Thank you to everyone who read the last chapter.

Chapter 61

The Phantom Lord Battle Royale

Siegrain

I sat against a tree gritting my teeth and clutching my arm. The veins in my arm had turned a venomous purple and pain wracked my body. This was pain like nothing I had ever experienced before. It was worse than when I was hooked up to the R System, at least that pain wasn't prolonged like this is.

Next to me was Natsu, Gray, Happy, and Lucy. Lucy was wearing a new set of clothes, given that hers were drenched. It was a blue dress. It had a nice, elegant golden design on the top portion. Apparently, she had fallen into the river a second time, but Leo was able to save her before she lost consciousness. As for Angel, Ophiuchus rescued her, but then ran away. Given the condition of Lucy and me, Natsu and Gray chose not to pursue her.

"This is serious." Leo said as he inspected my arm.

He lightly touched it and I winced. It was like my pain receptors were through the roof.

"He needs medical attention, now."

Gray folded his arms over his bare chest, "And we don't have anyone that specializes in that."

"Don't you just suck the poison out?" Natsu asked, "Hey Lucy, suck the poison out!"

"Wh-what!?"

"Do not do that!" Leo yelled, genuinely concerned that Natsu might have been serious, "Look, he needs a doctor!"

Although I loathed the idea, for a multitude of reasons, I knew what I had to do, "I'll head back to Heart Kruez Mansion."

I began to pick myself up but found it difficult to stand up. My strength was rapidly leaving me, and I was beginning to worry that I may not make it back on my own. Leo grabbed me and helped put me back down in a comfortable position.

"I think it would be best if someone accompanied you back."

Lucy let out an exhausted sigh, "I'm really low on magic, and not sure if I'll be able to keep up. I can take you back."

Leo looked back at me and sighed, "It sounds like that's our best option, if Gray, Natsu, and Happy need to push forward."

"In the meantime, you three…track down Angel." I ordered to the three men before me, "Given that she chose to retreat, she shouldn't put up that much of a fight."

Natsu saluted me, "Yes sir!"

"I'm sorry…I wish I could have been of more use."

"Don't worry," Gray assured, "You just focus on getting better."

I nodded my head, "Will do."

With that, Leo helped me to my feet. With his support, I began my journey back to the mansion alongside Lucy.

Juvia

"Water Slicer!" Juvia called out as a wave of dark mages charged at her.

The dark mages didn't even attempt to dodge Juvia's attack. Fortunately for them, Juvia held back. They were only rendered unconscious.

Juvia turned to her teammates to find they were dealing with their own group of enemies just as easily. It was clear these dark mages were nothing special and most likely hired as extra hands for Oracion Seis.

"How sad!" Aria called out, "These poor dark mages didn't stand a chance!"

"That's what they get when they go against Phantom Lord's Element Four." Totomaru agreed, "We're unbeatable!"

"Oh, is that so?" came a voice Juvia didn't recognize.

Before us was a silver haired man with a pompadour. Next to him was a very large, overweight, pale white man with shaggy black hair.

"H-h-hello." The pale man stuttered out.

"And who might you two be?" Sol asked, swaying back and forth.

"My name is Rustyrose." The silver haired man said.

"A-and IamKainHikaru!" the larger man stammered out.

"What?" Totomaru asked.

"My associates name is Kain Hikaru." Rustyrose explained, "Please excuse him, he has a bit of a speech impediment. But who we are isn't that important, now is it? It's who we are affiliated with that matters, no?"

"How Sad, so you admit to being dark mages?" Aria said from behind Rustyrose.

With his hands above Rustyrose, Juvia watched as Aria threatened to rob the dark mage of his magic. Kain stepped in quickly though and thrusted his palm forward. A blue, ethereal version of his hand shot forward and struck Aria, launching him away.

"S-stay away from Rusty!"

"As I was saying." Rustyrose continued, "Let's see if you can prove you're unbeatable? Maybe it was a fluke that Zancrow and Meredy wiped the floor with you!"

