Back with the continuation
"speaking"
""thinking""
On with the story
With Sting and Rogue
Sting and Rogue were still fighting against Mard Geer, as the Underworld King parried their attacks with ease
Mard Geer swiped his fingers to the right as a thorn root wall appeared in front of him before he did more gestures and cause the thorn wall to attack Sting and Rogue who jumped back and started dodging the flying thorn roots
"this guy is tough" Sting said as he wiped of the dirt off his face
"You offend me." Mard Geer said. "Humans should never have been allowed Dragon Slayer magic."
"I guess the feeling is mutual." Sting retorted. "Because we don't like you either." The twin dragons stepped forth from the dust, their angered glares on the demon guild master. "You hurt our friend!"
"And we will not let that insult pass." Rogue added with equal venom.
"If you feel that I have slighted you then come. I will relieve your burdens here." Mard Geer taunted.
Sting and Rogue rushed Mard Geer and unleashed a flurry of blows upon him, but they were all blocked by the confident demon.
Rogue lunged in with a punch but pulled back at the last second. Seeing Mard Geer fall for the feint, Sting struck Mard Geer with a punch to the cheek, earning the twin dragons their first solid hit.
"I see…" Mard Geer muttered to himself.
Rogue lunged forward with a shadow covered punch that Mard Geer blocked, but Sting once again followed up with a strike that staggered him. This one being a kick to the demon's chin. Mard Geer stepped back a few paces, his chin in the air from Sting's attack.
"I am beginning to see why Kyôka enjoys playing with humans so."
"Stop playing around and fight for real, you bastard." Sting demanded.
Mard Geer ignored him and continued his soliloquy "They do not see how close they are to death. These petty ideals that guide their actions are fueled by their fragile emotions." He lowered his chin.
"They lack the knowledge of their own weaknesses. What infinite ignorance. It is so hopefully foolish…but I can't help but love it."
"Stop talking like we're not here!" Sting charged forward. He and Rogue once again began to rain down fierce blows on Mard Geer.
"I should have assumed that those with Dragon Slayer abilities would be difficult to deal with." The demon master assumed as he blocked the incoming assault.
"We're gonna take you down!" Rogue declared.
Sting added his own declaration. "Then we're taking the princess back home with us!"
Mard Geer shifted his left foot back and waved his hand, forcing the Twin Dragons away from him. "You two are the first humans to last this long against Mard Geer. The very feat makes my heart pound ever so slightly."
With Erza
Erza and her group continued their search for the control room with the shrunken Franmalth as their guide.
"Are you positive this is the correct way?!" Erza interrogated, tightening her grip on the diminutive demon.
"Y-yes, I am sure." The scared demon answered.
"Minerva, are you alright?" Erza looked to the sullen wizard. She was trailing a few paces behind the redhead, her head angled down and her eyes focused on the ground.
"I hope Sting and Rogue are faring well." She finally said.
"All we can do is trust them to do what they need to do." Erza reassured. "Right now we have to focus on stopping the Face bombs from detonating."
"You're right." Minerva replied
Behind them were Milo and the others
"I never thought the Princess would be so worried about Sting and Rogue." Lecter sniffled, wiping happy tears out from his eyes. "She's really changed."
"Fro thinks so too!"
"I was initially wary of her because of the Grand Magic Games, but she has proven herself to be a pretty good person after all." Lily admitted.
Milo nodded while meowing in agreement
"She's not only a good person, the princess is a wizard in the kitchen as well." Lecter boasted.
"What was that?!" Lily exclaimed in disbelief.
"nya!? (can she make fried mackerel!?)" Milo meowed while having a drool near his mouth as the old Vul Cat imagines the delicious meals in his head
Lily was stunned at Lecter's revelation of Minerva's cooking prowess. He thought of the demon woman inside of a kitchen, an apron around her body with a steaming pot in her oven-mitted hands and smile on her face. "Dinner is served!"
"She seems to have the makings of a good wife." Lily blurted out.
Lecter sweatdropped. "I don't what you're thinking about, but that sounds like a good recommendation, yes." He told the black exceed
"Stop stalling or you will be left behind." Erza warned with a commanding tone.
"nya" Milo meowed as he runs towards Erza and Minerva with the exceeds following behind
"Our apologies." Pantherlily added.
