Chapter 1...
The land of Fiore. A thriving continent of normal people and mages. An abundant world where all sorts of manner of creatures and beings lived in harmony with one another. While much of this land was immensely populated, there were no shortages of mystery or thrill to unravel and discover. The opportunity to pen one's name in history was always ripe for the taking, whether it be for good...
Or evil.
The balance of light and darkness of the world was constantly being shifted. The good, the bad, whether they were heroes that became villains, or villains that sought redemption, the line was always a blurred one. For there are no such things as right or wrong decisions, only good or bad people that make them. Such was the case with one particular mage. In pursuit of bringing back his family at whatever cost, he would dabble in the dark arts of magic. Though many shunned and berated him for such taboos it was all for the sake of retaining the happiness that every child desired.
Zeref Dragneel, dubbed the Black Wizard, his power repulsed all that came into contact with him. Though it was not of his desire to take the life of those that got close to him, the Ankherseram magic denied him the embrace of a valued life. So he sought after time and time again to undo the ungodly curse that he inadvertently placed on himself. Though immortality prolonged his existence, it was hardly a life when life in question was eternal solitude.
Eventually, the Black Wizard himself took to measures to try to end his misery. One such plan was he created beings known as Etherious. Powerful beings of magic that were made from the hands of Zeref himself. Each Etherious born with an innate sense of purpose to utterly annihilate Zeref upon coming into the world. He made hundreds of these 'books', he dubbed them, in the hopes that this hell that he had lived through would finally be put to an end by one of his creations.
One especially powerful Etherious that he had put his love and pride in was based on the corpse of his deceased younger brother. Natsu Dragneel. Out of all the 'demons', that the world referred to them as now, he was revered by his brother to be the most impressive of all his works. He called him Etherious Natsu Dragneel, or in short...
E.N.D.
The one that would kill Zeref.
At a certain point in time, the dark mage and his younger brother were both hidden away in a cave somewhere in the outskirts of Fiore that no one knew about. It was nighttime, and the moon shined magnificently. Its light did not reach inside the cave, but other sources like candles and lamps illuminated the dark. There Zeref stood in his study, gazing upon a large glass vat. Inside a young, child, barely even two years old appeared to be in a deep slumber, floating blissfully in the strange liquid that filled the containment unit.
"He looks so fragile. Innocent." Zeref said as he smiled at the young child. He crossed his arms into his white robe and sighed. "I wonder if he'll even survive." He sounded dismayed that the child seemed to be extremely weak-looking. Mostly skin and bones, but with cherry-colored hair. "I don't want to dispose of Natsu, but..."
"If I made it, why wouldn't he?" Another voice from a child said that had jet black hair and red eyes. He was only wearing black trousers and a dark yellow shirt. He looked barely 8 years old. He sported an annoyed look while eyeing the younger child.
"It's great you have faith in your brother, E.N.D." Zeref turned and smiled at the kid next to him. "I wished that both of you came alive when I split your body, so we could live as a family once more."
"I ain't your family. This body isn't even mine." E.N.D. looked at his hands with disgust. When E.N.D. was first told he was the brother of Zeref he did not take the news rather well. In fact, he questioned why his brother would even curse himself to the fate he currently had, instead of trying to find a new family.
"Don't say that. While it was a surprise that two of you emerged, it filled me with great joy that you survived." Zeref smiled as he rubbed his younger brother's head. "Perhaps together you can finish me off-"
"I told you, I can do it myself." E.N.D. quickly told Zeref, glaring with ill intent. "He doesn't need to know about you. I'll become strong-no, surpass you, and make this life my own." He declared to Zeref.
"Would you be able to do it, E.N.D.? Would you be able to kill me?" Zeref smiled sadly. "Natsu's body is weaker but has greater magic capacity than you. Between the two of you, I'd wager that he would do better-"
"I CAN DO IT MYSELF!" E.N.D. shouted angrily. Zeref just kept smiling while he eyed E.N.D. with an amused smile. "I told you, I'll bear the responsibility. Just leave Natsu in that village down the mountain. If he lives he lives, if not, he dies. But I'll kill you myself." He promised him sternly.
"If you kill me, you'll die. Do you have that determination, E.N.D.?"
"It's what you made me for, isn't it?" E.N.D. scoffed in a rebellious fashion. "Besides, if I kill you, Natsu doesn't have to deal with you."
"You're so loving toward you're 'brother'. I wish I received the same affection from you." Zeref chuckled playfully.
"Sh-shut up! I'll kill you dead, you wet blanket!" E.N.D. blushed slightly out of embarrassment and thought it was uncool of him when Zeref pointed it out.
"I hate to interrupt, but can we leave now?" A deep, distorted voice echoed into the mouth of the cave, and the source was a black dragon with yellow veins running up and down its arms and legs. It was about thirty feet tall, stood on two muscular legs, with jagged talons that could rip a man in half. It also had a long tail that had a serrated spear-like point at the end of its tail. It possessed four wings that were folded on its back, and a piercing, long smooth horn on its reptilian head. "Runt, if your mind is made, let us put this pitiful man behind us."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming, Vallith." E.N.D. groaned in annoyance at the dragon in question. He stopped to take one last look at the younger version of himself floating in the tank. "...we aren't weak. We will survive." E.N.D. firmly stated in his mind before heading out.
"Because we are E.N.D."
Years later...
