Disclaimer – I own nothing
Chapter 14 – Old Enemies Return
The Fairies and the Demons stared at each other, and Team Natsu stood in shock as they recognized their past enemies. "No way," Natsu muttered.
"It's the Oracion Seis!" Lucy gasped.
"That's not good!" Happy noted.
"I was hoping to never see these guys again, but here they are," Gray said.
"And it appears they have new members," Erza observed, "including the one who attacked us for the clock pieces."
"Ha, ha, ha!" Jackpot laughed while pushing his lever down. The three slots on his stomach started to spin until they each landed an icon that said six demons, getting three in a row. "Oh my goodness, hot, hot, hot! It's true you've met before but things have changed!" he declared as he gestured to his comrades. "May I present to you the new and improved Neo Oracion Seis!"
"Did he just say Neo Oracion Seis?!" Team Natsu exclaimed in shock.
"You seem surprised, a great deal has changed since the last time we met," the male mage who looked feminine spoke.
"I remember you!" Natsu said to the mage. "You're Midnight!"
"I no longer go by that name," the former Midnight declared. "From now on, I ask that you refer to me as Brain the second."
"I'll call you whatever I feel like!" Natsu shot back. "You wanna tell us what you're doing here?! I know you're up to something!"
"I have but one single wish: to make my father's dream a reality!" Brain II replied. "And that is to destroy all that is formed in this world!"
"I can't believe you're still spouting the same nonsense!" said Erza.
Midnight smirked at her. The six demons then raised their hands toward the Infinity Clock. "You've been very helpful. Thank you, but I'm afraid that we no longer require your services," he said to the Fairies and the Zentopians. The large clock started glowing green as it rang again, and on each piece, six seals suddenly appeared with the meaning six demons on it.
"What do we do, Lord Byro?" Dan asked his leader.
"Fight!" Byro commanded. "We have to stop them!"
"Yes sir, let's do it!" Dan exclaimed as he brought his shield up.
"Hey, Dan!" Gohan called to the knight. "You're gonna need this!" He tossed Habaraki to its rightful owner.
"Thanks, kid!" Dan said gratefully as he caught his weapon. "I'm all fired up now!"
"What do you think you're doing, buddy?! Don't you know that's my line?!" Natsu demanded indignantly.
"You stay out of this!" Dan ordered. The knight, the Fire Dragon Slayer, and the Legion leader all charged at the Neo Oracion Seis.
"Lousy insects! Look at how they swarm!" Brain II said. He raised his hand, creating a magic seal that gathered green magic energy. It turned into numerous green streams that flew toward the three wizards.
"I'm gonna bounce your attack right back at ya!" Dan declared as he held up his shield. Brain II's attack collided with Ricochet, but instead of flying back at the sender, the attacks came together into an orb and combusted. Dan's surprise lasted for a second before he was suddenly blasted backward.
"Oh no, Dan's shield has never failed him before!" Coco cried in shock.
"You stay back!" Byro told Natsu. "All manners of magic are ineffective against…" Before he could finish speaking, Midnight's attack struck. Natsu and Byro were surrounded by the mage's dark power and blown away.
"I thought the old guy could neutralize magic!" Gray said with confusion.
"So did I," Erza agreed.
"Not only did you destroy the range of Byro's magic, but you attacked him at the same time!" Jackpot praised his boss. "You're an absolute genius, lord Brain!"
"Do you sense anything, Carla?" Wendy asked her cat.
"An immense ominous magic power," Carla replied.
"You may not be aware of this, but once the Infinity Clock bears the seal of a wizard, it becomes their property," Midnight explained; he then vanished and reappeared on top of the giant clock. "You know what that means, don't you? Now that it bears our seal, the clock belongs to us!" The Infinity Clock then rang again.
"My, what a beautiful sound," the white haired mage called Angel remarked.
"That's not fair! You can't just show up and steal it for yourself!" Lucy yelled while jabbing her finger at the demons.
"I can hear it, your growing anger and confusion," the mage called Cobra spoke. "It's building up within you."
"Heh, ain't that a laugh," Racer chuckled.
"Unfortunately, we dark ones are forbidden from touching the Infinity Clock," Angel revealed. "Therefore, we had to have you assemble it for us. But when we learned that you planned to stop the gathering of the clock pieces, we allowed our newest member, Rancor, to retrieve them before you sealed them away." She gestured to the red robot as she spoke.
"However, he's incapable of using magic like we are," Midnight said. "So we decided to let the two sides fight for the clock piece and let Rancor crush the winners before snatching them for us."
Gohan clenched his fist. "So, the Hatchiyak was the one who attacked the others and took the clock pieces," he thought angrily. "Why would he be a part of this, though?"
"There you have it, folks, that's how you play the game!" Jackpot laughed.
"Curse you!" Byro yelled.
"So, we were being used. No way," Lucy deduced before turning to Michelle, who was wearing a sad look on her face. "Does this mean my father's job request was in vain…?" Brain II grinned at the blonde mage's despair.
"I'm getting shivers up my spine," Happy said. "These guys are super scary!"
"The magic power I'm sensing from them is incredible," Erza stated.
"Yeah, it's on a whole different level now," Gray agreed.
"Whatever, we can still take 'em!" Natsu assured as he punched his palm.
"We don't usually let anyone dance in the palm of our hands," Cobra said. "So you should feel honored that we chose you to do it."
"Quit your yapping and fight!" Natsu shouted. "Fire Dragon Roar!" He let out his breath attack and aimed it at the Neo Oracion Seis, when the hooded wizard holding a scythe suddenly appeared in front of his comrades and formed a magic seal. The flames crashed into the seal and were dissipated instantly by a strong gust of wind.
"Whoa, he defused Natsu's fire attack!" Gray exclaimed.
"He used Wind Magic!" Wendy stated.
"Indeed. However, it is nothing as mild as mere wind," the mage spoke as the wind blew off his hood, revealing his bald head and empty eyes. "My magic is strong, like a brewing storm!"
"That guys seems really familiar to me, I think I recognize him from somewhere," Happy noted.