"Erza-san is a force to reckoned with too, yes." Lector commented.
"Natsu-san has his hands full." Frosch said.
""Natsu. Wherever you are, please be safe."" Erza thought with worry for her husband
"Erza" Minerva called out to her as Erza turns to look at her
"there's something you need to know" Minerva told her
"and that is?" Erza asked her
"it's about Tartaros' Master, he's.." Minerva spoke
""Stop her from ruining the surprise, Franmalth"" END voice out in the telepathy with the mushroom demon
""y-yes!"" Franmalth replied
"a-ah! This is the way to Face!" Franmalth shouted cutting off Minerva from finishing her words as he pointed to east of their position
"is it?" Erza said turning her attention to the mushroom as she grips him harder
"y-y-yes!" Franmalth squealed out in pain
"let's go" Erza told the others as they followed the path leading them to the monitor room
""very well done, Franmalth"" END told the cyclops demon
""thank you very much for the gratitude, Master, but is it okay? I mean this path will lead them straight to the monitor room and Face"" Franmalth replied to his Master
""it does not matter; the game is still continuing even with or without their interference"" END told him before chuckling
With Natsu and Gajeel
Juvia was out as she was infected with the Devil Particles within Keyes after she had defeated Keyes
Lucy and Yukino were dragging her to safety while Natsu and Gajeel take care of Torafuzar and Tempester
"I think it's about time we finish these guys off." Natsu said with a hard gaze at Tempester
Gajeel nodded "Yeah."
""Tempester, Torafuzar"" END's voice spoke out in the demon's mind as they hear him
""yes, Master?"" Torafuzar replied to him
""do not hold back against my clone and Fairy Tail, show them what a true demon of Zeref's book looks like""
""as you wish, Master"" Tempester replied before he looks straight at Natsu and Gajeel
"I tire of this." Tempester said
Torafuzar begrudgingly agreed with his ally.
"Yes we should just accept the inevitable. These humans possess inhuman, dragon-based abilities." Torafuzar said as his body and Temepester's started to glow
"The only way we will defeat them is if we utilize the full extent of our abilities."
"It is time to get serious!" Tempester roared.
Lucy and Yukino watch the scene while holding Juvia who is still unconscious
"Their power is overwhelming." Yukino said of the demons. Her body was starting tremble.
"Guys, I have a bad feeling about this!" Lucy shouted to Natsu and Gajeel.
Natsu grinned at the warning. His and Gajeel's bodies began changing as well. "Don't worry, Lucy."
"They aren't the only ones who are about to get serious." Gajeel smirked.
Natsu summons Enryuo no Kiba as the sword glowed and transformed into a pair of gauntlets on Natsu as the Fire Dragon Slayer had scales appearing all over him while Gajeel's body darken and shadows started to swirl around his body
"Modo! Tetsueiryu!"
"Etherious Form!"
All four warriors stared one another down in their new states, silently daring the other side to make the first move.
"What happened to Gajeel?" Lucy asked.
"I've seen this form before." Yukino realized.
"You have?"
"I have as well." Juvia nodded.
"who knew that you can use combined elements?" Natsu said with a smirk to Gajeel
"I ate some of Rogue's shadows during the games and now I'm twice as strong as you."
"Oh yeah? Wanna bet who can take these guys down first?" Natsu told to Gajeel as the Iron Shadow Dragon Slayer grinned
"Sounds good to me! Let's see who can take these guys down first!" Gajeel shouted
"Loser has to write a power ballad about the winner!" Gajeel betted as Natsu nodded
"Deal!"
Lucy sweatdropped. "Um…guys?"
The dragon slayers rushed the demons.
"I'm taking mine out first!" They struck their respective opponents, sending them sliding back on their heels.
They then let loose a barrage of hard blows, culminating in a salvo that ended with both demons being knocked into the air.
Lucy and the others were astonished at their strength.
"What has happened to them?!" Torafuzar exclaimed in shock.
"Guren! Bakuenjin!"
"Tetsueiryu no Hoko!"
Both attacks collided with their respective targets, the impact forcing both Torafuzar and Tempester back to ground, hard.
Natsu and Gajeel pursued them again, drawing back their fists for another strike. "I'm gonna beat you!" They lunged forward but their fists reached across and punched each other's faces instead.