Much time has passed since that night. Years of tutelage under the Dragon of Storms had made E.N.D more powerful to the point where no one could be his equal. At least, none he would acknowledge. During the final years with Vallith Fallwind, E.N.D. was on his own at this point. He rarely associated with the outside world, unless he felt like it was necessary. Or...just felt like it. He was driven by nothing more than his own instinct, and desire, and didn't sweat the details or consequences when doing what he pleased. But one thing was an absolute constant for him right now.
"Uuuuuuugh! I am so fucking boooored~!" The dark-haired demon of Zeref planted his forehead on a table inside a library. It was very ominous and housed hundreds of books collected over the years by Zeref, and kept neatly on shelves that collected dust. E.N.D. wasn't much of a bookworm, but it was really the only source of entertainment he had these days. He had a stack of books off to the side that he finished reading. He sat back and slowly wiped his face. He was older now and looked to be in his late teens or early twenties. He had messy spiked black hair, crimson red eyes, and had faint scars running up and down his arms that he put behind his head, with black wrapping over his forearms. His attire consisted of dark gray baggy cargo pants that had black, cloth belts tied on the bottoms, with black strapped sandals. From the torso up, he sported a brown utility belt, a dark yellow vest with a jagged black pattern all over, and an olive green shirt underneath it, along with a black scaled scarf that was wrapped around his neck. His bored demonic gaze turned to a person that was standing ready by the door.
"Hey, Tooth?" He called out with a reluctant order.
"Y-yes, lord E.N-, er, boss." The guard came in wearing a skull-themed attire that was mainly cargo pants, plated chest plate, a helmet with two red holes for the eyes, and armored gauntlets to match. He was average-sized, but his voice sounded pathetic.
"C'mere a second." He motioned.
"Wh-what can I help you with-"
"Oh my gosh, Tooth, stop acting so stiff! How many times have I told you, to just be yourself, when it's just you here!?" E.N.D. propped his feet on the table, knocking over the books in the process.
"How can I treat my boss as an equal!? If I act carefree others will take it as an okay to do whatever they want!" Tooth retorted. His voice sounded like he was in constant distress.
"Like I give a shit. If they get smart, I'll smack 'em. They do it again, I'll kill 'em. Besides, nobody here is dumb enough to look down on me." E.N.D. scoffed.
"Nobody is saying that boss, but don't you have a reputation you want to keep up? I mean people talk, and they won't take you as serious any-(DING)-OOF!" Tooth argued. That earned him a projectile in the form of a book that knocked him to the ground after dinging him in the head.
"Tooth, you've been with me since my brother gave me the Cube. Tell me, do you think my image has dropped since then?" E.N.D. was getting more annoyed by the minute.
"Never, boss." Tooth quickly shook his head.
"So, leave it let lie. I don't know why you're such a worrywart. Especially when it's not your reputation on the line." E.N.D. huffed. "You're all ants crawling around my boot. And you would do best to remember that." He narrowed his eye threateningly at his subordinate.
"..." Tooth was silent but just sighed deeply. "E.N.D. has been in a foul mood since the day I started here. I'm amazed I haven't died yet every time he gets pissed." Though being E.N.D.'s service was not a walk in the park, it was anyone's guess of how long Tooth would last under the strongest Etherious. Day in day out, he would be subject to the weirdest conversations with his employer. He could just be a simple yes-man like he envisioned. But the problem when talking with E.N.D., was that there were no wrong or right answers. It was just whether he gave a shit enough to actually pursue it. And so, Tooth's life as E.N.D.'s personal aide was just a sad, long, drawn-out game of guess-what-mood-I'm-in-today.
"Oh, yeah, the thing I needed from you." E.N.D.'s eye snapped open. He put down a book he was about to throw at Tooth, just because he felt like one was not enough, but then it occurred to him that people don't talk when they're drooling onto the carpet.
"Hm?" Tooth tilted his head in confusion.
"You find me one of those books yet?"
"Books? W-what books?"
"The one I sent you to look for the other day." E.N.D. slowly bobbed his head, hoping it would be obvious.
"The Guide To Parfum's Pleasure? I thought you said you didn't want that one anymore?" Tooth's eye holes could be seen imitating his actual ones as he innocently drew a blank.
"No the other one." E.N.D. waved his hand.
"100 Ways To Fly Without Wings?"
"No, th-! The ones I needed you to look for about four days ago!" E.N.D. had a vein run up his head for repeating himself.
"...Wait, are you talking about The Final Say in A Conversation? Cause I looked for that everywhe-"
"Oh my go-The ETHERIOUS books, you dumbass!" E.N.D. felt annoyed to have to remind Tooth for the millionth time.
"OH! That one!" Tooth stood at attention and recalled. "Y-yes! Um, I think I may have a lead on one!"
"Thank goodness, I was getting tired of waiting." E.N.D. let out a sigh of relief and sat upward with a crossed leg and arm hanging off the back of his chair.
"The spies I sent out were scouring this small village about northwest of our current position." Tooth whipped out a box-looking contraption that displayed a holographic image of what he was referring to. "From further observations, there seemed to be the talk of a female demon that can bend the will of any man or woman."
"Bend their will, huh?" E.N.D. shifted his head to the other side while eyeing the poor populace in the village from the images. "You got any details on what this bitch looks like?"
"It's mostly just going off of what the villagers divulged. No one had ever caught a glimpse of the demon. I went around and tried to get specifics, but I wasn't that well-received when I said I was from a city, and not familiar with the lay of the land."
"Tch, useless as ever." E.N.D. clicked his tongue.
