Dawn of Darkness begins. A Diplomatic meeting with the other countries is followed by a man turning the entirety of Fiore against one another! Fight for Fiore and save the world of magic!
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Calium, Ashnard, Helena, Ice, and Empress Song stood in front of Metatron. The five strongest wizards in the world were going to handle this angelic disaster, and in Calium's words, he claimed they would destroy it under 30 seconds. This claim just made Ashnard scoff. "30 seconds, Calium? Are you being rather generous?"
"That's with the benefit of the doubt." Calium just smiled. Despite the warzone, he was taking it easy. "Besides, I think this is a good chance to show everyone just how strong we are, don't you?"
"You were just waiting for a chance like this, weren't you?" Helena sighed. "Very well."
"When does the countdown start?" Ice asked.
"How about now?" Song leisurely gestured to Metatron turning to face them.
"I don't know who you think you are…but you are sorely mistaken if you think you can defeat me." Metatron said while clenching his hand into a fist, rearing it back to throw it down upon the five humans that stood before him. Just as he started to throw his arm forward, everything froze. In the next second, his arm was chopped clean off. "…?!"
"Hmph." Ashnard let out an unsatisfied grunt. He drew the Materia Blade once, using its space warping capabilities to cleanly cut Metatron's arm off. He didn't even swing the blade, and furthermore, this wasn't even his strongest weapon.
"W-What the…!?" Luke gasped. "He barely moved…!?"
"Is he really that strong?!" Juvia was in awe. If Ashnard was going to be an enemy in the future…
"That's impossible…!" Zihark turned, eyes widened in horror at the dismemberment of Metatron. He was going to go and assist, but Joker harshly reminded him that he decided to pick a fight. "Gnk!"
Joker grabbed Zihark by the back of his head, slamming him into the ground harshly. "You chose to fight me, remember? You don't get to back out of it now."
Metatron staggered, panting heavily from the fact that he was injured so severely from just a single attack. None of the humans that attacked him so far were even close to scratching him, but this man was the first to wound him like this. "M-My arm…!?"
"I am sure you believed that if you took part in the Holy War against Pergrande 20 years ago, you would have emerged victorious for your angelic brethren." Ashnard said with a grin. "But I hope you see now that this never would have been the case."
"H-How dare you!?" Metatron pointed his other hand forward, firing off a gigantic beam of magic towards the group of five.
Ice yawned while extending her own hand forward. A blue magic circle appeared underneath her and for a brief moment, the temperature in the area dipped considerably. The beam of magic struck Ice's hand, and the active queen of that country started to freeze the magic itself over. It froze over at an aggressive rate, reaching all the way back up to Metatron's hand before she flicked her wrist, causing the magic and Metatron's hand to completely shatter that and his hand. "Is this the best you can muster? I expected more of a challenge?"
"GAH!" Metatron cried out. Any remaining angelic soldiers were absolutely terrified with the sight they were facing. Metatron was angered and a little fearful. These emotions were too new for someone as unstoppable as him. "Damn you humans! Don't you dare think I'm some warm up exercise for you!" Screaming, a magic seal appeared in the sky. Another rain of destructive angelic beams started to descend upon the World's Strongest.
"It is as if he doesn't learn." Helena replied while waving her hands, creating a magic seal in front of her. "Nether Dispersion." This seal completely dissipated the incoming angelic beams, rendering them to nothing when they passed through the seal. Once that happened, the successful negation of Metatron's attack briefly powered up Helena's next spell. Everything around Helena began to dissolve and a spherical wave appeared in front of her. "Entropy." This spherical wave violently shot towards Metatron, meaning he would meet the same fate everything around Helena if he wasn't strong enough.
With no arms to use, Metatron had no defense against this incoming attack. It struck his chest directly, and while he was able to maintain his physical form, there was nothing he could to stop himself from completely collapsing onto the ground with such force a small earthquake appeared. He was on his back, helpless as he tried to move. "No…no, this cannot be…!?" He was going to stand up, but his body was bound by a beautiful melody. "Huh…!?"
It was Empress Song. She figured she didn't need to add anymore showy feats of brute strength into this beat down. So she decided to take a different approach. There was a flute to her lips and she played a wonderful song, and due to this, Metatron was unable to move at all. The fact she was able to bind such a powerful being like this to her magic spoke volumes about her strength alone. "You stay right there."
Calium was the last one to show off. He casually walked atop Metatron, standing on his chest with a hand surging with Eclipse magic. "So, what did you think of our little showcase? Not bad, right? We're pretty strong I'd say."
"Y-You're not humans…you're not even monsters…" Metatron said with fearful eyes. "W-What are you!?"
"We're the World's Strongest." Calium said before leaning down, planting his hand on Metatron's chest. "Eclipse Erasure." Eclipse magic seeped into Metatron's body, overflowing. Cracks started to appear along his body and soon enough he was enveloped within a powerful surge of Eclipse magic from within. The power was so great, there was no explosion. The Eclipse magic just collapsed on itself within Metatron's body, consuming him before he was simply…erased, just like that.