Torafuzar was more than a little confused. "I don't understand."
"What happened?" Yukino asked in confusion.
Lucy facepalmed and grumbled. "Seriously?"
"The hells your problem, you bastard?!" Gajeel shouted to Natsu.
"don't blame me! It's not my fault that you look a lot like them!"
"Stop fighting, you two!" Lucy shouted. "You have more important things to worry about!"
"I am starting to worry about our chances." Yukino admitted.
"love…rival" Juvia muttered out unconscious
"what are you dreaming of?" Lucy said with a sweat drop
Natsu and Gajeel ignored the blonde's commands.
"I'm winning this bet!"
"No, I am!"
"We are the ones who will prevail here!" Torafuzar interjected, forcing the dragon slayers to look his way. He raised his hands and waves of black water rose from behind him.
"Now come join me in the watery depths of Hell!"
"Tenchi! Kaimei!"
The ocean of dark waters flooded the entire chamber, engulfing all of the Fairy Tail wizards.
Levy heard the crashing of the waves and was soon overtaken. Where did this water come from?!
Natsu and Gajeel floated in the murky depths, their cheeks puffed out to hold in their breath as long as they could.
""How far does this water reach?"" Gajeel questioned. He looked around and saw that he was surrounded on all sides.
Torafuzar sped through the water towards the dragon slayers with amazing speed. He aimed for Natsu first.
"Why you-"Natsu swung his arms down, but Torafuzar evaded at the last second, however Natsu noticed something else was wrong.
""my fire isn't lighting!"" Natsu exclaimed in his mind
""don't fight back, your power won't work in those water"" END said to Natsu before Torafuzar zoomed back around, kicking both dragon slayers in the face and sending them in opposite directions.
""This bastard is pretty fast in the water."" Gajeel observed. He looked to Tempester and sees that he was sitting on the ground with his arms and legs crossed.
""The other one is just sitting there like it isn't bothering him at all. Does he think they can take us down that easily?!""
Natsu felt something was wrong with his body as he looks to his hands and body and sees that the water particles were flowing into him
""what the!?"" Natsu exclaimed in his mind as to why is this happening
""that's why I told you don't fight back, and just take a nap"" END voice out as an after image of him appeared in front of Natsu
""you!?""Natsu exclaimed as he accidently swallowed some of the water into his mouth and nearly suffocated
""What's…happening….my energy is..."" Natsu clutched his chest before gasping as the air flies out of his mouth
""that's right, take a nap and let the Devil Particles fill up in you"" END said with a smirk as Natsu was losing conscious
""it won't kill you but it will help me in reviving back""
END chuckles as Natsu fainted in the dark water
"Salamander!" Gajeel gargled. "Take the girls and find us a way out of this water! Salamander?!" When Gajeel's eyes fell on Natsu he saw his body floating helplessly in the water.
"It looks like your friend swallowed some of the water." Torafuzar smirked, earning him Gajeel's glare.
"The black water summoned by Hell's Darkness is poisonous in nature, he will be dead within five minutes. And by the looks of your other friends, they will meet the same fate soon."
Gajeel looks around and sees Lucy and the others floating in the water as well
"Soon they will meet their end." Torafuzar said with a smirk
Gajeel looked back to Torafuzar. Keeping his mouth closed by creating metal seals over it, he swam towards the demon.
""I gotta take this guy down quick and find a way out!"" Gajeel swung at the demon, but he evaded by swimming up.
"There is no escape! I've flooded every floor of this place!" He swam down and drew back his large fist.
"Deep Impact!"
Torafuzar struck Gajeel with enough force and speed to send the dragon slayer crashing down to the floor below.
"Soon you will be nothing but a slit at the bottom of a black sea."
Gajeel moved to all fours and looked up.
""I gotta find a way to move faster than him under here. Let me see if this will work. Shadows!""
Gajeel channeled Rogue's shadows and sped through the currents, evading Torafuzar's next strike. He drew back his arm, changing it into a sword.
"Tetsuryuken!"
He slashed the demon's back repeatedly, but Torafuzar was unfazed.
Torafuzar turned around, his fist once again colliding with Gajeel's torso. Gajeel nearly lost consciousness and Torafuzar struck again, this time sending him into the upper archway with an uppercut.