"I'M TRYING MY BEST HERE, OKAY!?" Tooth was on the verge of crying through his visor. "Anyway, they all said the same thing. Anyone who hears the call will seek out the voice. I'm not a hundred percent sure but I'm pretty sure that it's some type of mind control magic."
"Hmmm..." E.N.D. tapped his finger on the table. "If it really is one of Zeref's demons, then it's probably a Curse at work. I'll have to experience it myself to be certain." E.N.D. made up his mind. "Alright, I'm game, let's go."
"Wait, you're going now?" Tooth was confused.
"Well obviously." E.N.D. shrugged.
"But, we don't even know if it's real yet?" Tooth protested.
"All the more reason to investigate it." E.N.D. patted Tooth on the shoulder after getting up. "C'mon, let's roll."
"Oough..." Tooth drooped his head.
Later...
About an hour later, the two made it to the village and were standing inside the center. Tooth had his bag of equipment with him, strapped securely on his back, while E.N.D. stood with his hands in his pockets and huffed. It was a wasteland upon further inspection. The more desert-like area spanned miles around with subtle dust storms kicking around.
"This truly is a godforsaken place." E.N.D. blatantly put while looking around. "I thought you said this was a village, not a desert." He could tell just from the huts and simple clothes that the populace was just a typical gathering of wretches.
"Well, not every village is in great shape. I mean, you take what you can use in the area an-" Tooth was about to explain the state of the village, but E.N.D. did not care in the least.
"That was rhetorical, give me a rundown of this place." E.N.D. interrupted while barely listening.
"Uh, right." Tooth cleared his throat and held up a notebook he carried on his person for gathering information for E.N.D. "The village is called Barkstone. Population, around two hundred. Deals in iron, lumber, and raw minerals. Been around for about eighty years." Tooth listed everything he knew.
"You said two hundred, where the hell is everybody? Unless they cram themselves in those mud bowls you call houses, I can't imagine sharing a bed with one of these ingrates." E.N.D. spit on the ground. He brought up a good point though. There was clearly not enough room for the numbers that Tooth implied.
"Ah, on the outside they look like houses, but they live underground." Tooth quickly cleared up.
"Underground?" E.N.D. looked to Tooth.
"Apparently the miners that settled here struck it big and were excavating raw materials in the surrounding area until the mines were dry. Now, it just serves as a half-point to people passing by."
"Okay, so they live underground like moles and dig as well as one. Let's see if we can't find ourselves a lead." E.N.D. sighed and proceeded forth.
"Hey, kid!" A voice from behind stopped.
"Ungh!" Tooth's body stiffened and his heart rate accelerated. "I don't know who the hell you are pal, but the audacity...! Boss is gonna ruin him!" Tooth reluctantly turned to see four men standing behind them with sacks and pickaxes in their hands. "Yep, more sheep to the slaughter." Tooth could tell this was going to end very badly.
"..." E.N.D. just sported a bored look and turned to calmly face who called him out.
"Your load looks a little heavy there, mind if we lighten it for you?" A burly man that appeared to be the leader of his less than capable-looking comrades proudly approached them and eyed the bag of equipment on Tooth's back.
"Tooth?" E.N.D. asked.
"Y-yeah?"
"What are the odds of someone giving a shit in the world about these four cretins?" He pointed at the approaching thieves.
"I-I'm pretty sure they're just former miners, boss. They don't really have a reason to be here unless they-"
"That's a no, gotchya," E.N.D. concluded before Tooth could finish his sentence.
"Hey, you brat! Give us everything on you, and maybe we'll let you go!" One of them insisted. He appeared to be missing some teeth.
"Yeah, give it up! You 'nuthing but a twig compared to Big Pick!"
"I conditioned my body from harsh years in the deepest mines around Fiore! I could shatter a boulder with one swing if I really wanted to!" He built himself up as he swung his Pickaxe violently. His friends wooing him on in awe.
"He's clearly compensating." E.N.D. nodded.
"I'll just...be over here when you're finished, boss." Tooth slowly inched away. "Your attacks tend to hit everyone...and thing, in the general vicinity." He cleared his throat.
"Oh please. I wouldn't hit anyone by accident." E.N.D. scoffed.
"Last time this happened I got swept up by that wind magic you have." Tooth deadpanned. "There was also that time you nearly drowned me from that water magic when you flooded the caves to get one of those monsters to come out. And then there was that time you wanted me to test out a lightning rod, and you missed it, and hit ME instead!"
"Okay, first off, I told you that was going to blow the entire area away, and unless you wanted to get caught up in it, to move your ass." E.N.D. clarified.
"You gave me like two seconds!" Tooth threw his arms up.
"And secondly..."
"Yeah, he's going to ignore me." Tooth knew it was useless to protest.
"They were insects that couldn't swim. I made sure you had more than enough time to resurface and catch your breath."
"YOU TRY SWIMMING IN A FULL SUIT OF ARMOR, YOU ASSHOLE!" Tooth had a vein run up his head.
"And as for the lightning rod thing..."
"Uh-huh?" Tooth nodded, awaiting his excuse.
"That was on purpose." He pointed at him in an insinuating manner.
"Right. On purpose." Tooth repeated E.N.D.'s sentence and nodded. "MY ASS! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY BODY IS MADE OF!?" He growled angrily.
"I knew you could take it, Tooth." E.N.D. couldn't help but smile in amusement.
"I know. It's amazing I'm still alive." Tooth crouched in the corner with blue lines of depression going down his head, drawing circles in the dirt.
