped."
"No problem Niichan," was all she managed to say before she started getting signs of motion sickness."
"OH NO!" the two slayers said in unison.
Carla did some quick thinking and picked her up.
"This wasn't a problem before!" the female exceeds stated.
"If I had to guess it because she stronger now than the last time," Natsu said
"You two go Stop brain well handle the rest," Erza declared.
"You sure about that, Erza!"
"Yes Natsu"
"Happy Sebastion, let get this show on the road."
"Aye, sir."
The headed off to the tower, but not before Natsu gave them a helping hand.
"PURAGATOPRYU DRAGON ROAR!" he shouts unleash the crimson flames on the city.
And based on the screams, they herd more of Brains traps being dealt with.
"Be careful Midnight might try to stop you!" he said before taking off.
"Great with a place this big there no telling where he's hiding!"
"Grays, right, we have to split up if we want to find him."
"Right, they all said in unison before heading off.
The groups were simple Lamsi scale went to the right with Richard
, The tri-men to the left with Sorano.
Leaving a fairy tail to take the middle.
"Guys hold up if we find Midnight first be careful. He uses reflector magic."
"Noted Jellal, but we have to deal with these traps first."
But what about the other do they know?"
"Most likely, since they both have one of the Seises with them."
Once they got pas the area Natsu blaster, the ground began to morph before them.
"Great, now we have more to deal with!"
"Grays right looks like we have another chance to test out feral ice make."
"So be it guys go on ahead will deal with them!"
"They all shared an uneasy expression."
"Go, we don't have time Brain could turn all of us if we don't stop him."
"Be careful, you two," Erza said firmly before heading off.
Unknown to them all, Midnight was watching them all.
"Now, which group will be my first victim."
With the Dragonslayers
With the help of there exceed companions, they race to tower in the center.
"Damn it, I don't see him anywhere."
"And his scent is all over the place, so we can't track that way."
"Wendy, Carla, Happy, Sebastian, you four stick to the skies. Cobra and I will have to go on foot."
"Aye sir," Natsu and Cobra got dropped off on the tower.
"Cobra, you take inside. I'll do the outside."
"Fine by me" with that he raced inside.
Natsu dropped off the side going down to the throne room.
After about a half-hour of searching, neither of them didn't find a trace of him.
"Happy, you guys find anything?"
"No, Natsu, we haven't seen him at all."
"What about the other did they find Midnight."
"No Natsu, or we would have heard them fighting."
"Damn, I really should have taught Cobra the curse."
"Your probably right, but he should be able to hear us."
"True, I'm gonna try and find him you keep searching."
"Aye, sir."
Natsu mange top finds his scent before tracking him down in the lower reaches of the tower.
"Cobra, any luck?"
"I caught his scent in one of the tunnels but haven't caught up to him yet."
"Damn he isn't making this easy"
"You can say that again."
Then they heard an unnerving sound at the end of the tunnel.
"Looks like we found him, but I got a bad feeling about this."
"I know but no time to waste I doubt he can take both of us."
"True," he said before bolting down the tunnel with Natsu right behind him.
With Erza
The fairy tail group split to cover more ground.
Gray, Lucy, and Ultear took one side, Erza and Jellal took the other.
They ran for a few more minutes before running into the man himself.
"Look like the great titania Erza will be my first victim."
"Erza, let me help you can't take this guy by yourself."
"Sorry, Jellal, but stay out of this. Your still weak from the last time you fought."
"What are you talking about? I'm fine!"
"Not anymore," she quickly nailed him in the Leg.
"Why would you do that!"
"Sorry, but my pride won't allow it!"
"Fairy tail wizard through and through"
"You know it," she gave him a thumb up.
"Fine, just don't take to long," he dragged himself over to a nearby wall to rest against.
"If you were smart, you wouldn't have done that."
"You may be right, but I'll never back down as long as I live!" she requiped into her heaven wheel armor. "Dance my blades," she shot her blade toward him.
Only for them to miss him altogether.
"No matter how hard you try, you can't hit me!" with hand gesture her cause her armor to turn against her.
"Damn it!"
"Erza, look out!"
"She ducked just in time from her sword Midnight sent toward her.