""Dammit…this guy is good…""
Torafuzar struck Gajeel again, sending him sailing through the black waters.
Gajeel could feel his lungs giving out from lack of air. His clamps broke.
""I need…air…""
He looked to the passed out Natsu, then to the soon to be poisoned girls.
""I can't…bre-"" Torafuzar punched him even farther away.
""My body…stopped moving."" Gajeel's vision started to blur as he was losing conscious quick.
""Dammit…I'm blacking out! I need air!""
a light caught his attention. ""What is that light…? I don't need that! I need air! I need…""
Levy swam to Gajeel and pressed her lips on his, giving him the vital oxygen that he needed. The iron dragon's eyes opened wide.
""Air!"" He turned his head and saw the script wizard sinking beneath him. ""Levy?! Where did she come from?""
Torafuzar headed straight for the intruder. "Where did you sneak in from, you pest?!"
Gajeel quickly reassumed his Iron Shadow form and intercepted Torafuzar to grab Levy.
He slammed the side of his fist against the back of the demon's head and sent him shooting deeper into the depths. The demon crashed into the ground. This shook Tempester from his calm disposition.
Gajeel turned to the exhausted girl. "Levy?" When she didn't answer he began to shake her. "Levy, wake up!"
Levy weakly opened an eye and looked at Gajeel.
"Good! You're awake!" he gargled. "You just gave me some air, right?! Do it again?"
""Again?"" Levy thought back to the mouth to mouth and her face instantly turned red.
She shook her hands in denial, luckily Warren's telepathy was still intact so she could communicate.
""I can't…All I did was give you some of the air that I had left.""
"What?! Salamander needs some air." He pointed to the slowly drowning Natsu then to the girls.
"The girls won't last much longer either!"
""I know but I can't!"" Levy asserted. "I gave you all the air I had left. Besides I only was able to give you some because you were the first person I saw."
"What are you talking about?! You can make air with your script magic, can't ya?!"
Levy thought of this for a moment and her face heated up again. She slapped her forehead in realization.
""Of course! Why didn't I think of that earlier?!""
"Doesn't matter now. Just do it!"
"R-right!" Levy waved her finger under the water, creating a word with her magic.
"Solid Script! Air!"
A pocket of air covered the pair's heads, allowing them a much needed intake of oxygen.
Torafuzar was surprised. "That girl can create air?"
"Thanks, Levy! I owe ya! Go see to Salamander alright?!" Gajeel swam back to face Torafuzar.
"Right!" Levy nodded.
Gajeel and Torafuzar once again clashed in the black waters.
The demon moved his massive fist to punch, but Gajeel blocked with his elbow and maneuvered around, kicking Torafuzar in the face.
Torafuzar swung his other arm and Gajeel dodged again, this time countering with a kick to the top of the demon's head. He then followed up with a right cross that sent the demon drifting back.
Gajeel's scales coating his skin he swam and drew back for another punch, but Torafuzar was ready. Just before impact, the demon hardened his body.
The impact broke apart Gajeel's iron scales, causing him intense pain.
"I have the best defense in all of the Nine Demon Gates!" Torafuzar gloated.
"Your iron is no match for it!" He noticed that Gajeel was clutching his injured arm and smirked.
"It seems that your scales were stalling the effects of the water's poison. It seems that will no longer be an issue."
Torafuzar grabbed Gajeel and began to squeeze him.
He watches with satisfaction as the iron dragon gasped for air.
"Your time is up. The poison of Hell's Darkness should be taking effect any minute now. All of the people in the water will die. You're finished!"
Levy looked to Gajeel after recovering Natsu.
""I can only stall things for so long with my air, but if we keep taking in this carbonated water…" Levy thought as she could feel her strength fading as well. ""Gajeel…""
Gajeel looked to his guildmates.
""Dammit! This bastard got me against the wall! I can't move! I gotta find a way out!"" He began to struggle in Torafuzar's grip. This amused the shark-demon.
"You really think your feeble thrashing is going to aid you?!" he cackled. "Just accept your fate!"
Gajeel summoned all of his remaining strength and managed to break free.
"Screw you! I'm sick of all your damn posturing!" He punched Torafuzar in the face.