"Oh, don't be such a wet blanket." E.N.D. groaned. "I told you to loosen up, so stop taking everything seriously."
"I'll stop when YOU start taking things seriously..." Tooth grumbled.
"HUH?" E.N.D.'s murderous aura suddenly was fixated on Tooth, from that snide remark.
"Nothing, boss. I'll shut up now." Tooth shrunk away, not daring to challenge E.N.D. any further.
"HEY!" Big Pick suddenly shouted angrily. "Do I look like I'm playing here, give me your shit if you wanna live! Or I can just take it from your corpse!" He threatened.
"I'm sorry, who were you again?" E.N.D. asked with his eyes half-open.
"It's Big Pick, you snotwad!" One of the lanky-looking trouble makers reminded him.
"Right. Listen, princess, my time is more precious than whatever rocks you used to scrounge up out of the dirt. I'll give you a chance to walk away, with your inbred boyfriends behind you. But if you don't skedaddle, there ain't gonna be nothing left of YOU to dig up. Make your choice." E.N.D. offered.
"You obviously are going to die! It ain't no good decision to talk big in front of impending doom, ya shrimp!" One of the robbers had a tick mark on his bald head.
"I don't believe that there is such a thing as a good or bad decision. Only bad or good people make them. I don't put much stock in that grey area bullshit. You're either garbage or your not." E.N.D. simply put. "And you, my friends, are less than garbage."
"You must really want to die!" The man flexed and raised his pickax, intending to bury it in E.N.D's head. "LET'S GE-!"
(THUNDERCLAP)
A sudden strike of dark orangish lighting struck down from the sky, and the four bandits were instantly disintegrated in a violent flash of light. The only thing that was left was the burnt pickaxe that Big Pick possessed, but that soon crumbled into the dirt.
"You made the choice." E.N.D. put his scarred arm back in his pocket. He turned back and headed straight for the hut. Tooth never forgot just how strong E.N.D. really was, but it was still terrifying to see him effortlessly turn someone into literal dust without so much as raising a finger. "Hey, let's go, Tooth!" E.N.D. called back.
"C-coming boss!" Tooth took a deep breath and hurried to E.N.D.'s side.
Inside...
"Well, this is more like it." E.N.D. seemed to have a change of heart after looking around the underground area. He was expecting narrow tunnels and small clearings, but the ceiling was pretty high, and it looked like a small shopping strip was run along the walls in the form of stands and large wagons. It looked like the place was built on top of a cavern underneath. Everyone was dressed a lot nicer too, compared to the folks above ground. Hell, they even had a brothel with a cheap gambling ring down here.
"People call this Buried Treasure." Tooth informed E.N.D. "This is the main hub for travelers or merchants that want to pawn off unwanted items."
"Passable." E.N.D. shrugged. "Okay, Toothpick, where we hitting up first?"
"Well, I tried out the stalls. But they wouldn't let me in on anything after I refused to buy half the stuff they offered." Tooth confessed.
"Jewels are the only thing that gets people's attention in places like these. If they know they aren't getting anything in return, they'd tell you to shove off." E.N.D. sighed while looking around. "Especially at these prices, damn." He noted some of the signs posted around them. "Let's just try someone local." E.N.D. sighed. He spotted what looked like a prostitute hanging out by one of the stalls. She seductively called out to any passing customers to no avail with her paper fan. "Let's try her." E.N.D. nodded and made up his mind. He made his way through the crowd and up to the whore in question. On better inspection, she wore a black robe over a green silk nightgown that was nearly see-through. her hair was also in a bob cut, and her alluring jade eyes were covered by glasses. She spotted E.N.D. heading straight for her and began her routine.
"Looking for some action, young man? Spider Lily is always looking to make any half journey a trip well worth it." She slowly fanned herself. "We're having discounts right now if you...come right away." Her long lashes slowly brought Tooth in, blushing through his helmet.
"I'm looking for a more...mysterious type of encounter." E.N.D. played along and smiled amusedly. "Word is is this dusty old town has a woman that can bend the will of any man to her every order. A woman like that work here?"
"A mysterious encounter, eh?" She seemed a bit taken aback by his question. But then she realized what he meant, her eyes giving it away. "Ah, you must mean the rumor of that devil woman that keeps all those curious men showing up."
"Ah, looks like I'm not the only one who's lured here." E.N.D. chuckled. "Yo, Tooth." He snapped his fingers, and his assistant began digging through his large sack of items. "I got 80,000 jewels if you point me in the right direction." He offered.
"...what's the hurry?" She closed her fan and her eyes were now narrowed at E.N.D. "Afraid you'll not be able to beat the others to the punch?"
"That's for me to worry about." He smirked. "So, what do you know?" He crossed his arms and leaned against the stall.
"I don't know the exact location, but, the girls here talk. Right in the middle of their "sessions", the client would just up and leave in the middle, leaving them unsatisfied, and bewildered. I mean they normally do, but they didn't even finish."
"You can tear someone away, when looking at this, eh?" He furrowed his eyes to her large breasts. "How rude."
"You're too kind." She giggled and gave her breasts a lift with her arm. "At first, no one thought much of it, but when they started just leaving when barely getting their money's worth, one of our girls was a tad too curious for her own good." She seemed to strike a sour tone while trying to keep up a poker face.
"Meaning?" E.N.D. didn't really care.
"She was found violated and dead, just outside the town's outskirts." She revealed. "Ever since then, Mama has forbidden all of us from venturing out. I probably shouldn't even be mentioning this to customers." She thought back and was feeling a bit reluctant to divulge any more.
