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Chapter 1: King of Dreams
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Continent of Ishgar, Country of Fiore, Capital Crocus, Outskirts
Snap!
"We're not alone here, Brutus."
"I don't feel any magical presence though. . ." Both men stood back-to-back, watching the surrounding vegetation with baited breath. It was night-time and the only light source was the moon and the torch Brutus was holding.
Brutus' eyes widened as he pushed off of Mandy with all the force he could. A sword cleaved through the ground where they were previously standing. The two men jumped again as two more swords dropped from above the trees. They were moving at Mach speeds.
"Damn you! I'll tear this whole forest down!" Brutus swung his arm up and the ground reacted, several columns jetting out to the source of the swords above them.
"Argh!" A woman's scream penetrated the night sky as she tore through the columns with a sword in her hands. She swung it at Brutus but he put up a wall between them, giving him enough time to jump back and smash his hands together. He watched with a smile as two pillars exploded from the ground on either side of the woman and aimed to flatten her between the hard rock.
"Too slow and predictable." She appeared in front of him instantly, slicing into his thigh with one sword while another materialized in her hand and she impaled it into his shoulder at the same time. He screamed before she punched him in the mouth, knocking the man out from a mixture of shock and the punch to the face.
"Done with this one." Behind the sword-wielding woman stood a white-haired woman—no, a white-haired demon. Her face held a scar and she had large, yellow talons in place of hands. Her skin from the neck down was leathery and dry. She smirked as she held the other man's unconscious body by the head.
"Great. Didn't need to kill them or inflict any fatal wounds. This guy was making it annoying but I managed to avoid all vital points in his body. As long as I keep these small daggers in place, he shouldn't bleed out." The swords had been replaced with daggers that now filled the same gaps in the man's body.
"Geez Erza, you really didn't need to go all out on him." The scarlet-haired woman in armor looked away from the white-haired demon's gaze.
"I apologize, Mirajane. I got carried away. It's been a while since we fought a strong opponent. All these recent jobs have been for petty criminals. I've been craving a real battlefield."
"Oh boy, you sure do love the thrill of battle. It's alright, Erza, we'll find one soon enough. Or maybe I should let you go on these jobs alone so you can get all the action to yourself." She smiled at Erza, tilting her head slightly to the side.
"Let's take these two back to the Fiorian army and get the money. They'll be relieved to here we didn't destroy half a city block for this mission." Mirajane sighed with a smile, "I wouldn't want to hear the Captain's frustrations again over that." Erza nodded at her.
They both whipped their heads to the side, eyeing the same spot in the darkness.
"You sense that magical pressure?" Erza looked at Mirajane, who was scanning the darkness for a visible body. A purple aura began to emanate around her, ionizing the air with it. A red one appeared around Erza. They dropped both of the unconscious men to the ground.
"Who goes there!" Erza's armor glowed gold before being replaced with a larger and more extravagant steel plating over white clothing. Steel wings sprouted from the back of the armor and an array of swords circled behind her in the air. Mirajane cocked her hand back, a sphere of magical energy coalescing in her palm. It pulsed with power.
"Relax yourselves. I mean no threat to either of you. I'm just here for the same job as you guys, coincidentally." A pink-haired man draped in velvet red robes and a white toga over them appeared from the darkness.
"That pink hair. . ." Mirajane gasped.
"Aren't you wanted by the Magic Council?" Erza let the swords and her armor disappear in another flash of gold.
"Oh, Erza, nice to see you again!" He put a hand up and smiled brightly at the redhead.
"You two know each other?" Mirajane let her Magic drop as well, a purple glow surrounding her body before the talons and leathery skin disappeared, replaced by smooth white skin.
"Oh, you're that model. Wow you two are gorgeous." The two women blushed unwillingly at his words.
"You're not so bad yourself. Now, tell me, why are you out for a job that the Magic Council posted if you're also wanted by them?" Erza spoke again.
"Well, them having a reward out for my capture is only a formality. I've done a few odd jobs here and there for them. Like infiltrating enemy countries and eradicating whole armies. That last one I haven't done in over a century though, they stopped being so petty after the sensible Fiorian citizens began being able to vote for Council members." The two watched him closely.
"A century ago? What are you talking about you look our age at best. . .even if you looked like an old fart you wouldn't still be fighting 100 years later." Mirajane smiled at him, giggling at her own words.