"Yeah, me too," Natsu agreed.
"Well of course you do, you fought him back when he was with Eisenwald!" Jackpot said as he pushed his lever and landed on a face of the same Wind Mage, except the pictures had hair, three times. "The gentleman before you is none other than Erigor!"
"These days I go by Grim Reaper," the man formerly known as Erigor said.
"That's Erigor?!" Natsu shouted.
"Not this guy again!" Gray complained.
"He's like a completely different person!" Erza gasped.
"Guess people can change after all," Happy said.
"Hope you're ready for round two, 'cause I'm gonna kick your butt, you old windbag!" the Salamander yelled at the wind mage.
"Come on, Brain, how long are we gonna waste our time with these idiots?!" Cobra questioned.
"Don't forget we have an important goal to achieve," Angel reminded him.
"I'm well aware. However, we have a score to settle with them," Midnight said. "They did humiliate us seven years ago, so now it's our turn. After all, we told Rancor to spare them so that we can have our fun with them! Cobra, Racer!"
"Yeah," the two mages said before they advanced.
Erza immediately requipped to her Robe of Yuen. "Alright boys, let's take them down!" she ordered her comrades.
"You got it!" Natsu and Gray agreed as they rushed forward with Erza. Racer landed on the ground and charged at them with great speed (at least in the Fairy Tail universe). The speed demon landed on all fours and bashed into the three mages, knocking them off their feet before they could attack; many cries of pain were heard from each wizard that was struck.
"So fast, I never even saw him hit them!" Happy gasped.
"Dammit! I couldn't get a hit in!" Gray growled.
"He seems so much stronger and faster than the last time we fought!" Erza noted. Racer then stopped for a second and struck both Juvia and Lyon down. "Is he using a slow spell?"
"No; I don't sense one, at least!" Gray responded.
"He's like a wild animal!" Erza said, observing the mage. "An untamed beast hunting its prey!"
"Well, well, if it isn't the Maiden of the Sky and her cat. It's been a while," a voice said from behind Wendy and Carla. The girls turned around and were face-to-face with the one-eyed Cobra. "What's the matter? You both don't look very happy to see me," the dark mage taunted as he gazed at them with an intimidating look. The former Cait Shelter members were frozen in fear at the sight of their old enemy. "What, do I frighten you?" Cobra mocked them. "You ain't seen nothing yet!" Cobra released a dark magic aura that overwhelmed the two Fairies.
"I can't move!" Carla cried.
"Me either! It's like I'm frozen in fear!" Wendy said.
"Quit messing with them, Cobra! Get over here and fight me!" Natsu shouted as he jumped at the Second Generation Dragon Slayer with a flaming fist. "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"
"That voice of yours is annoying as ever!" Cobra growled. He then snapped his fingers, and the entire tomb was filled with an immense echo of Natsu's voice. The vibration decimated and incapacitated most of the Fairy Tail members.
"Hey, are you alright, Michelle?" Lucy asked her sister.
"I think so," she replied.
"What just happened?" Carla inquired.
"He turned Natsu's scream into some kind of weapon," Wendy answered.
Gohan flew into the air while covering his ears. "It's like he amplified the sound volume of Natsu's voice and threw it back at us."
"What's the matter, too scared to really fight?" Natsu tried to goad Cobra.
"I can hear it, the despair you're feeling right now," Cobra commented. "I'll use your own voice to destroy you!" the Poison Dragon Slayer promised the Fire Dragon Slayer.
The Legion Platoon weren't getting much of a break either, as Lord Byro was still injured from Brain II's attack. Dan brought out his weapon and stepped forward. "Coco, hurry and take Lord Byro to the escape route!" the knight instructed the girl.
"But I don't wanna leave you here!" Coco said worriedly.
"Don't worry about me, just save yourselves while you still can!" Dan urged them. "Would you look at how strong these guys are?! It's pretty clear how we'd fare against them!" As he spoke, Racer zoomed around the tomb, taking out more of the Fairy Tail members.
"Too slow," the speed demon chuckled.
Erza and Gray charged at the Grim Reaper, but were quickly blasted away by the force of his Wind Magic. "If you can't handle my gale force winds, then you're no match for my tornado!" Erigor said. To prove his point, he created a massive tornado that incapacitated both mages in an instant.
"Dan, you should come with us!" Byro suggested to his subordinate.
"I can't! Because there's something I still need to do!" Dan declared with determination. "As a knight, it's my duty, so I'm willing to put my life on the line!" He then stepped in front of the blonde mages and the blue Exceed while pointing his spear at the dark wizards. "Listen you, you're in possession of something that's not lawfully yours! You may be stronger than I am but I refuse to budge, not until it's returned to its rightful owner!" the knight declared.
"Dan," a surprised Lucy muttered.
"Who knew he could be so chivalrous?" Michelle inquired.
"Not me," Happy confessed.
"What a dimwit, doesn't he realize it's pointless?" Angel said while putting a hand to her face.
"Hey, did you hear what I just said?! Are you even listening… to me?" Dan suddenly stopped shouting as he gazed at the female mage's appearance. He then threw his weapons aside and cried out, "I FINALLY FOUND MY ROSSLYN, OH YEAH, BABY!"
"What does that mean?" the blondes and Happy questioned.
The knight then ran up to the white-haired beauty and held her hand. And what may I call you?" he asked her.
"The name's Angel, and I hate overly aggressive men," she answered simply.
"He sure falls in love fast," Michelle commented.
"Something tells me that he doesn't have a lot of experience," Happy said as he and the blondes sweatdropped.
"Lightning bolt bonus!" Jackpot announced. The giant mechanical bear pushed down his lever and Dan was immediately struck with lightning. The knight cried in pain before he fell to the ground, completely black and smoking.
"Her love makes me tingly all over," Dan muttered before he passed out.
"Um, I think that has more to do with me electrocuting you!" Jackpot corrected.
Coco and Byro just stared at their comrade's humiliation and foolishness, looking very white with their mouths open.
"We're obviously far too strong for them," Angel remarked.
