Chapter 78:

"You know I so love deals"

"I know," Natsu all but spat at him and he could feel everyone behind him tense. But something wasn't right. Why propose a deal now. There was something more at stake. Some parts of the story he was not aware of because the Supreme would not propose a deal now. And the fact that that is exactly what he is doing made all the kinds of alarm bells in his head go off. Could it have something to do with the fact he punched a hole through their wall? It didn't seem particularly significant then but now… it made sense actually. It made a frightening amount of sense and Natsu was not sure what to make of it. "What kind of a deal?"

"You can't be serious!" Laxus demanded, stepping forward and he would've reached Natsu if Acnologia hadn't caught his collar. "Sit," the dragon king spoke as if he was talking to a stupid child, "That guy has a key we very much need so let the grownups talk"

"What?"

"I believe he is saying that the only way to leave is if that thing lets us," Jellal explained nodding towards Ankseram. Natsu almost throttled them where they stood as Ankhseram's attention shifted towards them. The god was unpredictable, to begin with, annoying him was something only Acnologia and himself could do relatively safely. If it came to fight Natsu was certain he and Acnologia could take him down but the rest would surely be caught in the crossfire and it would also mean the rest of the underworld gods would come and against those odds Natsu would go only with the whole dragon council behind him. Which would mean the start of a war and quite possibly Ragnarok. Not a good idea. Natsu wondered what could the god even ask in return for the 'key' as Acnologia explained it. Every option that crossed Natsu's mind did not seem particularly appealing and some were downright frightening. Not to mention that Ankhseram could read his mind, and the mind of every mage behind him as clearly as if they spoke their thoughts out loud. Acnologia was likely shielded from it, being a dragon and all that. But that was only one fighter on their side and they were ridiculously outnumbered. The fact that everyone was still alive was beyond a miracle. Adding to that that they just might make it out… well, it was a story for far more than the history books. Part of him wondered when will Ankhseram laugh in their face and the rest of the gods will swoop down and blast them into oblivion. The fact that they have not done that yet was actually more worrying than anything because it meant that this deal, whatever it was, was hardly in their favor.

"The deal?"

"Impatient, are we?", Ankhseram all but laughed in Natsu's face and Natsu snarled in return. The bastard knew exactly what was going through his head without a doubt and he was purposely stalling. Part of Natsu entertained the idea of punching a hole through the Gate the same way he punched the hole through the Circles. Ankhseram seemed to shift slightly and Natsu blinked, unsure if he imagined it. "Well then, here's the thing. You know well enough that you can't kill demons here which basically means that no matter how much you try you'll always be outnumbered. That's not even counting the gods and you have the luck of being fairly entertaining that we considered other… options rather than your termination. That being said, killing Acnologia would bring more trouble than he is worth, frankly, and that means I would much prefer you out of here because I'm fairly certain that despite his complete lack of regard for the safety of those mortals he wouldn't be here if he hadn't planned on getting out with you in tow. On the other hand, I would be more than capable of letting the two of you out and keeping the rest but I somehow doubt you would be willing to leave it at that. So, you see we have reached an impasse. I cannot just let you walk away and keeping you here is becoming a headache"

"So… what?", Mira finally asked, "Why can't you just let us leave?"

"It's a matter of pride, really. He can't just let us leave because it would prove that it is possible and fairly painless. I mean, we are all in one piece and we actually managed to do what we came here to do," Acnologia stated, staring at Anksheram who looked back, "I understand his position, unfortunately, but don't try to appeal to his better nature, girl. There isn't one. What I would like to know is what do you want then?"

"Well as I said, I want you gone and you want the key. It might seem very straightforward to some of you with lesser intelligence but the Dragon King is right in the regard that letting you go without some sort of payment is out of the question. For all, I care I could simply lock you here and wait for the mortals to starve and then give the key to the Dragon King and Souleater but again, it would be more trouble than it is worth. On the other hand, we – and I mean we as in the gods – are in short supply of servants -"

"Out of the question," Natsu hissed. He will not allow his idiot family to pay the price for his life, not a price like this. He will not let them be turned into the demons. If that was the only option than they could leave him here. "They will not be used as your pets"

He could feel them all tense up behind him and the mere thought of any of them turned into what he was made him sick.

"You don't really have much choice. Even if they left you here, I would not let them leave without some sort of compensation for the damage they caused. And besides, how bad would it really be. I would even let them live out their lives before they came here"

"It… it can't be that bad… right?", Erza bit her lower lip, eyes catching Natsu's and the dead dragon shook his head sharply, glaring with such intensity it made her flinch. He couldn't believe that she would even suggest it. "It's worse"

Ankhseram rolled his eyes and Natsu barely stopped himself from jumping on him, clawing and biting. "You're dramatizing. And besides, you didn't let me finish," he waved his hand through the air, a golden scroll spread between his fingers and rolled down to the floor. "A contract," Ankhseram explained, gesturing to the blank line at the end. "All I'm asking for is one soul"

That didn't sound right. It sounded far too simple and far too fair. More than a dozen entered Hell and they would let them all leave with only one soul bound to return. Two actually if Natsu returned here which now that he thought about was not a hundred percent certain. If he returned as a dragon and lived long enough for his soul to accommodate would he go to the stars when he died? There were too many ifs in that situation and it was hardly the right time to think about it.