"NO!" Zihark reached out futility to try and stop this, but it was too late. Metatron was erased, just like that. Because of the soul link between himself and Metatron, Zihark simply started to fade as well. This was the consequence of failure that he was prepared for, but he so desperately hoped that things didn't end like this. "Lord Yggdrasil…I have failed you…" Zihark was gone.
"Holy shit…" Luke had no words. In fact, he wasn't even breathing the whole time. He had no idea that Calium was THAT strong….
"You didn't have to do that, Cal-Kun." Helena rolled her eyes. That finishing touch was a bit much in her eyes.
"Well, we did it in what…20 seconds?" Calium shrugged, before turning to the stunned mages of Ishgar. "I know, I know. We're powerful. Don't even try getting that strong, it won't happen." He said this as a joke, but…
"Now, that's just about everything, correct?" Song asked.
"Almost." Calium said, gesturing to the Reaper's Castle. "There are a few more loose ends to take care of, but we've done our part, so the rest is up to you brats."
"You used your get out of jail free card once." Ashnard said while turning his back to walk off. "So don't make us clean up your mess again."
"He says that knowing full well the power Yggdrasil and Prometheus have…" Kagura grunted.
"I guess that means…they know we can do this?" Daryan suggested with a shrug. "Hell, if any one of them told me I can do something, after that display, I'd believe it."
"So…that's the power of the world's strongest…" Luke couldn't get that out of his head. They tackled such a monster without even breaking a sweat. When he looked any surrounding angelic soldiers, they instantly fled. None of them wanted to deal with this anymore, even if Yggdrasil demanded they stay. Luke was pretty sure that this wasn't even a fight to them, just a fun exercise….
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At the base camp, Pandora watched the whole thing in awe. "…Unbelievable…they destroyed Metatron with such ease…it's a shame they lack the means to do it for Prometheus…that's my job…"
"And you're certain you can do this?" Hisui asked Pandora.
"Yes." Pandora nodded, turning her gaze to the Reaper's castle. "The first obstacle is Yggdrasil."
Minerva appeared with Team Natsu. "I've brought them."
"NATSU!" Happy flew towards Natsu and hugged him tightly. "I was so worried! I couldn't find yoooooou!" And here came the tears.
Natsu had a slight smile, giving Happy a one armed hug. "I'm alright, Happy. We all are."
"Wendy! Cynthia!" Carla rushed over to the two dragon slayers. "Are you two alright!? I tried to find you, but…"
"We're okay!" Wendy said with a firm nod.
"Thank goodness…" Carla let out a sigh of relief. She had a terrible vision a while ago that they were in danger, but that future didn't come to pass.
Max walked up to the small group. "Alright guys…based on what everyone's telling me, the battlefield is mostly clear. There are still some demons running about, but they're being kept under control by Minstrel's forces."
"So that just leaves Prometheus and Yggdrasil…" Gray turned to the Reaper's Castle. "Damn…they're in the same place, aren't they? They're not gonna try and work together to take us out, are they?"
"Negative." Pandora shook her head. "They oppose each other. Prometheus has been suspended in time for a while, but that time is quickly running out. If you can defeat Yggdrasil, there is a small window where Prometheus should be exposed. That's when I will strike."
"So you're coming with us?" Erza asked.
"I must." Pandora said. "I am going to uphold my end of the agreement. I am the embodiment of Order and I must act on it. Prometheus also possesses Fairy Heart…that is why the team of Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Erza, Wendy, and Cynthia are perfect for this endeavor. A smaller team is more effective in this situation."
"That's all good, but…" Cynthia started to sweat. "There are still some angelic forces lingering at the front gate. They'll see us coming and slow us down, won't they?"
"Oh, come on now." Minerva waved her hand. "Did you forget who I am? I can warp you right on top of him."
"Really!?" Natsu grinned madly. "So I can kick his ass before he even knows what hits him!"
"That is an invaluable advantage. Thank you, Minerva." Erza offered a slight smile at Minerva.
"Don't thank me just yet. You actually have to succeed first." Minerva replied. "But I know that's hardly an issue for all of you. I've seen you come out of worse situations."
"Be careful." Pandora told Team Natsu. "Yggdrasil is an incredibly powerful foe. He was rivaling Prometheus in power during their battle. He only paused their fight because he doesn't have the means to destroy Prometheus specifically. Should he obtain the Eternal Sword…"
"That won't happen." Lucy said firmly. "I trust Em…and I trust Mii too. They won't let that happen."
"…You trust Emeraude?" Gray had a look of shock on his face. "Did I miss something?"
"A lot, honestly." Lucy said with a sheepish grin. "I'll explain later."
"We are in for one wild story later…" Happy was just as confused as the others. "But I'm going too! Where Natsu goes, I go!"
"That's right!" Natsu nodded in agreement.
"I'm going with Wendy and Cynthia too." Carla said firmly. She wasn't taking no for an answer.
"…I see." Pandora pondered this for a moment. "Well, I do not see the harm. You two do not arouse much danger."
"…Thanks." Carla stared at Pandora with a deadpanned expression.
"Good luck, everyone." Hisui told Team Natsu.