"You can say that again," Cobra agreed.
"Fairy Tail is weak," Erigor murmured. "Very weak."
"We should get going now," Brain II decided. "Angel, take care of them!"
"As you wish, Brain," she complied. "The cost is thirty." She placed her hands by her chest, and her palms emanated a bright light.
"You remember her, right? She's a celestial wizard!" Happy stated.
"Yeah, I remember how I beat last time!" Lucy said as she held out her whip.
Angel then held up her hand, revealing three gold coins floating in her palm. "Amazing how thing can change in seven years. I was but a child when we fought; now, I am quite literally an angel. Surely you don't think the spirits will defy me." She raised her hand, tossing the coins into the air as they shined brighter. "I'll show you the power and beauty of my Angel Magic; the very sight of it makes people collapse to their knees, lose all heart, and give away their lives!" The coins' light shined so bright they took the glow of a star, blinding those who gazed at it. "Come forth from the light, and in my name reveal your might!" A giant white being with wings appeared bathed in white light. It had three faces, its hair flowed in the wind, and it wore a white cloth around its skinny figure. "Oh angel of victory, Barakiel, I summon thee! Protect our seal and make this their tomb!" Angel commanded. Barakiel then unleashed an immense white light that filled the entire Zentopian tomb.
At the National Council Fiore Branch, word had reached the Council's ears. Many of the employees were talking about the appearance of the Oracion Seis along with two of the council members: Chairman Gran Dom and Master Org. "The Oracion Seis, that's impossible!" one of the attendants exclaimed.
"I was under the impression that they were all incarcerated," another frog said.
"We all were!" another exclaimed.
"Tell me, is there anyone else at the sight with the Seis?" Master Org inquired.
"Actually, the Fairy Tail guild is said to be there right now," a frog answered.
Gran Doma banged his staff on the ground in irritation, making the others jump. "Not that band of troublemakers again!" he growled.
"I know they used to be trouble, sir, but from what I understand, they haven't caused a single problem since their new master took over!" a frog said, hoping to ease Gran Doma.
"Yes, that's true. But their former master Makarov has returned," Org stated, making the frogs gasp.
"I'm well aware of that," Gran Doma said. "And of course he's brought all of the old problems back with him." Master Org then chuckled at his comment. "What is it, Org? What do you find so funny?"
"I'm simply amused because this is just what I expect from them," Org replied.
"Well, it's no laughing matter!" Gran Doma reprimanded.
"Sir, the Chief Marshalls of the Custody Enforcement Unit and the Indian Knight Trio are here to see you," a frog alerted the council members.
"Good, go ahead and send them in," Org instructed.
Moments later, the full Magic Council sat in their seats in the meeting room while Lahar, Chief Tyson and his students stood before them. "Chief Marshal Lahar of the 4th Custody Enforcement Unit," Lahar greeted his superiors.
"Howdy ya'll, Chief Tyson of the 3rd Custody Enforcement Unit at yer service!" Tyson greeted. His followers bowed but remained silent.
"We've been expecting the both of you," Gran Doma said. "Now speak!"
"Yes sir, I'll start first!" Lahar responded. "I bring you important news!"
"I see, and judging from the troubled look you have, it has to do with the appearance of the Oracion Seis that showed up in the desert," Gran Doma suspected.
"Indeed, you have a truly keen eye, sir," Lahar remarked.
"So it's true?" Gran Doma inquired.
"Yes, though I'm ashamed to admit it, four members of the Oracion Seis – Midnight, Cobra, Angel, and Racer – escaped from our custody some time ago," Lahar explained. "But they weren't the only ones. Erigor from Eisenwald broke out as well, and he has since joined their ranks. It was a security breech like we've never seen. They've been replaced by dolls which I can assume were created by magic."
"First Erigor and now the six demons," Gran Doma murmured.
"Personification Magic," Org said. "But I thought casting spells was banned from within the prison walls."
"I suspect they had outside assistance," Lahar put in.
"Do you know if anyone came in contact with the Oracion Seis during their imprisonment?" Org inquired.
"There was one person in particular," Lahar answered. "A priest sent from the grand cathedral of Zentopia. I'm told he visited regularly to hear their confessions and facilitated atonement for their sins."
"Tell us more, who is this priest?" Gran Doma questioned.
"I don't know, sir. We could find no record of him," Lahar answered.
"But that's impossible! There may be no records of this priest, but there are numerous surveillance Lacrima scattered throughout the prison! Surely one of them would've picked up his image!" Gran Doma shouted.
"Apparently the prison surveillance Lacrima were recently replaced," Lahar reported. "Any that were active at the time of the visit were sent for disposal."
"We must retrieve those Lacrima! Track them down; we need to identify this man!" Gran Doma ordered.
"Perhaps we should consult with the officials of Zentopia," Org suggested.
"I'll make my way to the cathedral at once, sir," Lahar complied.
"This priest is the only lead we have right now, please do your best, Chief Marshal," Org told him.
"I will, sir," Lahar assured.
"Now, there is the matter of dealing with the Oracion Seis," Gran Doma spoke. "I believe that's why you've come here, Chief Tyson."
"Right you are, Doma!" Tyson replied, making the Council members snarl at him; although he was their subordinate, Tyson showed little respect to their authority. It was pretty clear to the Council that the Chief only did this job because he enjoyed taking out the lowly scum of Earthland. "Actually, I have a proposition ya'll want to consider."
"You have a request to make?" Org inquired. "What is it?"
"I hear that these six demon folk caused a bit of trouble in past, but they were taken down by them wizard guilds, including those fairies ya'll are so stingy about," Tyson said. "So, I reckon that the Council teams up with this Fairy Tail to stop those Oracion Seis!"
"Have you lost your mind, Chief Tyson?! You want us to ally ourselves with those despicable catastrophe casters?! The Magic Council would never stoop so low as to ask those troublemakers for help!" Gran Doma shouted. A few of the other Council members muttered in agreement to his words.
Hugo then stepped forward. "Please sir, hear us out on this one," he requested.
