SailorStar9: We now continue with Chapter 156 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OCs.

Chapter 156 Alvarez Empire Arc: The Broken Bond

"Move." Natsu ordered.

"So, you were E.N.D all along?" Gray growled.

"Get out of my way." Natsu demanded.

"Answer me, Natsu!" Gray barked.

"I'm going to defeat Zeref." Natsu swore. "I have to kill Zeref."

"I guess there's no getting through to you anymore." Gray sighed. "I can't believe my mortal enemy was with me all this time. Everything; a demon of the Book of Zeref like you, took everything from me. But don't worry, Natsu." he powered up his 'Ice Devil Slayer' magic. "I'm going to stop your now."

"Get out of my way, Gray!" Natsu roared and charged towards the ice user with a flaming fist.

Gray met the fist with an 'Ice Devil Slayer' magically-enhanced fist, the outsurge of power leveling the ground around them.

Meanwhile...

With the help of Juvia, Ulyo was traveling towards the Natsu-Gray fight. "We have to stop those two." the water mage muttered. "Otherwise..."

In the Natsu-Gray fight...

Gray shielded himself from the fire blast Natsu shot at him, his ice easily fending off the flames.

"I can't stop now." Natsu snapped, recalling how he had let his E.N.D Power take over after he thought Lucy was dead.

"I will stop you and end your life." Gray promised.

With the rest of the Fairy Tail members...

"They just keep coming." Vijeeter hissed.

"There's no end to them." Warren cursed.

"Fear not." Erza assured, fighting her way through in the fourth form of her 'Heart Kreuz Armor'. "I'll pave the path forward. You needn't push yourself too hard, Master. We will return to the Guildhall together."

"What is that?" Romeo gawked at the large eye peering down at them from the sky.

"Mavis, there is no use hiding." Irene used the eye as a voice projector. "There is no escape from my sight."

"I don't intend to run or hide." Mavis replied. "You currently occupy our Guildhall. But we will take it back, without fail." she manifested before the others in a huge visual projection. "Hear me, my comrades. Fight with me. Allow the Fairy Tactician to guide thy swords."

"Shodai's specialty at work." Makarov grinned. "It's so incredibly inspiring."

Irene stamped her staff on the ground, casting the 'Berserker' enchantment on the remaining soldiers.

"The soldiers' abilities have been enhanced?" Erza found herself punched back by a 'Berserker' soldier she attacked. She then jumped in, switching out her 'Heart Kreuz Armor' with her 'Giant Armor' and tossed the charged-up De-Malevo-Lance at the charging Beserkers. "Requip." she immediately changed armors once she landed. "Flame Empress Armor. Thunder Empress Armor. Purgatory Armor." she took out her potion of the Beserkers.

"Now what do we do?" Warren panicked, the others watching the Beserkers Erza defeated stand back on their feet and charge forward.

"So, this is how it ends." Makarov made his decision, witnessing the Beserkers pummel the others.

"Master, you mustn't give up." Erza chided. "I will clear a path."

"This is where my journey ends." Makarov corrected, taking on the 'Fairy Law' stance.

"Don't do it." Mavis ran in. "The more enemies there are, the more Fairy Law drains your life. Your body won't withstand it. Not against this massive army."

"I'm well aware of what I'm doing, Shodai." Makarov stood firm. "This is my final blaze of glory. Please, don't stop me."

"I have a plan." Mavis protested. "One that will get us out of this predicament."

"Master!" Erza teared, pinned down by two Beserkers.

"Erza, listen to me." Makarov powered up the 'Fairy Law'. "No matter what hardships lie ahead, you will find a path forward if you walk together. Trust your friends, trust yourself. A Guild is family, never forget that. My journey has been a truly delightful one, thanks to all of you. I have no regrets. Be good to each other, you hear? Fairy Law." he cast the area-wide spell.

In the Natsu-Gray fight...

With both fists charged with flames, Natsu charged in at Gray, who instantly formed an 'Ice Make: Shield' to block off the attack.

Natsu's flaming punch easily shattered the shield, sending Gray flying back.

Making use of the shattered ice shards, Gray fired off a volley of 'Ice Devil's Laughter', which Natsu somersaulted back to dodge the bombardment.

Natsu then charged up his flames on his arm, melting off the remaining shards raining down on him.

Taking advantage that he had Natsu's right foot temporarily trapped in ice, Gray fired off an ice beam which sent Natsu tumbling backwards.

Natsu retaliated with a 'Get Out of There' array of fire pillars around Gray.

Gray instantly froze the fire pillars with his ice.

Firing off an overcharged 'Fire Dragon Roar' at Gray, Natsu shot in through the flames, only to slam into a sheet of ice head-first.

Gray immediately countered with a 'I Will Stop You' attack, trapping Natsu in a circular barrier of ice. "I'm going to stop you, Natsu." he promised, finishing off the attack by sending a huge shard of ice downwards.

"Gray!" Natsu roared, shooting out from the ice trap and shooting downwards, using his fire as boosters.

Just as the two mages were about to land the finishing blow on each other, Erza stepped in, stopping them both. "What are you two doing?" the swordswoman demanded, still grieving over Makarov's sacrifice.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.