Time was starting to run out for everyone. In Crocus, everyone could see the pillar of light coming from the mountain. Many didn't know what that pillar was, but those who did were growing concerned. Fairy Tail arrived and met up with Queen Hisui about the situation, but it wasn't looking good.

"Shouldn't we do something?" Hisui asked.

"I'm not sure if we can do much of anything. If that pillar is what I think it is, everyone in Fiore is going to die." Laxus said. "Our only hope is that Nashi and her friends can do something about it now." Hoping that Nashi and her friends can save them all is really anyone in Fiore can really do.

"Do you really think they can pull it off?" Hisui asked.

"They're not kids anymore, but they were able to do incredible things when they were." Laxus said. "I'm sure they've got what it takes." Laxus is keeping his faith in his guild members strong. He can just hope they do something soon.

...

The Cavern

Nashi was able to confront Sapphron and Sharell. She attempted to put a stop to all of this, but Sapphron was as strong as ever. Her friends showed up in time, but they aren't able to help her. Sharell used her powers to trap all four of them with them unable to do anything but watch. Knowing the danger she was up against, Nashi knew she had to be careful against the likes of Sapphron.

"Come on, Nashi. Can you really afford to wait?" Sapphron taunted. Nashi fell for it as she went right at him. She tried attacking him, but he blocked her attack. She tried pouring the force on him, but Sapphron was remaining strong. "My flames might not be able to harm you, but this can!" He held back one of his arms and formed it into a claw. Nashi moved quickly as he tried slashing at her. She might have avoided it, but barely when she saw her clothes got ripped.

"That's right. You're able to partially transform." Nashi said with annoyance.

"While you aren't able to pull something like that off. I outclass you in every manner as a dragon slayer, Nashi. There's nothing you can do to beat me." Sapphron claimed.

"Quit all the bragging when I can still fight!" Nashi said as she tried attacking him again and the two of them kept fighting. As for her friends, all of them found it unbearable to just watch.

"We've got to do something to help her!" Nova said.

"I know, but we need to find a way out of these barriers first." Simon said.

"Let's try this." Gale said as he tried digging his way out, but he could see that didn't work much either. "Damn. The barrier even passes through the ground."

"It looks like the only way is to do something about her." Sasha said as she looked right at Sharell. The problem was that she was on the other side of the barrier.

"I don't suppose we can just talk you into letting us go." Gale said.

"Not until the spell is completed and the dragons are living among us again." Sharell said.

"You would really allow thousands of people die to bring them back? Do you think that the dragons that would want to be friends with humans would really want any of this?" Nova said. "Sapphron's plan is just insane."

"You don't know what you're talking about." Sharell claimed as she stayed strong to what she believed. "Sapphron is a great man. When we were all living with this curse, he was the one that took us in when we had nothing. He protected us from the liked of Acnologia. That's how we were able to live for so long."

"We get it. You went through some hard times, longer than what most people go through." Gale said. "We all go through some hard times, but that doesn't mean you have to kill an entire country."

"You don't even know if that's what will really happen." Sharell said. "Besides, Sapphron knows what he's doing. He's courageous, driven, and knows how to take charge. When all of us were at our lowest points, he was the one that lifted us back up."

"Sounds like you're quite smitten with him." Nova believed.

"Do I?" Sharell said as she had no shame in admitting it. "I suppose. In all these years, I actually do wish that Sapphron would become my lover."

"Okay, stop right there! We don't want hear your little love story!" Gale said.

"Well, we have hundreds of years to be together." Sharell said as she wasn't too concerned about that. "What we're doing might seem cruel and insane to you, but this is what we want. Sapphron remained strong for all of us, but he was suffering on the inside. The dragons were like friends and family to him. He believes that what happened to them was unjust and that a race like the dragons should not be extinct. Haven't you ever wanted something you lost and want it back at all costs."

"I understand that what happened to you might have been excruciating, but that's still no reason for all the horrible things you and your friends have done." Simon said.

"Well, we're past the point of no return. It's too late to go back now." Sharell said. "All that is left is wait for Sapphron to finish off your friend until the dragons are among us again." With no way out, watching was all the four of them could do. It wasn't looking good for them at all as they saw Nashi got thrashed to the ground.

"Listen, Nashi... I have nothing personal against you. You're a fellow dragon slayer, but I will take down anyone who dare stands in my way." Sapphron said. "It doesn't have to be this way. I could show you much more. I could even teach you everything there is about being a dragon slayer."

"Show me? Teach me?" Nashi questioned as she didn't really like the sound of that.

"It must be better than this. The simple fact is that you can't defeat me." Sapphron claimed.

"Is that so?" Nashi said with her getting back up. "I already know a lot about being a dragon slayer. My father was the one that showed me."

"Natsu Dragneel, a fellow first generation like myself." Sapphron stated. "I must admit that I'm rather surprised he hasn't taken my offer. I assumed he would have loved to see the dragon that gave him his power again. That dragon was like a parent to him, wasn't he? Wouldn't you like to meet that dragon?"