"Look, I've been alive long enough to see civilizations rise and fall. I'm immortal. Believe it or not, I've been this cool for a while now. Just look at these guns, do you think the Council could put up with these?" He rolled his robe back to show off a defined and muscled arm. The separation between muscle groups was evident.
"Oh god, you did not just do that. How do you claim to be over a century old and still do such childish things?" Erza shook her head and sighed at him.
"Look, I stopped taking things seriously when I saw countless die before me and more than a handful in my own arms. Of old age or the dark powers in this world. Don't blame me for trying to cope with a century of loss." The women's faces dropped, nodding at his words.
"Honestly, it's better if you two take these guys to the Council so I don't have to pretend-play this charade of cat and mouse they want to keep up to stroke their own egos. I died and slept for a century before coming back a few years ago due to some. . .extraordinary circumstances. If I told you, you wouldn't believe me. So, take your prize and I'll be on my way to the next pub."
"Hold on, the prize on your head is 30,000,000 Jewels. . .I'm not letting you get away so easily this time. Back then I didn't realize it was you, but now, you're right here in front of me. Why don't you show me what Magic from centuries ago looks like." The same armor from earlier appeared on Erza's body. She smirked at the man as she took up a fighting stance.
"Alright! I'll let you two do that while I make sure these two don't go anywhere!" Mirajane smiled as she stepped away with the two unconscious men.
"Alright! Let's get this started then! I'm all fired up." He grinned at Erza, his muscles tensing ready to explode forward.
"Just don't burn down the forest guys!" Mirajane sat down on top of Mandy's limp body, using him as a chair.
Erza launched towards him faster than anything she had done before, tearing through the ground as she moved. She swiped at him but he jumped back, using the tree behind him to jump back at her. He tried to punch her but she blocked with a blade, using the flat side to push him upward as she used the other sword to cleave upwards. He reacted and smacked the flat side of the second blade, throwing it off path.
Another blade flew towards him from behind Erza, narrowly missing his head as he contorted his body just enough to avoid it. Another came but he grabbed it by the flat slide and used its own momentum to throw it off course. However, the blades turned in the air and flew back at him. He gasped, realizing what had happened as the two sliced through him. His leg and abdomen started to bleed from the wounds.
"Fuck! At least they only razed me. You're impressive. I can see why they named you Titania. Queen of the Fairies indeed, this fucking hurts. What is this, a poisoned blade?" He put his hand to his leg, the blood refusing to stop flowing. The cut on his abdomen had healed over already.
"I wasn't sure if you knew Healing Magic so I used one just to be sure." She smirked at him, walking forward leisurely and drawing another sword at her hand. "If you go willingly I won't have to cut you up anymore."
"I would take you up on the offer just so I can yell slurs at the Council again, but the pain from this poison is just so damn much. Fuck. I didn't think I'd have to unleash one of them so soon." He cursed as he held the leg.
"One of who? Do you also use Take-Over Magic?" Mirajane interjected, standing up suddenly at his words.
Do it, Natsu. Let me out. I haven't seen a warrior, much less a woman, so strong in millennia. She reminds me of the Goddesses I slaughtered.
"Fuck. The one that wants to come out is a bit crazy. Please, don't hold me accountable for the shit he says or does. Just know I'm fond of you ever since our last encounter, Erzy. I'd hate to hurt such beautiful wome—" He was cut short as Magic exploded out from his body.
"Hear me, O' King of Dreams, holder of the Keys to the Mind and Heart. Use my body as a vessel to do Your Majesty's bidding. I call upon thee, Azrael!" His voice changed, becoming deeper and less heartened. His hair turned blood-red. His obsidian black eyes lacked the light they once held, now two pools of darkness. Two large, black feathered wings sprouted from his back.
In his hands he held a long golden spear, words engraved into it in a foreign language.
"What is this Magic? It feels like my Demon Magic but different somehow. Something more pure, more. . .holy."
"This might be an Angel Take-Over just like Sorano's. Mirajane, be on standby, he's strong. His new Magic has already evaporated the poison and healed over the wound. That takes some high-tier Magic."
"Wait, wait, why the hell do I have to call you 'Your Majesty' just to summon your power? Azrael, no one would ever want you to be their king, much less me." Erza and Mirajane looked in bewilderment at Natsu as he yelled at himself.