Gran Doma was about to deny him, but Org quickly said, "Very well, Lieutenant Hugo, please explain for us."
"Thank you, sir," Hugo said. "I know that Fairy Tail has caused countless problems for the Council in the past, but they've been quiet for about seven years till their missing members have returned. Plus, they have helped with many crises in the past, such as Eisenwald, Phantom Lord, and Jellal's Tower of Heaven. They even defeated two demons from the Book of Zeref: Lullaby and Deliora. Not to mention they took out the Oracion Seis seven years ago and another guild of the Baram Alliance, Grimoire Heart!"
"Yes, yes, so those pesky Fairies have proven to be useful despite their destructive reputation," Gran Doma said impatiently. "Get to the point!"
Hugo nodded. "I believe that since Fairy Tail has dealt with the Oracion Seis in the past, they would most likely know more about them than anyone, and if their battling them in the desert as we speak, then they might know something about what they're planning. It would be in the Council's best interest to gather all the intel we can on the six demons before facing them head on."
"Which is why teaming up with Fairy Tail is our best option," Jillian joined in. "They may be reckless ruffians, but they are strong wizards. Some are even S-Class level. They could prove useful to us again."
"You both do make excellent points, and with the Oracion Seis running loose, these are desperate time," Org admitted.
Everyone took Hugo and Jillian's words into consideration; Gran Doma was the only one not budging. "I don't like this," Gran Doma growled. "The Magic Council can barely control those delinquents, and now we have to bring ourselves to cooperate with them?!"
"Don't lose yer hat there, Doma," Tyson said as he placed his hands on his students' shoulders. "These youngins and I will be sure to keep them Fairies in their place. With our abilities, those hoodlums will be sure to remember who's in charge during our team up!"
"It's true, Gran Doma, Chief Tyson and his disciples are incredibly powerful even to a Wizard Saint, and their skills have allowed them to take down many dark guilds in the Baram Alliance in the past with little effort or resistance," Master Org stated. "If anyone can work with Fairy Tail and ensure they stay out of trouble for now, it's Chief Tyson and the Indian Knight Trio. I move that we grant his request."
All the other council members nodded in unison, agreeing with Org's confidence in Chief Tyson's reasoning; all eyes turned to Gran Doma, who was still silent. He finally scoffed and said, "Very well, you may form an alliance with Fairy Tail. But be sure to keep an eye on them and keep them under control!"
"You have my word as a knight, sir," Hugo assured. "We'll handle the situation."
"Ya'll just sit back and have yer tea, we'll take care of everything!" Tyson said before he left with his students and Lahar. As they stepped outside, they were greeted by Weinheidt. "Howdy boy, ya find yer target yet?" Tyson inquired.
"Yes sir, I know where he is," Weinheidt answered, strangely sounding disappointed. "Lahar, we should go right away; he seriously needs your help."
"Then let's not waste any time," Lahar said.
Back at the tomb…
"AAAHHH!" Barakiel cried as it was incinerated; everyone was surprised to see that they were all still alive and unharmed from Barakiel's attack. The last thing they remembered was Angel summoning the giant creature to attack them and it released this massive light show on them; then the next thing they knew, it spontaneously combusted right before their eyes. The female Oracion winced as she grasped her chest in pain. She stared in shock as ashes of her beloved Barakiel fell in the place where it recently stood. "This can't be, how could anything destroy my angels in an instant?!" she questioned. "Who could've done this?!"
"That would be me!" someone answered. All eyes were focused on the Demi Saiyan, who stood with his hand stretched out and smoking from firing the energy blast that vaporized Barakiel.
"A child?" Angel gasped. "A child was the one who destroyed an angel?!"
"I don't know who you guys are, but you're doing something wrong and you're hurting my friends!" Gohan declared. "So unless you want to end up like that angel, you'll back down now!"
"That's a bold statement there, brat," Cobra commented. "I can hear it, your anger and determination; you got some nice thoughts going on in your head there, kid."
"Nice thoughts? What does he mean by that? Is he reading my mind?" the half Saiyan wondered.
"Something like that," Cobra replied to the kid's thoughts, surprising him. "Don't worry about it, 'cause you won't be around much longer."
"Indeed, it's time we finished our business here and continued our plans," Midnight said. "Racer!"
"With pleasure," the speed demon snarled as he landed on the ground in front of Gohan. Racer growled at the Son of Goku, but he stood his ground, showing no signs of intimidation as he gazed at the fastest Oracion, only curiosity.
"He acts like an animal in hunting," Gohan thought. "Kinda reminds me of how Piccolo said I acted when my dad's space pod took control of me." Cobra raised a brow at that, not understanding that in the slightest. Gohan then crossed his arms as he waited for Racer to attack.
"Is Gohan actually gonna take on the Oracion Seis by himself?" Erza questioned.
"Looks like it," Gray answered.
"Do you think he stands a chance?" Wendy asked with concern.
"He seems pretty sure of himself," Lucy noted.
"Well, the kid defeated Laxus, so may be he knows what he's doing," Gajeel stated.
"I hope so," Michelle said.
"Come on, Gohan, show 'em what you got!" Natsu cheered.
Gohan glared at Racer, who was smirking wickedly. "Racer, huh? Judging by your name and how you took out my friends, I guess you're supposed to be pretty fast."
"Heh, that's right, kid," Racer chuckled. "You're looking at the fastest person in Earthland."
"Look, you may be faster than most of the wizards here, but in my eyes, you were moving pretty slow," Gohan said.
"Me? Moving slowly?!" Racer repeated indignantly. "Let's see how slow I am when you're lying on the ground in pain!" The speed demon zipped around the tomb as he charged at the Demi Saiyan, who still glared at him with his arms crossed. The next thing the Oracion Seis member knew, he was crouching behind the still standing Saiyan. Gohan simply glanced at Racer, clearly unimpressed.
"Is this what you call fast?" Gohan asked. "Because I saw your every move!"