"Of course I would. Igneel would be considered my grandfather, but I also know he never would have wanted the lives of so many sacrificed just for his sake. That's why...I have to stop you!" Nashi declared with a fierce look in her eyes. "I don't need you to show or teach me anything, but I do have something to show you." Nashi instantly coated herself in flames as she called on her etherious power and changed her form. Sapphron was certainly surprised by that. With her etherious power, it was a different fight now. She flew right at him and smashed her fist against him. Her new power caused him to be sent flying across the cavern.

"Sapphron!" Sharell called as she too was surprised by what just happened. However, Sapphron pulled himself together. He placed his feet against the call as he crashed into it and left a large impact, but he jumped off and went right at her.

'What is that form she's taken? That doesn't seem like the powers of a dragon.' Sapphron wondered as he tried attacking her, but she moved to the side and avoided his attack. She drove her fist into his gut and sent him flying straight up.

"I'm not done with you!" Nashi shouted as she flew after him. She smashed against him and smashed right through the roof of the cavern. She kept going up and pushed him through all the stone until they emerged out of the mountain and went straight up. Sapphron was still resistant as he was able to break out of her grasp and she flew straight up. Nashi wasn't going to let him escape as she turned around and went straight at him again.

"Sapphire Dragon Blaze Barrage!" Sapphron unleashed a series of blue fireballs, but Nashi made her way through the flames. She smashed right into Sapphron again and went back inside the mountain. They ended up back in the mountain with Nashi giving Sapphron one more strike with him being the one against the ground this time. Sharell never thought that would happen with Nashi's friends excited that the tables have turned.

"What is this power?" Sapphron said as he never saw anything like it before. "That's not Dragon Force. It doesn't feel like the power of a dragon slayer at all. What exactly are you?"

"You're right. This isn't the power of a dragon slayer. It's a power of a race called etherious." Nashi said.

"Etherious?" Sapphron questioned.

"My Uncle Zeref was once the most feared wizard with his black magic." Nashi said. "He created a race of demons known as etherious."

"Zeref?! Even I have heard of him! You're a relative of his?!" Sapphron questioned.

"I am." Nashi said. "I'm a hybrid between a human and an etherious. Zeref turned his own brother into an etherious to save his life. Since that happened, it formed the likes of me." Nashi stared down at her own hand as she thought back to her times with this power. "It's funny. There was a time I hated this power. It even formed a separate personality inside me. Even though I don't hear her anymore, I feel like she and I truly one."

"A hybrid that has the powers and capabilities of a human, a demon, and a dragon." Sapphron said as he was amazed with what he just heard. "I knew you were special."

"Tell me something I haven't already heard." Nashi said as she gathered fire in her hands. "Keep that in mind when I burn you to a pile of ashes!" She unleashed the full fury of her power as she caused the area around Sapphron to ignite in an inferno. With Nashi's etherious power, she might actually have a chance to defeat the likes of Sapphron.

"It's all rather impressive." Sapphron said as he was able to walk through the flames. His clothes might have burned in that fire, but he was still able to walk out of there. "Your flames really can burn, Nashi, but they still can't burn me."

"Come on!" Gale complained. "That looked like one intense fire and he can still walk out of there?! I know he's some kind of fire dragon like Nashi, but that had to have done something!"

"Even with Nashi's etherious power, he's still quite the challenge." Simon said. "At least her etherious power is giving her an edge over him."

"Yes. This strange power you have is rather impressive." Sapphron said. "You are clearly more capable of so much more than I knew, and I apologize for underestimating you. This form of yours is similar to a power of my own."

"Huh?" Nashi questioned.

"Let me show you. I haven't showed you everything of myself." Sapphron stated with Nashi not liking the sound of that. "Out of my newfound respect for you, I will show you my full power in my greatest form!" Sapphron began unleashing even more power as blue flames encased around him. Nashi didn't like what was happening here as Sapphron was growing stronger. She could feel his power changing as the temperature was getting hotter and hotter. Sapphron entered a brand new form with dragonic features. He had blue feathered wings and a tail. His hands were claws with his arms pure sapphire. He had blue markings that traced around his muscles with his skin turning a lighter shade but duller tone of blue. His eyes were like a dragon's and his hair was like flaming blue.

"What is that?!" Nashi questioned as she didn't like the looks of this.

"This is a power that I created myself. It's called Dragon Supremacy." Sapphron said. "This is my full power." Nashi didn't know what to think of this kind of power, but she was trying her best to stay strong against it.

"I don't know what that power is, but it doesn't matter!" Nashi said, but she isn't aware of how powerful and dangerous this Dragon Supremacy can be. She still tried to attack him, but Sapphron grabbed a hold of her fist and was able to stop her.

"Your powers might be that of a dragon and a demon, but my powers are purely and solely that of a dragon. There's nothing stronger in this world than the power of a dragon." Sapphron claimed. He smashed his fist against Nashi and she got the wind knocked out of her. Just as it seemed like the fight was going her way, it all changed around again. Was Sapphron right? Is there really no way for Nashi to beat him?