"All you damn demons think your better than us humans but you're not! All you do is talk and talk and talk!" His scales returned, but they were much harder than before.
"You ain't got no loyalty! You betray one another at the first opportunity! Well not me! All these guys behind me, I'm keeping them safe no matter what!" He pushed Torafuzar back.
"His scales have gotten harder by absorbing the carbon in the water!" Torafuzar realized. "But how?! He's turned into steel?!"
Gajeel raised his arm, transforming it into a new sword. He swam towards Torafuzar.
"Koryuken!"
He slashed the steel sword at Torafuzar as the steel sword cuts through the demon's defense and caused heavy damage on him
"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Torafuzar shouted in pain
"Good job, Gajeel." Levy smiled.
Gajeel looked to Natsu and smirked in victory. "Looks like I win the bet, Salamander. Hope you can sing." He felt his legs give out fell to one knee.
"Dammit! Can't give up now, there's still one left!"
As if on cue, Tempester stood behind Gajeel. He drew his hand back in preparation for the final blow.
"Dammit!" Just before Gajeel could succumb to Tempester's attack, spikes of ice emerged between them, discouraging the demon.
"What the hell?" Gajeel looked up and saw Gray floating above them in the air with an ice bow and arrow in his hands. The ice wizard landed next to Gajeel.
"Gray?!" Levyy shouted in surprise.
"This the guy that took out Laxus and the Thunder Legion?" Gray asked Gajeel. "Never mind. I can see the devil particles in his body."
"You can what?"
"We can use his blood to make an antidote for the others. Do me a favor and take them to old lady Porlyusica."
"How about you give orders after you take this guy down!" Gajeel retorted.
"You don't have to worry about that. This won't take me long." Gray bolted towards Tempester.
The last demon pointed two fingers to the charging Gray and whistled, creating a multitude of tornadoes around him. Gray swung his hand around, flash-freezing the whirlwinds.
Gajeel's eyes widened in disbelief. "How the hell…?"
Gray pressed the side of his fist into his hand, gathering ice.
"Hyoma! Zero no Tachi!"
In one swift momotion he slashed Tempester with a blade of cold light, encasing the demon in ice.
Gajeel look in shock as he sees Gray's eyes were cold, and his posture was firm.
"what the-?" Gajeel muttered out
"Don't worry, I'll personally take down END." He said with a hard gaze of hate
With Erza and the others
Erza's group exited the corridor they travelled and saw what looked to be the remains of some sort of room.
"Is this it?" She asked Franmalth.
"Yes." After being squeezed for so long the cackling demon was now exhausted.
"Look, Erza!" Lily pointed out
Erza followed Lily line of sight and saw Crawford pressing against the holographic buttons of a console.
"We have to stop him!" Erza dropped Franmalth and ran into the room.
""I'm sure Keyes isn't animating the chairman."" Franmalth reasoned. ""The only two person able to do that is Master and…"
"Chairman!" Erza reached for Crawford but just before she could touch him her body froze.
"What's happening?! My body has stopped moving!" slowly her hands reached up and grabbed her neck.
"What's…going on?!" she choked. Her comrades were under the same influence. Each of them struggling for control of their own bodies.
"You are under the influence of Macro. My curse power." A voice revealed.
"Leave Erza alive." Another ordered. "She belongs to this one."
Minerva looked to the source of the voices and her eyes narrowed. "Sayla…Kyôka…" The torturer Kyôka was now unmasked, her green hair freely flowing down her back.
"You're the one controlling chairman Crawford?" Erza angrily questioned.
"Indeed I am." Sayla answered. "Though I admit I lack Master Keyes' finesse in these type of practices, my curse power allows me some minor control over the deceased."
"And with the authority of the chairman we have the power to activate all 3000 Face bombs from this location!" Kyôka declared with evil joy.
Sayla bowed her head as if in regret. "Your tales have come to a close."
Kyôka looked down her nose at the struggling Minerva.
"Minerva, you intrigue this one. You chose to die in disgrace with the humans rather than die in honor. Intriguing though it is not unexpected."
"Damn you…" Minerva hissed.