"Give her the jewels." E.N.D. snapped his neck toward her. Tooth came over and a large bag was given to her. She was a bit baffled at first, but after checking the amount, she was surprised he was true to his word. "Where did these idiots wander off to before they disappeared?" He asked her.
"Are you sure about this, good sir? I would be saddened to hear if you met an unfortunate end, like the rest-MMmh~!" She was about to finish but suddenly felt E.N.D. pin her to the wall and dug his fingers in between her legs, prompting her to blush and moan. As his fingers played with her below, he put his mouth close to her ear.
"Your concern is adorable, for a mere slut, but you shouldn't care about whether I make it back or not. I'm just a paying customer. The only thing on your mind should only be my jewels. But honestly, I think you're the one who's a bit too curious for their own good."
"S-Sir! N-not on th-Mmgh~!" She then felt his fingers slide in deeper, with his other hand pinching her nipple.
"Nothing in this world is more terrifying than me. Don't play me for a fool, or I'll make you regret it." He said while slowly retracting his fingers from her crotch. "Now, where is this woman at?" He asked with half-open eyes.
"She-she s-ssaw one of the men that disappeared head west, toward the abandoned mine shafts. I didn't press the matter any further, but, I would start there-MMGH~!" She then felt his finger thrust deeper than before all at once inside while Tooth just blushed at how he was fingering this woman in public. E.N.D. didn't give a care in the world. He did whatever, whenever, to whoever.
"Very good. Now, who were these other people searching for this woman?" He asked as he slowly slipped his hand into her nightgown. He slowly massaged her large tit in a circular motion
"G-good sir! I would prefer it if we did this indoors-aAh~!" She let out a slight yelp of pleasure. For some reason, she felt a numbing sensation going up and down her body, whenever his hands touched her. Whatever it was, it was stimulating her way more than any man's hands that touched her body.
"You say that, but my hand feels soaked right now~." He teased. "The last question, I promise." He whispered in her ear. "Who recently came to look for the demon chick?"
"Th-th-they were members from a church, I believe...(Pant)..." She felt his middle and index finger alternating within her. "They said they were from Order of Winter." She revealed while feeling like she was on the verge of release. "It's just fingers, but..! Why does it feel so good!?" She couldn't describe, or begin to imagine the pleasure he gave her. It was like something was tickling and sending waves of numbing, yet jolting pleasure in the spots his fingers touched. She didn't want him to stop. He was getting all the right spots.
"Priests? Oh, who am I kidding? Desire wins out in the end." E.N.D. groaned while still thrusting his fingers slower and slower. He then smiled and turned to her ear. "You made me very satisfied, Spider Lily. If I'm still in the mood, I'll come back and it won't end with just my fingers~." He whispered and then pulled out his hand and her bodily fluids were all over them. She then looked up in disbelief.
"W-w-why did you stop!? I was almost there~!" She complained in a pouting manner. She was covering her lower half and closing her legs, but felt like the absence was deeply missed inside her.
"God, Vallith would kill me if he found out I used his magic this way, heheheheh." E.N.D. looked at his fingers. "Stay here Tooth, I'm going to check out these mines." He said seriously after walking past and drying his hand off on him, much to Tooth's disbelief.
"Wh-what?! Why?!" He looked at his master with confusion. "Also, WHY?" He referred to him wiping the lady's fluids upon his clothes.
"You'd just get in the way. Besides, if she can sweet talk a guy from just words alone, you're probably right about the mind control magic. Unless you're capable of resisting, I'd suggest you sit this one out." He partially explained.
"What am I supposed to do then?!" He was at a loss.
"I don't know, Tooth. Might as well get our jewels worth out of her." He began to walk away.
"Y-young master, w-will you be returning?!" She wanted more while slowly getting back up. Clear liquid running down her leg in an erotic display.
"Meh, if I feel like it." E.N.D. popped his neck. "Use my man slave as a substitute till I get back. This young sir is going to see who's whispering sweet nothings to these brain-dead fools." He whistled the Fairy Tail theme song while walking off.
"But-!" Tooth wanted to protest. But suddenly Spider Lily threw herself on him.
"You're a man aren't you!? Hurry up, I need it, NOW~!" She was like a horny mess, and while she did want E.N.D. more, she needed to reach the climax as soon as possible.
"WHY DO YOU ALWAYS LEAVE ME LIKE THIS~?!" Tooth cried out in annoyance.
Later...
Out in the outskirts of the underground village, E.N.D. managed to find the abandoned mine shafts that the prostitute mentioned. He stopped in front of the entrance and peered down. With his hands still in his pockets, he suddenly disappeared in a flash of dark-orangish lighting and reappeared in the mine with an echo of thunder. He looked around him and saw multiple pathways dug out that went deeper into the earth.
"Hmmm..." E.N.D. scratched his chin and glanced around the dusty hole he jumped into. He took one last look around and took a deep breath. "Fuck it. Let's knock these out one by one." He hummed to himself after thinking long and hard.
At least by his standards.
He began walking toward the first tunnel and the footsteps from his sandals echoed throughout the mine in an eerie fashion. His red eyes glanced to rats that were scampering about after detecting his presence. He walked past a minecart that was stuck on its track. After he passed it, a discreet figure emerged from the cart, eyeing E.N.D. with malicious intent. E.N.D. just kept a steady pace while examining his surroundings.