"That seems fair, doesn't it?", Jellal muttered but Natsu caught it and he could feel the rising pressure in the air, he could feel the way everyone was starting to panic and he could not blame them. Not really when there was definitely something that they were missing. Natsu looked back at Ankhseram who was smiling if the way his eyes were turned to slits was any identification and his red eyes moved to the contract in his hand. It was a long thing written in tiny condensed letters but if he learned anything it was to read the smallest of prints before anything. "We can read that, right?"

"You have so little trust in me," Ankhseram spoke, sounding as if that actually hurt his feelings but the smile did not disappear as he snapped the contract and the scroll rolled up. He extended his hand, letting Natsu hold it and Natsu took it carefully, half expecting the golden paper to jump and bite him or do something equally nasty. The dragon prince took it and slowly opened the rolled paper, one eye on Ankhseram. The scroll fell to the ground with a thud and Natsu's eyes fell on the first line of the text.

Written in a language he could not understand.

"Is this your idea of a joke?", he hissed, hand clenching and the paper crumpled. Ankhseram didn't seem fazed by the glare or the anger. "Yes," he easily agreed and when Natsu continued to glare he rolled his eyes. "You can't seriously think I would make it that easy. Where is your sense of adventure?"

Let them suffer the greatest gift of Ankhseram, that which all humans look for. Let them be immortal, hated and despised and forever walking on the line between Life and Death. Let them house Chaos that will kill everything around them. I will make sure that each and every one of them ends up here, corrupted by one and –

Natsu stumbled back, staring at Ankhseram who was still smiling as if nothing was wrong. What was that? Did he imagine it? No, he couldn't have. He felt it. He could still feel it. As if touching something ancient, evil and incomprehensible yet disturbingly familiar and similar. Ankhseram was now frowning, staring at Natsu as if the dragon prince has grown a second head.

I cannot… his thoughts are clouded, barely there. And fleeting. Just feelings and impressions. How is that possible?

Natsu would very much like to know because he was fairly certain he was reading Ankhseram's mind. And if that was the case the contract was far more binding and powerful than the one that bound regular demons.

"Natsu," Acnologia spoke, his voice sharp and in that moment, he sounded so much like Acnologia who raised him that Natsu immediately stood straighter, turning to look at him and it was in that moment he realized how much energy he was leaking. And the whispers. It was so loud. What was going on?! He snapped his curse back, pulling every ounce of it underneath his skin and as if he closed the doors to a noisy room the sounds disappeared. Natsu looked back at Ankhseram and the god looked intrigued but it appeared he didn't realize what had happened. And Natsu hoped it would stay that way. He looked down at the contract. Chaos, it would imprint someone with Chaos energy in a way Natsu was uncertain of. But it was still Chaos and he could control it.

"I take it you want one of us to sign it?"

"Yes, one of the brats. They don't have to write their names, just a drop of blood is enough"

"Acnologia, after they turned me into a demon, I found out my control over Chaos increased. I dare say it's perfect"

Acnologia turned to look at Natsu and Ankhseram's eyes narrowed before they widened but it was too late. Natsu bit down on his thumb and smeared the blood across the golden paper. Acnologia's own eyes widened as the contract shined and in a brilliant explosion of fire and smoke disappeared. Ankhseram stared at the falling ash and burning remains of the made contract, wide eyes turning to Natsu who looked back and the dragon prince could feel the way his curse shifted, acknowledging the contract and the foreign energy.

"Do you have any idea what you have done?!", Ankhseram suddenly screamed, moving towards Natsu who bared his teeth. "Of course, I do! I just signed a contract to live a life until the end of times while your energy would corrupt everything around me"

"What?!", Acnologia hissed, eyes moving towards Natsu with a look of dread and Ankhseram all but froze, "How did you know that?"

Natsu shrugged, "Lucky guess. I guess I should inform you that, me being what I am, I will only be very hard to kill. Now give us the key"

"What is he talking about?!", Gajeel demanded, feeling as if he missed an important part of the conversation even though he was standing in the same room.

Ankhseram looked livid. And the sight was quite terrifying. He raised his hand and a ball of pure black energy formed in his palm. Natsu's eyes widened and Acnologia cursed. "Move!"

The ball exploded from his palm with the force that would put Etherion cannon to shame and it ripped right through the cavern's wall. The mages threw themselves to the side, barely missing the blast that almost lifted them from their place as it passed above them. "You dare to mock me, Souleater!"