"How dare you!" Racer growled before he charged at Gohan again. He rushed at the Saiyan's back, only to end up in front of him without inflicting any damage. Racer continued his assault, zooming everywhere he could to try find a blind spot to strike the Z Fighter, but no matter what he tried, he always seemed to end up missing him. "What's going on? Why can't I seem to land a single hit on this kid?!" the predator thought. Everyone watching couldn't believe what they were seeing, or not seeing: Racer was jumping and dashing everywhere, stopping in different places, but to their eyes, Gohan wasn't moving at all.
"What the heck?" Natsu said in bewilderment.
"How is Gohan doing that?" Lucy inquired.
"It's like Racer completely missing him," Happy commented.
"He's not missing," Erza spoke, confusing everyone. "Racer isn't missing, Gohan's just moving faster than any of us can see!"
"What are you talking about?" Gray questioned.
"To us, it looks like Gohan isn't moving and Racer is missing him," Erza explained. "But every time Racer attacks, Gohan's cape moves, which means that he's actually dodging him while moving too fast for any of us to see!"
"Wow!" all of the Fairies exclaimed.
Racer gritted his fangs are he glared at the Demi Saiyan. "Is that really the speed that got you to be the fastest in Earthland?" Gohan scoffed. "Because I've fought faster foes." In response, Racer roared before rushing at the Son of Goku again; he tried clawing at the spiky-haired kid, but Gohan swiftly evaded every strike. "You should just give up, 'cause you're nowhere near as fast as the people I've fought," Gohan advised his enemy. "Let me show true speed!" In that instant, the Saiyan hybrid disappeared from sight. Everyone aside from Rancor started frantically looking around for the Saiyan, but they couldn't see him; they could only hear the sounds of something knocking rocks over in the tomb.
"Where's Gohan?" Wendy wondered.
"Did he seriously just turn invisible?" Lucy inquired.
"Awesome, I wanna do that!" Natsu exclaimed. "Who knows what kind of trouble I could get into?"
"Shut up, flame brain!" Gray said. "Can't you see that this is important?!"
"Both of you, be quiet!" Erza ordered.
Racer continued to search for the half Saiyan, but found no trace of him; he shifted from left to right, like prey awaiting to be attacked by the predator in hiding. Gohan suddenly appeared in front of him and shouted, "Boo!" startling the demon; Gohan then jabbed Racer three times, sending him flying into the tomb wall, where he fell unconscious. "How's that for fast?" the Demi Saiyan questioned rhetorically.
"Whoa!" Lucy said.
"Gohan just beat Racer like he was nothing!" Gray stated.
"Incredible," Erza muttered.
"Nice one, Gohan!" Natsu cheered.
The other members of the Oracion Seis stared at their fallen comrade before glancing at the Demi Saiyan. "This can't be… Racer lost a battle of speed," Midnight commented.
"I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it," Angel said. "How did this boy do that?"
"The boy was moving at speeds faster than any of your eyes could track, which is why he appeared invisible," Rancor explained. "Then when he reappeared and startled comrade Racer, he used that moment to strike him three times, incapacitating him in an instant."
"So the kid's pretty fast, huh?" Cobra mused. "This seems like it could get interesting."
"Let's see what else this child can do," Brain II decided. "Jackpot, go!"
"Gladly, Lord Brain!" the mechanical bear said as it pushed down its lever; the three slots landed on a picture of three suns with evil smirks. "What a lucky boy you are, the first game we get to play will be a Devil's Flush!" In an instant, the Demi Saiyan was surrounded by fire; he crossed his arms, covering his face to protect himself.
"Gohan!" Wendy cried.
"We gotta help him!" Gray stated.
"Natsu, you need to eat the fire before Gohan's burned alive!" Lucy told him.
"Right!" Natsu complied.
"What's the matter, boy? Is the game to hard for you already, because we're just getting started!" Jackpot laughed.
Before Natsu could attempt to devour the flames, Gohan smirked and stretched out both his arms while letting out a mighty yell, and the Saiyan created a small kiai that instantly blew out the flames around him. He stood there smiling at his enemies without any burns on his body.
"No way," Natsu mumbled.
"He just dissipated the flames with ease," Erza stated.
"Look, his clothes aren't even singed!" Mira noted.
"Ha, ha, ha! That's the way, boy! Now it's time for some real fun!" Jackpot proclaimed while pushing down his lever again. This time, the slots landed on three lightning bolt icons. "You're really in for a treat now! It's a lightning bolt bonus!" A bolt of lightning shot down and struck the Saiyan, though when it stopped he flexed his shoulders as though he barely felt the attack. "What a hot pay off, someone who can last a while to play my games!" Jackpot cried with joy. "Well then, how about another lightning bolt bonus?!" A second lightning bolt descended onto the Saiyan, but this time, he raised his hand and deflected the lightning attack.
"That attack wasn't even close to kind of lightning Laxus threw at me when we fought!" Gohan remarked. "Let me show you a real lightning attack!" He then clapped his hands together and channeled Ki into them; his hands sparked with electricity before he focused them on Jackpot and shouted, "Thunder Shock Surprise Attack!" Numerous streams of electricity were sent flying at the mechanical bear, completely electrocuting it and putting it out of commission.
"Gohan just took out two of the Oracion Seis with ease," Happy observed.
"Just how strong is this child?!" Carla questioned.
"Stronger than he appears," Lily answered.
"I think I'll go for the guy with the scythe next," Gohan decided. Wasting no time, he then flew at the Grim Reaper, who reacted by creating a tornado attack. The Son of Goku flew through the wind attack and fired a Ki blast at the wind mage. Erigor created a magic seal to block the attack; the energy attack crashed into the seal and pushed against it. Erigor gritted his teeth as he struggled to hold up the seal, but it eventually shattered and the Ki blast exploded. Erigor was sent flying into the tomb wall, falling unconscious upon impact. "So, who's next?" Gohan asked as he glanced at the remaining demons.
"Kid's not half bad, he's already taken out half of our group," Cobra said.
"Indeed, it seems we've underestimated this child, he's clearly not as weak as we believed," Midnight agreed.