"I wonder what these church lackeys are doing out here? Come to think of it, I haven't actually heard of this Order of Winter. Wonder if they are actually Exorcist mages?" E.N.D. wondered who were the ones that beat him here. And why were they looking for this woman as well? "Maybe this woman is actually a demon...if that's the case, this could be a good sign I'm on the right track." E.N.D. could tell this lead was solid if a group of exorcists was also looking for this woman. But what could they want with her? It was anyone's guess. E.N.D. kept going until eventually he came to a dead end. Looked like it collapsed at some point in time. "Welp, strike one. Let's check the rest." He nodded and headed back. Within the rubble, however, another ominous figure emerged, following him from a distance.
Eventually, E.N.D. checked every tunnel, but they all were collapsed just like the first. He came back to the entrance and sat down on a knocked-over beam. He scratched his head out of frustration. "For crying out loud, did that slut lie to me?" He shook his head and swore to never take the words of a whore seriously ever again. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a watch. "That's it. Next time, I'm gonna make Tooth search, and I get to go to orgy island." E.N.D. didn't like needlessly wasting time, and this felt like a menial task that his servant could handle. He was in his own world, while someone was sneaking up behind him with a block of wood. They raised it above their heads and were intent on knocking him out with it.
But before he could follow through, E.N.D. blasted the dry shaft of wood out of the assailant's hands with a small beam of lightning generated with his index and middle fingers aimed over his shoulders. He didn't turn around until afterward. "Okay. That's enough sneaking around like a rat." He stood up and faced his attacker with his hands still in his pocket. "Why you down here, stranger?" E.N.D. demanded to know.
"Please! My actions are not my own. I can't go against her!" He was just a young man, but he wore some strange robes that had a snowflake crest on some armor around him. From the looks of him, he was presumably one of those church members that Spider Lily talked about.
"Clearly." E.N.D. could see the fear in his eyes. "Bingo."
"The demon is merciless! Her words are like a siren! Calling you to your doom!" He began walking toward E.N.D.
"Huh. And, where is this demon you speak of?" E.N.D. cleaned his ear out with his finger, flicking away some wax caught on his fingernail.
"This is an order."
"Wait! NO!" He was crying with streams of tears going down his face as if death was patting him on the shoulder. A voice echoed in the room that sounded feminine.
"Snap your own neck."
"Help me! I can't sto-hwaaagh..!" As if complying with no hesitation, his own hands grabbed his head, and a distinct bone-breaking sound rang out as he twisted his head so hard he snapped his neck off to the side. He hit the dirt instantly dead, which led E.N.D. to just look at it with a stoic face.
"...I should have stopped-yeah, yep. Now I have no idea where that bitch is. " E.N.D. concluded that he should have intervened. It was just going to be more troublesome to track down his target. "So that was mind control, huh? But he seemed sane enough, conscious enough to speak his mind. Perhaps a type of brainwashing-no, he was like a prisoner in his own body." E.N.D. thought out loud while trying to deduce what he witnessed. "Hm?" He looked back to the corpse of the young male, and it was like a puppet on strings, disturbingly standing up in an awkward fashion. "Neat little trick." E.N.D. clapped once.
"Why...do...you...come...here?" The vocal cords weren't very useful in the man's now crooked head, but words were able to be formed in a weakened tone.
"And it talks." E.N.D. nodded as if he expected that. "You that woman that's got everyone around here in a tizzy?" E.N.D. crossed his arms.
"Another...fool...human...seeks...to...disappear?" The corpse responded.
"I'm different than those guys. I'm not as...feeble." He tilted his head. "Must have been fun using all those men as toys for amusement. You garnished quite the reputation in town." E.N.D. nodded.
"It...matters...not...leave...or...face...the...end."
"Why don't you come out and stop hiding behind a corpse? I'm really impatient when it comes to dealing with humans, and demons-no, just weaklings who don't face me directly." E.N.D. was beginning to get annoyed at this cliché bad guy routine. "So cut the bullshit, and show yourself."
"You...do..not...fear...death...human? How...amusing." The corpse oddly smiled slightly.
"Listen, I wasn't going to kill you, but if you make me hunt you down, you're going to experience fear on a level that you cannot begin to comprehend." E.N.D. hissed slightly, while his eyes glared into the corpse's eyes.
"...I..see...so..this...is...to..be..another...tragedy..." The corpse stopped talking and fell to the ground. E.N.D. then heard footsteps behind him, and he turned to see a lone curvaceous woman approaching him. She had the beautiful appearance of a young woman with long flowing black hair, two large protruding horns on her head, a tattoo that looked to be an eye of sorts on her forehead, with a white band over it. She wore a dark blue leopard-spotted kimono that revealed much of her large chest and thighs. She also had thigh-high socks that showed off her heels and toes.
"...I take it back. THIS, is more up my alley." E.N.D. suddenly had a smirk work its way to his lips. "Forget words. Just looking at you is enough to make a guy do whatever you want." He lustfully looked at her well-endowed features.
"You're too kind, human." She said with an ice-cold black stare. She was very calm and collected. "But do not presume to be under the impression that I will make your death a simple one." She declared as multiple men suddenly appeared behind her.
"I'm assuming those are the guys that went missing in town." E.N.D. determined from the malnourished and state of clothing of the group behind her. They looked half-dead, but not in a state to talk to. There even seemed to be some more of those church members among the victims.
"Now, I will have you replace that exorcist as my new soldier." She decreed. "This is an order...kneel, human." She commanded him in a firm tone as her voice reverberated around the mine.
"..." E.N.D. simply stood there, with a stoic look.