Kyôka turned her attentions to Erza. "How does it feel to be bound before this one once more? Does it make you reminisce on the time we spent in my interrogation chambers? Surely you remember them fondly. Perhaps you will continue to bring pleasure to this one."
Erza and the others were beginning to fade from their lack of air. Any longer and they would all pass out.
"I can't…breathe!" Lily choked.
"nyow" Milo meowed out as the Vul cat was suffocating
Suddenly Sayla was struck by Mira who came attacking her
"Mira?!" Erza shouted in surprise.
Sayla slammed into a pile of rocks. The action broke her control over Erza's group as well as returned Crawford to the dead.
"We can move again!" Lily chirped.
"The chairman's down too!" Lecter pointed out.
Mirajane fell to the ground, her body returning to its normal state.
Sayla began to stir from the rubble, her gaze locked on her former foe. "You impertinent…"
Erza ran to her friend. "Mira, you're safe! I was beginning to worry about you."
The barmaid gave a weak smile. "Me too. I think I may have used up the last of my strength with that last attack though."
Erza knelt down and smiled. "It's fine. You've earned a rest."
"What about Natsu? Have you seen him?"
"No, but Natsu can take care of himself. I believe in him."
Kyôka went to Sayla as the avian demon kneels down beside her
"forgive me END-samar, forgive me Kyôka-sama, I have failed the both of you" Sayla said as she cried in tears
"You performed well despite your dwindling curse power, Sayla." Kyôka praised with a smile
"The Face Operation is still…"
"No need for worry…" Kyôka looked to the diagram Crawford was typing on. It was glowing red.
"The chairman completed his task. The bombs will detonate shortly."
"What?!" Erza exclaimed.
"I was…too late…" Mira lamented.
"We did it!" Franmalth cheered.
"I am glad" Sayla whispered with a smile before everything stopped
Kyôka, Sayla and Franmalth looks and sees that time has stopped
"a good job, well done, Sayla-chan" a familiar voice brought a smile to Sayla's face as she looks in joy
"END-sama" she muttered out as the Demon Master entered the fray and slowly walks towards them
"Master END has come! Banzai! The humans are done!" Franmalth cheered out while jumping around
"so, Kyôka-chan is the only remaining member of the Nine Demon Gates, huh?" END said with an amused smile as he stands in front of the two demoness
"oh well, I believe I can trust in you to defeat her, can you?" END said as he motions to Erza
"yes, leave the task to this one, Master" Kyôka said with a bow
END smiles before he put a hand to her cheeks and caressed it
"don't end your life here, Kyôka-chan. You still have a task to fulfill" END said as he connects their lips together for a second before he leans away a bit as a black mist like fog flies into her mouth
Kyôka tensed up a bit as she can feel an immense power flowing into her
"Master is giving Kyôka-sama a portion of his power!?" Franmalth gasped in surprise
"How much?! How much power will she gain?!"
END closes his mouth as he blows out a bit of it from his mouth before turning his attention to Sayla
He kneels down and carries her up in his arms
"don't die, that is all I ask of you" END told to Kyôka who nodded to him
END smiles before he walks away with Sayla in his arms
"um, Master? What of me? Or of the humans?" Franmalth called out to him as END turns to look at Franmalth
"I suppose I should keep you alive for your services" END said as Franmalth floated up and floated towards END and landed on his right shoulder
"and for the humans.. I just let the game continue on" END started walking away as he leaves the scene and as he leaves, time goes back to normal
"The bombs are going to detonate?!" Lector shouted
"We have to stop them!" Pantherlily shouted.
"You have to take Kyôka down, Erza!" Minerva yelled. "She's the most knowledgeable when it comes to the operation!"
"You have to win, Erza!" Mirajane pleaded.
"what happened to the mushroom?" Frosch asked as he sees that Franmalth was gone
"nya meow nya nya (and the demon girl, Mira just beat is gone too)" Milo meowed as they see that Sayla was gone
Erza looks at Kyôka whose eyes were foreshadowed
"let us end this, Erza" Kyôka said as she looks up and smirks at her
"yeah" Erza agreed as the two readied themselves for a fight
Erza re-quipped into her Armadura Fairy Armor as she held up her sword.
"I will stop Face!"
Kyôka glared at Erza while smirking
"This one will exterminate the enemy in the name of END!"
That's a wrap!
Bye bye