"Shut up, Natsu. If it weren't for me you would've been that redhead vixen's bitch by now. Now feel free to call me daddy while I beat her and her sexy friend to submission. Oh shit, isn't that one of Lucifer's demon generals that that girl's using as a Take-Over? These women are making everyone their bitches apparently. Don't fret, big boy Azrael's here to free you all of their succubus machinations!" He suddenly took a fighting stance, his wings opening up behind him.
"He's coming." Mirajane fired a beam of concentrated Demon Magic at Natsu as soon as he beat his wings and flew forward, but he simply cleaved through it with the spear. Mirajane was taken by surprise, almost ending up impaled before Erza met Natsu's spear with two swords. She held him long enough for Mirajane to come from the side, her talons covered in Magic as she swiped at him.
He beat his wings a second time and flew upwards before she could even finish swinging, the shockwave knocking both the women sideways. The Magic from Mirajane's talons continued its path, three huge blades of Magic tearing through the forest for hundreds of feet.
"Damn this bitch made that demon even stronger than he was before. She has so much Magic Power but no skill in hand-to-hand combat."
"Don't you dare underestimate me!" Mirajane appeared right under him, aiming to knee Natsu with Magic amplifying her power. He punched her before her knee could connect with his body, suddenly beating his wings again to move aside as a flurry of swords flew up at him.
"You two sure do fight well together. Fine, I'll start to fight with my Magic." The air around them gained a red ambiance, Natsu's and Azrael's magical particles oversaturating it.
"What is this? What are these thoughts in my head?" Erza flipped her own sword, pointing it at her chest. Mirajane was floating in the air unmoved by the Magic.
"As a human you're susceptible to the Will of the World telling you it's your time to die. You are born of this World and I am the one that claims all lives. As King of Dreams I know every single one of you from the day you first dream to the final time you do, as well as the final breath you draw. You were made to bend to my Magic. It dictates what the World tells your simple fleshy body to do." He smirked.
"Go on, demon try to help your comrade. You may not be affected since you're not of this World but she's having a crisis in her head currently." Mirajane flew over to Erza slowly, keeping her eye on Natsu at all times.
"Erza, you're strong to fight this. You're one of the strongest humans I've ever witnessed, just allow all your Magic Power to flow around you and block the natural World from dictating what your flesh does." Erza nodded, her body glowing gold once again as a new armor replaced her old one. She was now covered in thick, black metal. Spikes protruded from several ends of the plating and she held a large black mace.
"Purgatory Armor. This is not made from any Earthly metals. You're going to either submit or I can't promise you your life anymore, Natsu." Mirajane smiled as Erza stood upright in the air now, completely unfazed by the toxic effects of the air around them.
"Demon Take-Over: Sitri!" Mirajane was once again bathed in a purple light. Flames exploded under her as her appearance changed again. She featured two large golden horns on either side of her head now, with a third horn protruding from her chin. Her white hair had grown and was now a wild mess that reached her feet. She had grown in height as well, but her talons were smaller and sharper now, covered by grey gloves. Her previously skimpy bodysuit was now a large white coat held by a belt in the middle with a blue outline going around the edges of the coat. Her pants were the same design as the coat.
"Another one? She simply doesn't miss!"
Heh, this Human has consumed the souls of Sitri and Satan. Don't take her lightly, Azrael, especially when her comrade rivals her in power as well.
Natsu readied the spear in front of him again. Erza and Mirajane flew forward at him, both empowering their attacks with Magic. Erza swung her mace and Mirajane held a whirlpool of flames in her palm as she launched it at Natsu.
He twirled his spear and both the attacks were stopped when they reached him. The flames were blown away and the mace ricochet'd away as it struck the spear.
"My turn." An array of spears appeared around Mirajane and launched themselves simultaneously at her. She contorted her body to avoid all of them, yelling as flames exploded from her body, burning away the spears as the explosion kept expanding to reach Natsu. Erza smashed through the ones that appeared around her as well with her mace, jumping away from the vicinity of Mirajane's flames.
Natsu twirled the spear as the flames spiraled into it, disappearing altogether.
"Evil Shower!" Mirajane followed up with hundreds of magical bullets firing at Natsu at the same time.
