Chapter 30- Riku's last Stand

"Riku," Gray said in a surprised tone, eyes wide. "Have you been here this whole time?"

"Man, another person come to steal my job," Natsu whined. "Igneel asked me to do this job, no one else."

"Look," Gray snapped back, fist clenched and teeth gritting. "You couldn't have made it this far without me anyway."

"Yeah right," Natsu scoffed. "Just a few seconds ago you were getting your face scrapped against the floor."

"So were you, idiot," snarled Gray.

Riku sat up and groaned, the world twirling for a moment before he steadied himself. Both boys watched him, concern written across their faces. Riku waved them away. "Sorry about the interruption. I was failing miserably up there." He gestured to the dragons above whose attacks were lighting the sky like fireworks. "I guess your dad thought I was getting in the way."

"Igneel sent you," Natsu said grudgingly.

"Sure," Riku replied, standing and cracking his back. He felt a few vertebrae slide weirdly into place. He would have to deal with that later. "Let's take that nice interpretation of it."

"Since you're here, you might as well assist," Gray said standing as well. He nodded behind Riku. "We're having some trouble with this etherious form."

"Etherious-" Riku began, but as he turned to face the figure Gray had nodded to the rest of his sentence caught in his throat. He had turned to find himself facing a tall muscular creature with long, dark horns on his forehead, jagged teeth, and a tall flame like ponytail revealing elf-like ears. Large, bat-like wings framed the creature and instead of hands he had sharp claws. He looked like a demon king from hell.

"Haven't you realized magic is no match for us," the creature chuckled. "I've recovered from every attack and dodged the rest of your strikes. You've hit me with your strongest attack and now I have lost patience with these delays."

Riku glanced at Natsu and Gray, who both had gritted teeth and determined looks in their eyes. Their bodies were beaten up pretty badly and Riku could feel their magic was not as strong as it normally would be. This creature had taken their strongest attacks and by the look of it, given them a beating as well. Riku looked back at the creature. The creature seemed unharmed by whatever amount of fighting had preceded his arrival. Riku could still feel the power coming off of him in waves. Riku scolded in focus. There was something odd about the power.

"Who is this guy," Riku asked.

"Mard Geer," Natsu answered shortly, flames appearing on his fist. "King of the Underworld and leader of Tartaros."

"We need to beat him, stop face and get that END book," Gray agreed, ice magic surrounding his own fists.

"I didn't understand any of that," Riku admitted, bringing his own fists up. "But if that's what we're doing, I'm sure you'll explain later."

They charged at once, all throwing their fists and kicks and blasts of magic at Mard Geer in rapid succession. They leaped back, Riku panting slightly from the effort. He hadn't felt any contact what-so ever: the creature had dodged every attack.

"I've told you your magic can't compare to my curse," Mard Geer said. "Magic and Curses originated from the same source, but E.N.D. created Curses out of foul human emotions, making them stronger than anything you might use. Our curses were given to us so that we might fulfill Zeref's ultimate wish: to kill our master so we all might return to one."

Riku felt himself take an involuntary step back as Mard Geer slowly began to glow, power building up within him. This power seemed some how familiar. The feeling in the air... A dark paralytic mist began to appear around Natsu, Gray, and Riku, creeping up their legs and with it.

"You are lucky to witness the ultimate Curse created to meet Zeref's ultimate wish. This curse was created to destroy the immortal being Zeref, as the victims of this Curse will no longer be alive nor will they die," Mard Geer continued. Dark shadow like figures, eyes and mouths wide open as if in eternal screams, rushed from his form. "You will simply be erased from existence becoming nothing for eternity."

The darkness was crawling up to their waists, pulling them under. Riku could feel the hatred and despair in the curse itself as it crawled up his body. It began faintly, like a memory, but then it grew louder, stirring up ideas and memories Riku had long forgotten. There was no trace of dark energy on this magic. Riku suddenly recognized this power, as the darkness reached his nose. This curse had the same properties as the attacks Emperor Spriggan had used.

As the darkness reached Riku's eyes he felt something digging into his soul. A despairing, angry feeling that didn't belong to him. The last thing he saw before the darkness swallowed him whole was Mard Geer's call of "Memento Mori."

...

Riku was floating in an endless darkness with no exit in sight.

Why did he leave?

Was I too weak?

Did I chase him away?

I'm not worthy.

The only sound were the thoughts around him, spoken from some unknown place before disappearing into the darkness again. Was this purgatory: a world between life and death?

I'll kill him.

He'll pay. They'll all pay.

Destroy everything.

Riku's eyes widened. These voices belonged to him? They were his thoughts of hatred and spite and this feeling that came with them were like waves of despair and rage crashing into him. What would come next? Memories? He couldn't do that. Riku slammed his eyes closed, reaching to grasp his head in concentration.

"Don't go anywhere, Riku," he urged himself. "Just float here."

Despite his urges, he could see a vision starting to form: a tall tower on an island reaching towards the heavens. It seemed to come closer and Riku felt a fear rising in his chest that he hadn't felt since he was eight years old. It was going to overwhelm him.

Won't anyone save us? Why would this happen to us? Someone... please...

Something grasped his wrist and was pulling him away from the image and the feelings. It was dragging him like a dead-weight through the darkness and back into the light.

...

Natsu released Riku's wrist as they broke into the open air. Before them, Gray was standing firm, half of his body covered in a demonic aura.

"Gray," Natsu breathed, eyes wide in surprise.

"His body is half demonic," Mard Geer gasped. "He absorbed my attack?"

The demonic aura dissipated, rushing back into Gray and disappearing. He fell forwards, face down onto the ground.

"Leave it to me," Natsu growled standing. He looked at Riku determinedly. "Go back to the fight."

Riku nodded, standing as well. With a focused effort he shot enough dark energy from his feet and propelled himself again to a cliff near by. At the top he wavered. That attack from Mard Geer had left him more drained than he realized. Below the cliff, Acnologia was being pushed back by Igneel. Riku smirked. He might not have enough strength to beat Acnologia alone (especially with his powers feeling as if it were fading by the moment), but he had enough for a final assist.

Riku pulled out his sword focusing his reserve of dark energy magic into the sword. He could feel the power rushing through his hand into the sword, dragging the last of Master Rikyu's alchemy power with it. He was only going to have one chance to make this count. Just as Acnologia and Igneel began to rise again, passing by the cliff, Riku leaped onto his father's head. With a yell of pain he forced the last of his magic into the sword and slammed the sword down on Acnologia's head.

The sword shattered beneath Riku's hands as the magic was forced through it. Acnologia reared back his head in surprised pain just as Igneel sent a fire ball at the Black Dragon, hitting him violently in the chest. The movement sent Riku flying into the air.

Riku felt himself falling, his power gone and completely spent. As if in slow motion he saw Acnologia turn towards him, bruised and bloodied for the first time in the night. Riku's vision was made up of two pin-holes focused on his father, whose mouth was starting to glow again with a roar aiming for Riku's falling form. Riku released an exhale and the last thought Riku had before losing consciousness entirely was, I hope Gabriel can forgive me. I don't think I can keep my promise.

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