"This act of sin will not stand!" Angel announced as her hand started glowing again, but before she could do anything more, Brain II held up his hand to tell her to stop.
"Don't interfere, Angel. Cobra and I will take care of this child," Brain II decided.
"As you wish, Brain," Angel said obediently.
Cobra and Midnight then stepped down and glared at the Saiyan child. Gohan took a fighting position, taking the cautious approach. "So they decided to take me seriously," Gohan thought. "Their energies are the highest among the group aside from the Hatchiyak's. And based on what I saw them do to Fairy Tail and the Legion Platoon, they've got a lot of tricks to compensate."
"That's right, brat, and you'll get to see them real soon," Cobra said as he smirked.
"Oh yeah, I forgot he could read minds, so he can probably read what I'm about to do next," Gohan thought. "Oh well, guess I'll just have to figure out what to do!" The half Saiyan charged at the two Oracion Seis members; he disappeared and reappeared behind them, intending to kick Cobra in the head. "I'll take the snake guy out first!" he thought as he swung his leg; however, the dark mage quickly ducked his head, avoiding Gohan's attack.
"I can hear your movements, boy, remember?" Cobra snarled.
Midnight then reacted by aiming his hand at the Saiyan and shouting, "Dark Rondo!" firing a magic attack that blew Gohan backward, but he quickly regained his posture and landed on his feet.
"So this Cobra can even pick out the moves I plan to use from my mind as well," Gohan pondered. "He's faster than I thought, as is his friend, so let's kick it up a notch!" Gohan's body suddenly sparked before he disappeared again.
"Stupid brat, I told you that I can hear your movements as you make them!" Cobra stated as he prepared to defend himself. "You plan to hit me with a straight pun-" He was interrupted when the Z Fighter socked him in his right cheek, sending him flying. "What the, what just happened?" he asked as he slowly got up. "I heard your movements, so how'd you still get me?"
"You may be able to read my mind, but I can move much faster than you, so all I had to do was slightly increase my speed," Gohan explained. "Your body can't react to my movements fast enough while you're picking them out from my mind!" Gohan then sensed something coming at him from behind him; he jumped into the air as Midnight's magic attack came flying at him. He then fired an energy blast at the feminine-looking mage, but was surprised when a magic circle appeared in front of him and his own attack came flying right back at him. Gohan crossed his arms, blocking the attack when it made contact with him. "Whoa, how he do that? He sent my attack back at me!"
"Gohan, be careful!" Erza warned him. "Midnight's magic allows him to reflect any attack that thrown at him!"
"So, this guy can reflect attacks. Add that to the other one's ability to read minds and they're a pretty good tag-team," Gohan mused. "Too bad they came against the wrong opponent!" Gohan then charged at Brain II with his right fist ready; he swung hard, thinking he would land a blow on his target, but his attack passed right through Midnight before he disappeared from Gohan's sight. "What the? Where'd he go?!" Gohan questioned as he looked around. He then looked up where he saw Midnight levitating with his hand aimed at him.
"It's over, Dark Capriccio!" Midnight shouted as numerous beams of dark magic came at the Saiyan. They all made impact, creating an explosion that covered the half-breed completely.
"Gohan!" the Fairies cried. They couldn't see him through the smoke, but then the Saiyan flew out of the dust wall, revealing himself to have been protected by a blue energy shield.
"You'll have to do better than that!" Gohan declared before he noticed Midnight's smirk. He then looked behind him and saw Cobra with his arms crossed. The dark mage swung his arms, now sporting crimson scales, at the Demi Saiyan, creating multiple crescent-shaped blades that were raining down on him. Gohan evaded most of them but one managed to graze his arm; since it didn't damage him at all, he took no notice of it. "These guys aren't bad, I'm actually having to sweat a little," he murmured.
"Give up, child, you're outmatched!" Brain II told him.
"No thanks, not when I'm about to end this fight!" Gohan responded, confusing everyone. Cobra and Midnight charged at the Saiyan to hit him with a double strike. Gohan stood still, only flickering as he made no attempt to move, and the dark mages' attacks suddenly passed right through the half Saiyan, which caught them by surprise before he disappeared. The two looked around until they saw the Demi Saiyan standing somewhere else. Gohan then smiled before he flicked again and split into ten different Gohans.
"Whoa, so many Gohans!" Happy exclaimed.
"How is he doing this?" Lucy wondered.
"Quit playing around with us!" Cobra ordered. "You may be able to cast many fakes, but I can still hear the thoughts of the real you!" Cobra then looked at his feminine-looking comrade and shouted, "Brain, he's behind you!" Gohan prepared to strike Brain II, but just as before, the blow passed through the mage before he disappeared. Midnight appeared behind him and tried to attack him with his magic; he was stunned when the Saiyan turned to face him and used his hand to release a kiai that blew Midnight into the side of the tomb.
"Your tricks won't work on me, I can still sense your life force!" Gohan said before facing Cobra. "Now there's just one more!" He then dashed at the dark wizard. Cobra quickly put up a wall of red poison to protect himself; Gohan's fist collided with the shield and he started to push through it. He eventually broke through the poison barrier and flew upward to hit Cobra, who took a deep breath.
"Poison Dragon Roar!" Cobra cried as he released a stream of venom at the Saiyan. Gohan flew right into the breath attack, powering through it, and socked the Poison Dragon Slayer in the right cheek, sending him into the ground where he fell unconscious. Gohan then landed on the ground and dusted himself off while his guildmates stared at him in awe.
"Did Gohan just…" Natsu started.
"Take out most of the Oracion Seis?!"Gray finished.
"He did, and with little effort!" Erza said.
"Incredible," Lucy commented.
"Awesome!" Romeo shouted.
"Wow! Gohan's amazing!" Wendy exclaimed.
"It seems that this child has bested our comrades," Angel stated as she looked at the red robot. "I didn't think he'd have to force us to resort to having you fight for us." The Son of Goku then looked toward Rancor, who was staring at him with his arms crossed. "He's going to be expecting you to face him now, so why don't you give the boy what he desires?"