"What? "This is an order, human. KNEEL before me." She put more of a conviction in her tone, but E.N.D. did not even so much as budge. "Why!? How can you refuse me!?" She demanded to know, bewildered why her control did not even so much as faze him. "No human can resist my Macro! On your knees!"
"...you? Order ME?" E.N.D. suddenly glared darkly at her. "That's so funny I'm not even laughing." His aura was dark and his eyes seemed to glow red with anger. "What's your name, demon?" E.N.D. suddenly demanded to know. "Zeref may be a heartless asshole, but even he gave his books names."
"Z-Zeref?!" She widened her eyes. "How do you know about that?!" She suddenly stepped back.
"Your name. What is it?" He demanded once more. For some reason, every step he took forward, the demoness felt smaller, as if he was a mountain in the distance that was slowly closing in on her.
"S-Seilah. I am Seilah." She couldn't help but shake, feeling like he was hiding a sinister power. "But it matters not! This is an order, everyone, kill that human!" As if on cue, her small legion of controlled men took up weapons consisting of rock picks, shovels, and boards.
"Mining equipment? Just how much are you looking down on me?" E.N.D. scoffed at their less than impressive choice in weapons. He was tapping his arm with his finger, and suddenly held it up, and a black wind burst forth in front of him like a mini-tornado and blasted back every single one of Seilah's guards. They were littered around the mine like they just were hit by a train. She was wide-eyed at the effortless display. "My soldiers...defeated in the blink of an eye!?" She was baffled that her vanguard was demolished in a split second.
"For a book of Zeref, this is rather pathetic. Surrounding yourself with weaklings? Were you made to be stupid, or was this the best you could come up with?" E.N.D. went back to crossing his arms. "Zeref crafted you to kill him. Is this really your true potential?" E.N.D. urged her to answer him. "If you stood before him, he would destroy you before you even took another breath." E.N.D. scolded her.
"Silence!" She suddenly summoned numerous books around her. "I know not what you seek, human! But I am not one to be trifled with easily!" She made them float around her. "I will pen your story's ending with your blood!"
"Books? You're going to hit me with fucking BOOKS?" E.N.D. just made light of it, as if it were the sorriest thing he had ever witnessed. "Look out, Zeref. Your book is going to throw books at you until you die." E.N.D. sarcastically thought while not really worrying about Seilah's attack. "Maybe this search was a wasted trip." E.N.D. wasn't sure this was one of Zeref's demons, or a lady dabbling in demonic magic.
"Say that after I've hit you with them!" She shot them at high speed, and they came at him from multiple directions.
"..." E.N.D. just continued to watch as they attempted to hit him. He shifted his body slightly and he walked forth while dodging them by a hair's length.
"He's just moving his body with the slightest movement to dodge them all by a needle's width! Who is this person!?" She was frustrated that nothing was hitting him. While he was dodging the projectiles, something caught his eye.
"Hm?" Right before another book flew at him, and nearly connected, he caught it and slowly examined it. "...hey, I read this one before. It's a good one." He waved with approval.
"Tch! How dare you make light of me!" She growled angrily. But suddenly the anger was then replaced with fear when he suddenly appeared in her face like it was nothing. There was a bright flash, and he reappeared mere feet away from her.
"You assume you're on a level that can be called worthy of an Etherious?" He hissed coldly. "This is pathetic, Seilah." He peered deep into her eyes, and she froze for a moment.
"D-damn it!" She hopped back from him and attempted to flee out the entrance. She stopped and then suddenly took aim at the walls beneath her from the entrance. "Sleep within this hollow ground! blame yourself for looking down on me!" She had an eye appear on her palm, and it fired a beam of bright demonic energy at the surroundings. The whole mine began to shake and cave in, burying everything around E.N.D.
"Fleeing? You are about as every bit as pathetic-, no, you're trash." E.N.D. dryly said while the whole place began to crumble around him until it was caved in and buried. A mere puff of a dust cloud left the shaft entrance, and Seilah was standing away from it.
"I told you. This would be another tragedy." Seilah smiled lightly. Now victorious, she calmed herself down and was curious who that young man was. "He knew about the Etherious. Was he with the church? Well, it matters not anymore. I will need to find another place to hide." She began to leave after making up her mind.
However...
"...?!" A roaring bolt of lightning came down from a gathering formation of pitch-black thunderclouds and struck the area where the mine was with the largest bolt of dark orange she had ever witnessed. A massive explosion happened around the area, prompting Seilah to get blown away. She slid back and landed back on her feet, and she looked back at the dust cloud that used to be the mine, and what she saw next made her heart stop.
"T...the.. mine is...gone?!" Seilah could see the entire layout of the mine that went deep, now on the surface in a messy crater. The men she had under her control were not buried alive either. And out of the center...
(Crackle)
"..it's not possible..." Seilah's jaw hit the floor after seeing E.N.D. just walk out of the pit like he was climbing some stairs.
Not. A. SCRATCH. On him.
"Well now, this is interesting." E.N.D. said after emerging with a boring tone. "You were so confident earlier. What happened? Were you frightened? In disbelief? Overwhelmed? Please, I'm dying to know what's going through your mind right now." He chuckled grimly while she struggled to collect herself.
"How...!?" She couldn't fathom it. This human was way more powerful than anyone she came across. "If it's come to this...!" She gritted her teeth and clenched her hands.
"It's pointless. You do not have power over me." E.N.D. once again stated to her. "You should know that fighting is a waste of time. You'd do best to surrender." He suggested.
