SailorStar9: We now continue with Chapter 163 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 163: Alvarez Empire Arc: Sibling Vs. Sibling

"Fire Dragon Roar!" Natsu fired his breath attack point blank at Zeref after the siblings exchanged fist blows.

Zeref expanded an energy wall to block out the attack and fended off Natsu's upside-down kick with his arms.

"Gray, Lucy, Happy." Mavis' voice sounded in the audience's heads. "Are you in the Guildhall? You need to leave right away. I'm near the Guildhall myself. I need you to rendezvous with me."

"But Natsu is..." Lucy voiced.

"We can't just leave him behind." Happy pointed out.

"Trust Natsu." Mavis assured. "And trust me as well. Hurry, Natsu's fate rests in your hands."

"What do you mean?" Gray asked, as Natsu and Zeref met fist-to-fist.

"I'll explain in person." Mavis answered. "There's a chance the enemy is listening in to my telepathy."

"Let's go." Gray instructed. "We'll only get in Natsu's way if we stay."

Natsu grabbed onto Zeref's wrist and pummeled him to the ground.

Zeref jumped back to avoid hitting the floor. "This is fun, Natsu." he remarked. "If I defeat you right here and now, humanity will be doomed. Yet it's so very fun. Perhaps this is the Curse of Contradiction at work? I can hardly make sense of my own feelings."

"I heard enough of your nonsense." Natsu growled.

"But all that matters is that this is incredibly fun." Zeref chuckled.

"You're..." Natsu was cut off when a wave of sleepiness hit him. "Who are you?" he cast a glare at Larcade who had entered the building.

"Dad, I made it in time." Larcade laughed.

"Crap." Natsu punched himself awake. "Gotta keep it together. I can't fall asleep."

"Go on." Larcade grinned. "Now's your chance. Kill him quickly. Be freed from your brother's spell. May his spirit white into the open heavens take flight. Go on, Dad."

"Don't interfere." Zeref spat, blasting an energy beam straight into Larcade's stomach.

"Why..." Larcade gasped for breath. "Why, Dad?"

"I have no children." Zeref leveled an ebony glare at the blond, stomping on his gravely injured chest.

"But, I'm your son..." Larcade protested.

"You're a demon from the Book of Zeref." Zeref scoffed. "You were one experiment of many on my path to creating Natsu. You came out the best, so I gave you the Dragoneel name. That's all. You interfered with my fight with Natsu. I was having so much fun, too. You worthless failure." he kicked Larcade away. "Now then," he turned to Natsu after Larcade was disposed off. "Let's continue, Natsu."

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