Rancor's eyes glowed as he replied, "Gladly," and he descended to the ground to face the half Saiyan. Gohan glared at the fighting machine, who cracked its neck. "I must admit, I am truly surprised to see you here," Rancor spoke to him. "I didn't think I would encounter a Saiyan any time soon, especially one of the Saiyans that tried to kill me not too long ago."
"Well, you tried to kill me and my friends, Hatchiyak!" Gohan replied. "And I didn't think I'd see you again, either!"
"Well, here we are, and you're still as hardheaded as the rest of your kind," the machine said. "My name is now Rancor, to stand for the grudge I hold against you, your allies, and your people!"
"Still holding onto the past, huh?" Gohan teased. "What makes you think this grudge you have will help win this time?"
"Because this time, it's not just the grudge of your father's enemies or Raichi's fueling me," Rancor answered. "My grudge is against you and your allies for stopping me from completing my purpose, to avenge my people by eradicating the remaining Saiyans!"
"We stopped you from killing all the innocent people with that Destron Gas your creator released just to get us, Tufflebot!" Gohan shot back.
"That doesn't matter now, does it?" Rancor countered. "What matters is ending this war between the Saiyans and the Tuffles once and for all!"
Everyone watched as the exchange of words between the Demi Saiyan and the Hatchiyak went on. "Why is Gohan talking to that giant?" Natsu inquired. "Do they know each other?"
"It would appear that the Neo Oracion Seis is not just composed of our enemies, but an enemy of Gohan's as well," Erza deduced.
"He said they've fought before, trying to end the war between… the Sayings and the…?" Lucy started to say.
"I think he said Truffles!" Natsu said.
"Truffles sound tasty!" Happy added.
"Pretty sure you morons got that name wrong!" Gray berated them.
"I would like to try some Truffles!" Michelle said.
"I'm pretty sure he said Tuffles," Wendy corrected.
"What's a Tuffle?" Romeo wondered.
"It seems to me our new member has a lot to tell us when we get out of here," Carla said.
Rancor lowered his arms and asked, "Are you ready, Saiyan?" Instead of answering him, Gohan disappeared from his sight and sped all over the tomb; he grabbed every Fairy Tail member, Michelle, Lyon, Lord Byro, Coco, and Dan and moved them all to a safe distance inside the tomb.
"Whoa! How'd we all get here?!" Natsu questioned.
"I moved you guys," Gohan answered. "Stay here and you'll all be safe. Rancor won't care if you're caught in our crossfire."
"Gohan, do you know that thing?" Wendy asked.
Gohan nodded. "I have some unfinished business with him." He then took off his cape and tossed it to the side.
"Are you actually gonna fight that thing?!" Romeo asked.
"I have to, no one else but me stands a chance," Gohan said. He then saw the worried looks on the faces of his guildmates and gave them the Son family grin. "Don't worry about me, guys, I've got this. Just sit back and enjoy the show. And Natsu, looks like you'll get what you wished for."
"What's that?" Natsu inquired.
"You'll get to see me fight at full strength!" Gohan replied as he gave a thumbs up. He then flew back to where he left the Hatchiyak. He quickly flexed his shoulders before taking his demon style fighting stance. He glared at the Tuffle war machine for some time before raising an eyebrow at the smirk from the machine.
"You probably don't care for this, but I'm glad that you're here, Saiyan," Rancor admitted.
"You are?" Gohan questioned.
"Yes, it's boring wasting my powers on helpless wizards," Rancor explained. "Finally I get to use my full strength against a true fighter who is also a Saiyan, which makes the pleasure of killing you so much greater. So yes, I'm glad you're here."
"Well, the feeling's not mutual!" Gohan shouted. "You're just doing the same thing you did in the past! Hurting the innocent just to satisfy your grudge, but I'm gonna stop you this time!"
"Well then, what are you waiting for, Saiyan?!" Rancor asked. "Show me what you got!"
"Alright, here I come!" Gohan yelled. He stomped on the ground before charging at the Tufflebot; he threw a punch at it but his attack was countered by Rancor's forearm. The force from their collision created a small earthquake in the tomb. Rancor countered by throwing his own fist that Gohan dodged and the two fighters began trading punches and kicks. With every blow they threw, mini shockwaves were sent throughout the tomb. Gohan managed to get the first hit by punching Rancor in the face, but the Hatchiyak retaliated by hand chopping the half Saiyan.
Gohan then backflipped away and bounced off the rock wall; he flew at the war machine's head, kicking it hard. The Hatchiyak tried to punch the Saiyan but he grabbed the giant's fist and threw it before firing a Ki blast that knocked Rancor into the tomb wall. Gohan then stood in front of the rock pile that the red robot was buried in. The Hatchiyak suddenly burst out of the pile of rocks and threw his right fist at the Demi Saiyan. Gohan crossed his arms to block it, but was instantly socked in the face afterward by Rancor's left fist. Gohan winced, allowing the Tufflebot to hit him with multiple punches before knocking him into his own pile of rocks.
After a few minutes, the rocks began levitating, revealing the Saiyan emitting a white aura. Gohan then thrust his hand at the red robot, commanding the boulders to fly at his opponent, but Rancor simply released an energy wave that shattered the stones, and the two fighters resumed their battle. Hatchiyak tried to punch the Z Fighter but he ducked under the blow, jumped up, and kicked Rancor in the chin. The Hatchiyak backflipped and quickly elbow bashed the Son of Goku. Gohan quickly recovered from the blow and flew downward; he landed on the ground and fired a yellow beam of energy at the Tufflebot. "What a fool!" Rancor shouted as he prepared to block the attack. Suddenly, Gohan appeared at his right and came at it with his right foot out. Rancor held up his arm and blocked Gohan's kick, but the young Saiyan quickly jumped away and fired another energy blast at his enemy.