"This is an order..!"
"It won't work." E.N.D. scoffed.
"For myself!"
"Hm?"
"Remove my limiter!" She declared and a blue light appeared around her whole body, and suddenly the ground shook from the amount of magic power that was emanating from her. Her form began to change, and she reappeared in a more demonic form. Her skin darkened, and her horns protruded up more. Her entire upper body was bare with nothing but tattoos that symmetrically formed around her breasts and down to her stomach. Her legs however changed into sharp blades that acted as feet, with wing-like protrusions spreading up her hip. Her eyes were hollowed out light that gave a chill to whoever locked gazes with her.
"I think I preferred your first form." E.N.D. debated while scratching his chin. "Now you show your true self. Good. I was beginning to fall asleep here." E.N.D. said and took out his hands from his pockets.
"I will tear you apart!" She suddenly said and rocketed toward him with immense speed and power.
"Burn this into your very mind, Seilah." E.N.D. said and raised a palm toward her and pulled back his fist. "I will show you power worthy of an Etherious." His eyes then had cracks form around them, and his hair suddenly turned to salmon pink, as if reverting to its original color. The black wrappings on his arms ripped from the power surging within them, revealing glowing veins of yellow coursing through his scarred arms, in the shapes of forked-out lighting. His power then surged to monstrous levels for but a moment. His eyes penetrated her very soul as the two were now close to each other, causing her to hesitate.
"He is...not human!" Her mouth hung open right before E.N.D. unleashed his power.
"Storm Dragon's..." He uttered. "..STRIKING FIST!" He then lounged forth and struck her stomach so hard and fast, she was blasted backward. She coughed blood and soared at high speed toward a pile of rocks and went through them and was knocked out of her Etherious form. She skipped along the ground, and slid to a stop, with her kimono torn to shreds, and her socks ripped. She was practically in the nude from the insane amount of force that knocked her for a loop. She was a distance away from him while reeling from the literal shock from his fist that was charged with lightning.
"PLah!" She coughed up more of her demonic blood and was shaking uncontrollably. Like she just witnessed the most powerful being in the entire world. "That..was a true...monster's power...! I...couldn't even hope to win...against that!" She abandoned all reason and thought of even opposing him. It was clear the difference in power was worlds apart. She couldn't even make a fist and was too weak to move. She then heard the footsteps of him walking up to her. She glanced up and was looking into his eyes as if her executioner was there. She frowned and tears began to roll down her face. "Just...make it quick." She pleaded weakly.
"Kill you? Why would I want to do that?" He tilted his head and bent down next to her.
"It is...the only fate...of a demon of Zeref...I have no... other purposes.." She sobbed slightly. "I cannot hope...to carry out my creator's will.."
"Pff, says who?" E.N.D. scoffed. "How pitiful. Can't think for yourself, Seilah?" E.N.D. made light of her. "Why even go that far for someone you don't even know?"
"What is the created to do, than to do what their creator made them for? I must...return...to him..." She reached toward the sky as storm clouds rained down upon them. "No...I have...failed him.." She felt very depressed that her purpose was not met. If E.N.D. could defeat her, then what hope could she have at killing Zeref?
"...you'll need some work." He said before sighing. He suddenly began picking her up bridal style.
"...!" Seilah was surprised by his actions.
"You wish to return to my brother's side that badly? Then, first, you must become strong."
"What?" Seilah was confused greatly. "Actually, who are you? I've never met a human more powerful than you." She had to know what kind of person could do this. His power defied logic. A normal human would have buckled before her, but E.N.D. was not normal.
"You call me human...but I'm the same as you." He revealed to her. "I'm also an Etherious."
"Truly!?" She widened her eyes. "Y-you are not human, but a demon?!" She was surprised.
"Mm. I'm Etherious Natsu Dragneel. The strongest Etherious made by Zeref. His brother." He smirked at her with amusement. "But you can call me, E.N.D."
"...E.N.D...E.N.D..." Seilah was fascinated a bit by him. Whether it was out of respect or fear, most likely both, her opinion of him changed when she heard him say they were the same. "What will you do with me?" She asked curiously.
"Hmmm...don't know. Heh, to be honest, I was just bored." He chuckled slightly. "But I know for certain." He put his mouth over her ear and whispered. "I'm going to put you to more use than Zeref ever will." He whispered seductively. She blushed a bit and felt like her heart skip a beat. "Follow me, and I will give you a new purpose... one that's not so...not so pitiful, heheheheheheh." E.N.D. chuckled silently as he walked toward the massive Cube that was floating towards them. To Seilah though, his words were engraved into her very heart. Was this to be her fate? Now to be in the servitude of this powerful devil?
"I wonder what you have in store for me?" She blankly asked.
"You like books? You must if you use them as weapons." E.N.D. joked a little. "I got a few tragic novels that no one except me has laid their eyes on. I think you'll find yourself entertained while you're with me."
"I enjoy stories of demons. Human tales always bored me. To achieve happiness is indeed an interesting concept, but unrealistic." She held on to him. "If life was always a happily ever after, why is there so much tragedy before it?" Seilah thought aloud. "I prefer a genre that keeps things in perspective."
"Bad endings? Pff, those piss me off." E.N.D. scoffed before stopping.
"Then, what ending do you prefer, master E.N.D.?" She gazed longingly into his eyes as if his crimson orbs were pulling her in.
"...heh!" E.N.D. chuckled slightly before answering playfully.
"I like a good twist~."
Just a little side project I was working on. I hope you enjoyed it!
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