"Don't mess this up!" Reiss shouted from afar. While he was bitter that he didn't get to take part in the final battle, he was aware that for the time being, it was better this way. The defensive battle wore him and a lot of other wizards out.
Natsu turned to the others, who were staring at them expectantly. "Don't worry guys. We'll settle this once and for all!"
"I believe in you, Natsu-nii!" Romeo exclaimed.
"Kick some ass out there!" Wakaba shouted.
"And come back safe, all of you!" Levy cheered.
"Are you ready?" Minerva asked the group.
Nodding, Natsu slammed a fist into an open palm. "Let's do this."
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"Even Metatron failed…" Yggdrasil looked away. "My brother…I will not allow your sacrifice to be in vain. I just need a little more time." Time wasn't on Yggdrasil's side either. The only commander that remained active in this losing fight was Michael, and he had yet to fulfill his mission. Was this Fate's way of trying to ensnare him!? He refused to accept this…but before he could think on that too much, he felt something above him.
"IRON FIST OF THE FIRE DRAGON!" Natsu was the first one to appear from thin air, his fist reared back as he descended down on the leader of the angels. Yggdrasil jumped back and Natsu's fist slammed into the floor, creating a noticeable explosion of fire.
"Who are you!? How did you get here?!" Yggdrasil demanded to know.
Wendy and Cynthia were next. They appeared in the sky, leaping down with their legs extended. "Twin Arrows!"
Yggdrasil blocked their attack with his arm, pushing the two girls backwards. Gray was up next, attempting to swing a blade of ice towards Yggdrasil's back, while Lucy was at his front, remaining in her Lambda Star Dress while swinging a few tendrils at him. Yggdrasil launched himself into the air to avoid these attacks, only to be met with Erza above. He plucked one of his rainbow feathers and turned it into a sword, clashing with Titania. "I see now…" Yggdrasil said while pushing Erza back, landing on the ground. "You must be Fairy Tail." His gaze went behind Team Natsu, spotting Pandora. "And you've brought that failure with you."
"I am going to make things right, Yggdrasil." Pandora said.
"You've failed to do that." Yggdrasil shook his head. He wasn't going to give Pandora the chance she was trying to obtain. "It is for the betterment of this land that I purge it here and now, Prometheus along with it. You all want Prometheus gone as well, don't you? Our goals align."
"They sure as hell don't!" Natsu yelled. "I wanna kick the crap outta Prometheus, but I'm not going to sacrifice my family and friends just to see it done! If I had to do that, then everything I've ever worked for would be meaningless!"
"He's right" Gray said while stepping forward. "Your way of doing things isn't ours. You've already done enough damage as it is. So our only option is to take you down."
Yggdrasil figured things would come to this. "Very well. It appears you have no intentions of working with me, but I expected that. So you leave me no choice…" His aura spiked up violently. "But to deal with you lot myself. I have time to kill before Michael returns with the Eternal Sword. You'll make for an excellent warm up."
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Mii and Michael clashed. The Eternal Sword against Michael's wing. They both jumped back, sliding across the ground as a result from their collision. "Give it a rest!" Mii said, gesturing to the barren battlefield. "Don't you get it, you guys have lost! There's no point in continuing this fight anymore!"
"You don't get to decide that!" Michael shouted angrily in return. "There is still hope for the angels. The Eternal Sword can fix everything…but I should've known that you wouldn't hand it over. You've never once cared about your own kind, you selfish half angel! You betrayed everyone and for what reason!?"
"I…" Mii looked down. "I didn't mean to…!" She would never get that out of her head. Kicked out of her own home and left to die on Earthland. "I can't change the past…but what you guys are doing is just wrong. I'm not handing this sword over, no matter what…"
"Some sister you are." Michael growled before preparing to lunge at Mii once more. He didn't get the chance to make it too far, as a chain wrapped around his leg, preventing his movement. "What?" And he was then promptly slammed into a wall. "Ugh!?"
"Huh…?" Mii blinked, turning her gaze to where the chain came from. "Em…?"
It was indeed Emeraude. She had her arms crossed, staring at Mii. "You are a pain to track down, Koryuji. But I've finally found you."
"What do you want…? Did you come to ridicule me some more?" Mii asked. Their last conversation didn't end well, since it was a gigantic argument in the middle of a bakery just a few days ago. She did know that Emerald wanted her to at least try and hear what Emeraude had to say, but Mii couldn't help feel bitter. "Wait…we have to pause that conversation."
Michael emerged from the rubble of the collapsed wall, snarling at Emeraude. "Who do you think you are? This isn't a battle that concerns you, human!"
"On the contrary." Emeraude said while grabbing a hold of her chain whip. "This battle does concern me. As for who I am, I am the Empress of the Alvarez Empire. You would do well to remember that in the time you have left."
"I guess we're doing this." Mii said while holding the Eternal Sword outward. "Alright then! Let's do it, Em!"
"Fools, the both of you!" Michael's wings expanded and he started to float into the air, looking down at the both of them. "I'll crush you both where you stand, and finally Yggdrasil will have everything that he desires! I won't let you stop me!"
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Next Time: Mii and You.