The two blasts collided with Rancor, consuming him in a large explosion. Gohan hovered above the smoke as he waited for his foe to reappear. He then looked up when he sensed something coming at him, which was Rancor descending on Gohan with his hands clamped together. He banged Gohan on the head, sending him plummeting to the ground. Gohan landed on all fours and rubbed his head. The Hatchiyak landed back on the ground as the Saiyan child stood back up. The two then disappeared and engaged in a speed combat. They bashed into each other as they flew through the air faster than anyone watching could see. Rancor threw a punch at Gohan but he deflected it and socked him in his right cheek. Rancor hesitated, giving Gohan the opportunity to hit it with an energy blast. The war machine was sent hurling to the tomb floor, where it was struck by another energy blast from Gohan. "Take this,Gekiretsu Madan!" Gohan cried as he fired numerous energy blasts at the Tufflebot. All the Fairies watch in astonishment as Gohan unleashed such firepower onto his enemy.
"What is this power?!" Erza questioned. "It's not like anything I've ever seen!"
"Man, and I thought Natsu was destructive, but this kind is relentless!" Gray remarked.
"That's some serious firepower Gohan's got!" Natsu stated.
"Aye!" Happy agreed.
"It's a little scary," Wendy confessed.
Gohan then held his hands over his head and created a Ki blast in between them. He held the blast above him for some time, putting more power into it before condensing it into energy ball. "Masendan…ha!" he shouted as he tossed the energy grenade at the spot where the Hatchiyak was last seen; it made contact and created a giant red explosion that blinded the wizards. When it passed, they saw Rancor lying flat on his face in the dirt. Gohan raised an eyebrow at this before the Hatchiyak suddenly stood up and launched two rocket fists at him "That's a new one!" Gohan commented as he dodged the fists. The fists swerved around and flew at Gohan again; the fists then separated and each one came at Gohan's left and right sides. The Son of Goku stretched out his hands and caught both fists. "Come on, is that the best you can do?!" Gohan challenged the war machine.
"No," Rancor replied as he appeared right in Gohan's face. His arms were shaped like cannons and started glowing with energy. Gohan's eyes widened as Rancor fired a point-blank energy blast at him. The Demi Saiyan was sent flying into through the air into the ceiling. When the smoke cleared, the Saiyan could be seen stuck to the rocky surface. Gohan glared at the Tufflebot before busting himself free. The two charged at each other again and continued their battle. The whole tomb shook from the force their duel was creating; eventually the two fighters fist bumped, creating a crater underneath their feet. They then backed away from each other, neither one showing any sign of damage or fatigue.
"Unbelievable," Gajeel breathed.
"I can see why Gohan wasn't afraid to take on Laxus," Levy mused.
"Heck yeah! Kid's like a stronger mini version of Natsu!" Cana commented.
"I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it," Juvia admitted.
"This boy's abilities are beyond even a Wizard Saint," Lyon noted. "Is Trunks on the same level as them?" he wondered.
"So this is the power of Ki," Erza said.
"It doesn't even look like either of them are short of breath," Gray observed.
"Kinda like that was just their version of a warm-up," Natsu agreed.
"Oh man, I haven't felt this nervous since I saw Natsu and Gajeel's fight," Lucy said.
"I wonder if Gohan can win this," Michelle muttered emotionlessly.
"Of course he can!" Happy said. "I hope…"
"Come on, Gohan, take that thing down!" Romeo cheered.
The Legion Platoon was just as surprised as Fairy Tail. "Lord Byro, could this be real? Do these guys really have this kind of power?" Dan asked.
"I'm beginning to ask that question myself," Byro responded. "I knew that this boy was powerful, but I didn't think he was capable of this! If he had this power the entire time, that means he could have used it to wipe the Legion Platoon out with little effort. And yet he didn't, why?"
"It's because he didn't want to," Coco answered. "He doesn't use his abilities to oppress the innocent or weak just to complete some mission. He fights to protect others; even now, he follows his own path of righteousness."
Rancor cracked his neck before saying to Gohan, "Impressive, Saiyan. You possess great skill in combat like your ancestral race. Which makes me want to kill you even more." His eyes glowed green as he took a fighting position. "Yes, I can feel it! The war between the Tuffles and the Saiyans will finally end! I will avenge my people! I hope you enjoy this fight, Saiyan child, 'cause it will be your last one!"
"I don't care about the war between our people!" Gohan proclaimed. "I'm going to stop you from helping the Neo Oracion Seis from destroying this world; you can count on it!"
"We'll see about that," Rancor said.
"I have to say I'm amazed," Angel admitted as her comrades regained consciousness. "The power these two wield is truly spectacular."
"Look at that, folks, this fight's sure to be one of the greatest in Earthland history and we get to see it front row seat! What a payoff!" Jackpot laughed.
"I can hear their anxiety," Cobra said. "They're ready to get serious. The real fight's about to start."
The Infinity Clock rang, catching the demon's attention. "Although I would prefer that we left immediately so that we can continue our mission, I can't go without knowing the outcome of this fight," Midnight decided. "Besides, I'd like to see the true strength that comes from Rancor's grudge, so we'll stay to watch for now."
"Why don't you transform, Saiyan, so we can get to the real fight?" Rancor requested.
"Be careful what you wish for, Tufflebot," Gohan warned. "I've improved beyond the child you fought in the past; you might not last very long."
"How sad. It's just like a Saiyan to boast about their power with such pride," Rancor sighed. "If you wish to destroy me, child, then you'd better come at me with everything you've got!"
"Fine, then I'll grant your wish!" Gohan shouted. His vision started getting a little blurry, but he shook his head and glared at the Hatchiyak. "Alright! You wanted the Super Saiyan, well here he comes!" Gohan crossed his arms before releasing a fiery gold aura. His muscles expanded slightly and his hair went from black to gold. He then lowered his arms and smirked at Dr. Raichi's creation. "Are you ready?"
A/N: Done! Now to move onto the next chapter! Even I can't wait for it to come out, and this is my fanfiction! I'm grateful for the reviews, but I'm sorry to say that I've read some of them rather late since I didn't get internet for some time. So, some of you might or might not see something you asked about, but you just gotta roll with and keep reading. Gotta go, I still have more chapters to write for this story and the others I have! Until then, TTFN AntiHero out!