"Purgatory Prison!" A field of black magic materialized around Natsu, keeping him from moving out of the way of the onslaught launched by Mirajane.
"Enough!" He smashed through the field with the spear and covered himself with his wings, blocking all of the dark magical bullets. He cleaved the spear through the air and it appeared simultaneously as a mirage that razed Mirajane's side by the ribs. She groaned in pain instantly as blood flowed from the gash.
"Mirajane!" Erza grit her teeth as she tucked her stomach to the side to avoid him doing the same to her, however Natsu pulled the spear back towards her and did the same to her. The two held their wounds in preparation for his next attack. He appeared in front of both of them simultaneously and kicked the wind out of the two women.
Erza went unconscious. Her mind raced in the darkness.
A hit that strong should definitely hurt, but not knock me out. How the hell did he knock me out? There's no way he could have! That isn't what I would experience! I refuse to accept I am unconscious!
She opened her eyes wide, seeing that Natsu hadn't moved from his place and realized that she had taken no damage after being cut by his spear.
"Your Magic can infiltrate minds!?" She gasped as air filled her lungs again.
"Shit, I miscalculated how much damage you'd need to take to get knocked out. I'm surprised your mind still noticed, little wizard. You have a steel trap for a mind."
"I have been through pain far more unimaginable than anything you've dished out so far. For me to be broken mentally won't be as easy as that." She held her mace with both hands, looking over to see Mirajane floating limply in the air, still under the effects of his Magic.
"Allow me to return the favor from earlier then." He smirked as she doubled over, screaming as her flesh where the gash was began to sizzle. "What kind of poison is this!?" She attempted to use Magic to heal it but nothing would slow the pain.
"This isn't simple poison, or even magical poison. It is my birthright as the King of Dreams and the Harbinger of the End. Your very soul is being corroded by my Magic. You are becoming mine as I take you from this World."
"I am nobody's!" She charged forward but fell immediately from the pain, her body falling to the ground as all strength left her.
"Mirajane!"
Erza? I heard her. . .I know I did! But I shouldn't if I'm unconscious, unless I'm close to waking already. Wake up, body, wake dammit!
Mirajane's eyes opened and she instantly dropped to where Erza was on the ground, attempting to cauterize the wound.
"You will fall too, Sitri." She experienced the same fate, falling to the ground beside Erza.
"That's enough, Azrael." Natsu's own lighter voice finally came through, replacing Azrael's deeper and cold tone.
As you wish, Natsu.
Both Mages gasped in relief as the pain from the gashes stopped instantly. The sizzling stopped and the wounds were cauterized from Sitri's flames already, stopping the blood flow as well.
"I'm sorry for what happened. He got too carried away and it took me a while to regain control. I hope you can accept my sincere apology and take these two men back to the Council with your wounds healed as reconciliation." They stopped clutching their sides as the wounds disappeared altogether. Natsu's Magic Power disappeared as he landed in front of them.
He suddenly fell over, his body limp.
"It seems he used up too much of his Magic Power using that transformation." Erza narrowed her eyes at him.
"Do you still want to take him to the Council? I think we should take him back to the guild and see what his motives are. He doesn't seem to be the monster the Council made him out to be, at least not his actual Natsu personality."
"He's still a major threat with the power we just witnessed. If he can't control that power and it escapes him unwillingly, we are powerless to stop him and so is everyone else before they're killed. His aura alone almost killed me."
"Then let's just put Magic-Restraint Cuffs on him when he's back at the guild so we can be safe and take it from there. I don't believe he wanted to hurt us, you just confronted him, Erza."
"All right. But if anyone's lives are put in danger it's on your head, Mirajane. I won't be able to defend you against the Guild Master if this guy goes berserk again."
"Don't worry! I have some questions to ask him that my Satan Soul is dying to ask. And I wouldn't put any of our guildmates' lives in danger if I believed they would be! Just trust me on this, Erza."
"Okay. Let's hurry up before he wakes up."
"Gotcha. Let's turn these two in and get back to our guild."
"Yeah, back to Fairy Tail."
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Well, there you have it for the first chapter. So much to expand upon, so much for you guys to learn. But I promise it'll be a wild ride and one worth it to stick around! Don't forget to favorite, follow, and review if you liked it so I know what you guys liked and didn't like.
Until next time!