"Reflector magic and can turn my armor against me what to do. Wait, I'm a godsend she this should be child play for me, requip" Jellal and Midnight were blinded by bright light as changed armor again.
"No matter what armor you use, it won't work."
"Her normal armor, yes, but if I know Erza, this next one is something even you can defeat," he said proud smirk.
When the light finally faded, Erza was in her war god armor.
"Pretty armor, but it won't help!" he use his magic again, but to his surprise, it didn't work.
"Suprised...good, this armor is the strongest in my collection."
"How is that possible!"
"Simple this armor was grafted by the divine, meaning it beyond you feeble attempt to turn it against me."
The crystal at the center turned to heavenly body magic.
In the fraction of a second, she's in his face swinging her sword that he barley manage to dodge.
"You quick on your feet I'll give you that"
"Well, thank you, for its always nice to get recognition."
"I wouldn't get too happy if it was Natsu you were fighting I have no doubt in my mind he use those flames on you."
"I did fight him, but flames are nothing special."
"That's where you're wrong. From what I heard from Natsu, he was holding back; otherwise, he would risk burning the whole forest down."
"Fire destructive yes, but I doubt that"
"She right ya know if Natsu was here, you are charcoal by now."
"Hmm, guess will see about that after I finish you off."
"Like I'll let that happen," with a swing of her sword, she unleashed a wave of heavenly body magic on him.
In an instant, Erza was behind as her previous attack was still heading towards him.
"SHIT!"
"This fight is over!" with a quick strike of her sword, she slashed him across the back.
Not enough to kill but sufficient for him send straight in the heavenly body magic.
"No, I won't go down like this!" was all he said before the wave struck him resulting in tornado unleashing all itas fury on him.
When the attack finally stopped, he was down on the ground.
"Impossible I'm not supposed to lose" was all he said as his clothes were cut to ribbons before falling unconscious.
"Now that he's down all that's left is Brain," she requip to her regular armor before helping Jellal back to his feet.
"I'm sure Natsu had it under control now it time to regroup with the others Erza."
With Natsu and Cobra
When they finally caught up to him, he was in a room with a massive lacrima in the center.
"What is this place?"
"Hmm, this is where the magic happens. With this, I can turn light into the dark."
"We'll never let that happen!"
"Yeah!"
The two slayers charged at him unrivaled speed attacking at both fronts.
Unfotuanly Brain was by no means a novice.
With the power of his staff, he kept them a distance.
This forced them to regroup.
"We may be stronger but in tight quarters with that staff puts us at a disadvantage" Cobra stated
"I have to agree, but I might have a plan."
"What is it?"
Natsu whispers what he had in mind.
"You sure that will work"
"If you got a better idea."
"Guess will find out."
With newfound determination, he charged at Brain once more.
Brain predictably counter with the green magic as before.
But this time, it was burned away by Natsu ruthless flames.
Brain manages to dodger Cobra's attack.
"How is this possible," he said, taking a step back.
He has forced back as a wall of flame surrounded them.
"These flames I'm using are part Fire Dragon king mode."
"What?"
"These flames have enough power to burn away anything that crosses their path" he closed his first resulting int he flames to grow in size.
"Poison Dragon Scales," Cobra shouts, shooting off his poison.
He ignorantly thought they would be burned away by the flames.
"Sorry, but these flames respond to me, meaning your magic will be useless."
With a quick move, he manages to avoid the scales, but they were followed up.
"POISON DRAGON'S TWIN FANG" Cobra unleashes twin whips of poison flooding Brain with poison before ultimately going down for the count.
Natsu released his flames as they approach him.
"He won't die, but he won't be a threat anymore."
"Good, it's bad enough. You had to kill one of the Seises."
"I know, but she used poison, she was too much of liability to leave be."
"Hehe, I knew I would lose, but you fell right into my trap," a purple light shined on them before the giant Lacrims in the center was destroyed.
"What did you just do Brain!" Natsu held him by his jacket, trying to get an answer.
But it was too late Brain fell unconscious.
"Damn!" Natsu smashed the staff out of frustration.
"Hold on a second," he places both hands on the grounds before laying his head to it "oh no."
Curios at what he meant, Cobra mirrored him, "don't tell me."
that's it for this chapter
stay tuned for next chapter with an alternate ending to this arc
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