As Rustyrose finished his sentence, he threw a wicked glare at Totomaru.

"Grimoire Heart…"

Rustyrose threw his arm forward and chains shot from his hand in Totomaru's direction. Juvia used her magic to stop the chains from reaching her ally.

"That's right!" Rusyrose declared, "We generously offered our assistance to Oracion Seis for this mission. And I'd hate to break this to you, but Kain and I are significantly stronger than those kids you fought on Galuna."

Totomaru unsheathed his sword and charged at Rustyrose. His blade became wreathed in a red fire. Rustyrose shot more chains at Juvia's teammate and restrained him.

"Roche Concerto!" Sol proceeded to lob several giant rocks at Rustyrose, forcing the dark mage to move out of the way. Juvia watched as the Rustyrose tried to pull Totomaru in the way of the attack. The boulders curved out of the way and missed Totomaru.

Juvia turned her attention to Aria and Kain. The two were dueling it out with their airspace magic and what appeared to be palm magic. Interestingly, Juvia observed that Kain was able to accurately predict the location of Aria's spells, despite them being invisible to the naked eye.

Juvia transformed her arm into water and whipped it at Kain, "Water Cane!"

Kain screamed out in pain as Aria followed up with spells of his own, furthering the damage dealt.

"W-w-why you!" Kain said through quivering lips, "I'll s-show you!"

Kain brought his hands side by side together and began charging up magic in his palms. They gave of a strong ethereal glow.

"Water Slicer!"

"Zetsu!"

Juvia and Aria fired their water and air spells at Kain. As a result, the dirt on the ground kicked up and blocked our vision of the dark mage. Juvia though that surely that must have stopped his attack. But Juvia was wrong. A large ethereal palm shot forward and struck Aria, knocking him back. A barrage of smaller palms came rocketing at Juvia. Juvia activated her water body to help negate the damage while she got to safety.

When the dust cleared, Juvia saw that Kain was no worse for wear then when the assault had first begun. She looked over to Totomaru and Sol, and found that Totomaru had escaped his bindings, but now Sol was chained up. These Grimoire Heart agents were every bit as dangerous as we were told.

Brain – Oracion Seis

I stood on a cliff overlooking the vast forest before me. It was so large and hid everything so well. Finding Nirvana was going to be quite the headache. I closed my eyes and felt for Racer and Angel. To my dismay, Angel was unconscious.

"So, Angel failed?" Cobra asked.

I turned to the maroon-haired man standing next to me. His Codename was Cobra, and his pet serpent, Cubellios, was wrapped around his body.

"Maybe now it's time you get looking." I told my subordinate.

"Nah, I think I'll get looking once sunshine here wakes up." Cobra, pointing at the other Oracion Seis member with us, "What if you got attacked? Wouldn't want the old man to have to fight!"

The other member with us was Midnight. He was sleeping on a magic carpet. He wore a black leather vest with bright yellow pants.

"Midnight will be awakened if I need him. But right now, I need you to look for Nirvana." I was starting to get annoyed with Cobra.

Cobra smiled at me knowingly, "I think it may have been found already."

I raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

At that moment, appearing as if from nowhere, Racer appeared.

"Master Brain," The man wearing race car driver apparel began, "I believe I found the location of Nirvana!"

"Told ya." Cobra said, shrugging, "And if I went off, I would have just wasted my precious time."

I glared at Cobra. Despite how effective he was, he was still somewhat annoying.

"Let's go. Racer, lead the way."

With that, Racer…dashed away faster than we could possibly follow him. I turned to Cobra, loathing what I was about to say.

"You can track him, right?"

Cobra chuckled to himself, "And if I went off on my own, who would bring you to Racer?"

Grimoire Heart shows their faces! Will Phantom Lord be able to prevail over these foes? And has Oracion Seis really found Nirvana?

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please review!