Ankhseram was not the only one who was angry. Natsu jumped from the shadows, rushing at Ankhseram with all the speed he could muster and the god moved out of the way of the first kick, catching the arm that came swinging at his head only to release it quickly when the Chaos energy came racing down the length of it like acid. Acnologia was behind him, the dragon kind already with a spell ready as he slammed his open palm into Ankhseram's back. The god cursed as Acnologia's hand went straight through his chest but he did not seem particularly fazed, twirling around and moving away from Natsu's tail that almost cleaved him in half. The mages could only stand on the sideline, the speed at which they were moving far too great for them to follow. Even the Gatekeeper looked lost, unsure what to do other than watch as the cavern around them was slowly turning to ruin.

"I thought you were supposed to hold your end of the bargain!", Natsu yelled, wings outstretched as he moved through the air and out of the way of what looked like flying needles, several caught his wings, the membrane shredding in seconds and Natsu cursed, tucking his wings against his side as he plummeted back to the ground.

"You were not supposed to be the one to sign it!"

"You never said that!"

"How did you know what was inside?"

"Fuck off and give me the fucking key"

A twirl, a twist, and a dodge before the energy exploded around them again and Acnologia and Natsu stepped back, both scratched and bloody while Ankhseram looked the same. It was hard to tell anything when there was no color on him but only darkness and swirling shadows. Natsu spat on the ground, ichor living his mouth and he glared at Ankhseram, certain that the god took far more hits than either of them and yet barely showed it. The problem was that they were in his domain. In his dimension. All the power of this place was at his disposal and Natsu was loath to admit it but he had not considered it.

Ankhseram looked about ready to spit fire and Natsu wondered if he actually could do it. Whatever he could or not he will not find out anytime soon because the space around them suddenly shifted and as one the rest of the Supreme appeared around them.

Hades stepped forward, his cloak, always so alive suddenly twisted and spread, the thick black thing turning outwards and towards them, reaching Lucy first and the girl shrieked in horror, barely able to cast a desperate look at her companions before the darkness sucked her inside and she was gone. Erza screamed, furious and angry and rushed towards it, headless of warning cried towards her and she reached towards Lucy's hand, still outside and as quickly as she touched it she disappeared with her. A raven landed on Natsu's shoulder and he froze for a brief moment before he blasted it away, eyes moving to the sudden increase of noise around them and as one the ravens, as numerous as bees in a hive swopped down, slamming into Gray's shield and braking it on contact, the ice mage disappearing without trace as the ravens spread and Natsu looked around wildly, hardly believing what was happening. The Supreme were standing in front of the doors, unmoving and with expressions of stoic indifference as one by one the mages disappeared. Ankhseram disappeared, the god was nowhere to be seen and as Natsu turned around wildly, looking for Acnologia all he saw more chaos. Blue fire spread over the ground like lava and before Natsu could warn them the flames swallowed Ultear that was fighting back the ravens with Mira, Arthur and Annie stood behind the white-haired woman, pushing forward and towards him and Natsu cursed, rushing towards them even though he knew it was too late as the shadows rose again like a tide and the kids were gone with barely a sound. Mira screamed, anger and fury in her eyes and she turned to him, tears streaking down her face and desperation in her voice as she called his name before she too, was gone.

Natsu stopped running, dropping to his knees with a harsh sound he recognized as a sob, Acnologia suddenly stood in front of him and he realized that it was only the two of them, the wall of fire and shadows separating them from the gods that he wanted nothing more than to rip apart.

"I'm sorry," Natsu whispered and Acnologia shrugged, "I hardly consider you responsible. If anything, I'm damn proud you managed to trick the bastard"

A wet laugh escaped Natsu's lips as Acnologia disappeared in the swirling shadows and a moment later even he was swallowed by darkness.

The shadows and fire and birds disappeared as if they have never been here, the eight gods turning towards the ninth that sat behind them with an expression of utter fury on all of their faces.

"I can't believe you have been so stupid!", Hades hissed, moving towards Ankhseram. The other god growled, "You can't honestly say that it would've been better if he got away with it!"

"'Tis unacceptable, what you did," Morrigan stated, crossing her arms and glaring at Ankhseram. "We have to honor our deals. I actually thought you would be capable of outsmarting a bunch of mortals but even though you miserably failed in that department you still should've let them leave"

"It wasn't the bloody mortals! Souleater did something! He's far more dangerous than any of us anticipated. Whatever Zeref did turned his Curse into something far more powerful than it was when we created him"

"Well," Anubis snarled, "Now we have no way of finding that out. Good job"

End of chapter 78.

Damn, I'm horrible. First leaving you so long without an update and now doing this… Well, I'm not going to say too much about any of this in order to avoid any possible spoilers. I do apologize for the long wait but I hope I'll get to update sooner. As it turns out Collage actually takes a lot of your time so I won't promise anything. And as usual, sorry for any and all mistakes there are in this and sorry for the shortness of the chapter. I wanted to give you guys something. Hope you enjoyed it.

That being said, please review and thanks for reading :)