Chapter 25

Throwing one of the enemies against a tree, Gajeel eventually grunts.

"Lily! These guys must have a leader! Try to find him!"

Slicing another enemy with his sword, the Exceed asserted.

"I don't mind, but before that…!"

Sniffing the air, he thought he detected a strange smell.

"There is a funny smell around us! It does not mean anything good to me!"

"Poison!" Say Gajeel! " These guys have to be just a diversion so that we don't notice anything! Alright, then look for this guy and beat him! Without me, you will be discreet enough so that he does not notice you! "

Transforming immediately, Lily took her small size, and flew straight into the forest hoping to find the chief of the enemies there. Reflecting, meanwhile, Gajeel could only pester when he remarked.

"Wendy could easily have eliminated this poison! Unfortunately, we will have to manage alone in front of…! "

A strong gale suddenly swept across his face.

" That … ? " He wondered, looking up to see a large silhouette in the sky, resembling a skate.

" It's the boss! " Mine suddenly rejoices, seeing Najenda on the creature's back.

" His entry is too cool ! " Cried Tatsumi.

" I don't see what's cool! " Confessed Gajeel, walking towards them.

Suddenly, seeing a silhouette fuse towards Mine, he exclaimed.

" Be careful, shrimpy ! "

" Hein? " Wondered Mine.

" And two! " Sneered Troma, pointing his dagger at her.

Suddenly grabbing his throat, before Natsu or Tatsumi could intervene, Troma was stopped dead in his tracks, while Leone said.

" I like to make surprise attacks! But not be the victim! "

" Impossible ! How can you still be alive? "

" You are too underestimated Night Raid! " Assured Leone, beating him with all his strength against the ground.

Unable to cry out in agony, the man died instantly, much to Leone's contentment.

" A good thing done! "

" Leone! " Cried Tatsumi! " Are you OK ? "

" Huh ? Yes, of course ! It is not this amateur who will give me a hard time! "

" Hey guys ! " Cried Lubbock, running towards them, followed by Akame and Spear.

" Lubbock, you ...! "

Tatsumi was silent at this moment when a new group of enemies appeared.

" How many are there? "

" No idea ! But, given their organization, their leader must operate in the shadows, not far from here! " Said Gajeel.

" In this case, I will quickly find him! " Assured Natsu! " Happy, here we go! "

" Aye! " Said the latter, catching him.

However, as soon as he made his wings appear, they disappeared suddenly, before the cat fell to the ground.

" Happy? " Natsu wondered.

Suddenly, kneeling on the ground, he felt his strength give up, as did the rest of the team.

" What ... What is happening to me? "

" I .. can't longer get up! " Spear said.

" Some gas ? " Wondered Mine.

"The poison Lily felt earlier!" Understood Gajeel.

" We're holding them! " Sneered a person, rushing at them.

Nevertheless, taking Tatsumi's fist in the face, he was ejected against one of his comrades, while the boy roared.

" If you think you can kill my friends, you can always dream! "

" What's wrong with him? Why does it not fall apart? "

" His armor must protect him! "

" Interesting! " Stylish remarked, looking at the scene from where he was! " Incursio can allow its owner to be protected from my poison! "

" Do you think our comrades will be able to put him out of action? " Asked Mimi.

" Hum, I have no real idea! " Confessed the doctor! " We have the number and he has the strength! Mostly … ! "

Looking up to see the flying ray hovering not far from the base, he grumbled.

" If this woman is here, I doubt she will remain inactive! "

Suddenly sensing a presence, his three minions pushed him back, just in time for a sword to miss him a few inches.

" Damn ! " Growled Lily, while he was in his warlike form.

" Huh ? " Astonished Stylish! " A teigu? "

" I am a exceed! " Retorted Lily, pointing her sword at him! " See you on the spot… Stylish, member of the Jaegers! "

" Oh ? Do you know me ? I'm flattered! "

" Tatsumi gave us a nice description of you! " Assured Lily.

" Tatsumi? In this case, my intuition was good! He's just a traitor! But I wonder where he can be right now! "

" It has no importance ! " Assured Lily, warning herself! " You have three seconds to quickly recall your minions and let yourself be captured ! "

" Motherfucker ! " Roared Hana and Me, rushing at him! " Who do you think you are? "

Seeing them charge while lowering their fists towards him, Lily sent a powerful kick in the face of Hana, which partially destroys the latter, before cutting off the Me's chest. Screaming in pain, Me put his knee to ground, while holding his abdomen wound, which was starting to bleed. Crushing, when for him, against the trunk of a tree, Hana began to moan, while holding her broken nose.

" Ah, bastard! You will pay me that! "

Stepping back then, Stylish saw Lily advancing towards him, while asking him.

" Do you have nothing better to offer me? "

Perceiving Mimi prefer to move away from him rather than attack him, the exceed quickly understood that nothing can prevent him from attacking Stylish.

" Wait, wait! " Cried the doctor ! " I admit that I didn't quite understand what you were! However, wouldn't you like to work alongside me? With my powers, I would be able to make you an invincible creature! "

" I don't need you to improve me ! " Lily retorted, still advancing towards him.

" Don't believe me defenseless! " Declared Stylish! " Don't forget I still have minions holding your friends downstairs! Do me the slightest harm, and they will all be ki ...! "

He then fell silent, hearing a huge shock noise. Leaving the flying skate, one of its occupants crashed into one of Stylish's henchmen, and killed him that way.

" WHAT ? "

" Who's that person ? " Wanted to know Happy, seeing a man with horns on his head descend from the sky to face the enemies.

" Susanoo! " Cried Narenda! " Take care of them! "

" Yes mistress ! " Assured the man, positioning his club in front of him.

" Load! " Yelled one of the enemies, rushing towards him.

Three seconds. In the space of three simple seconds, Susanoo decimated several guys, with a simple movement of his club; made a powerful elbow from behind, in order to kill someone trying to attack him from behind; and ends up crushing his club on the head of another enemy before thrusting it into the ground, exploding his brain.

" A ... Amazing ! " Cried Tatsumi, seeing him do it without problem.

" It's… What is that? " wanted to know Stylish.

" If he didn't attack your men, I would have asked you the same question! " Lily admitted, turning to see Susanoo knocking all her enemies to the ground.

Taking advantage of this gesture, Stylish put his hand in his jacket to fire a detonator.

" Say goodbye to your friends! " He sneered, pressing on it.

" That … ? "

Exploding at that moment, the bodies of Stylish's former henchmen smoked as Susanoo found herself in the middle of the explosions. And with the presence of the poison in the air, the explosion had no trouble intensifying, encompassing the rest of the members of Night Raid, and making them disappear in a torrent of flames.

" Haha! " Sneered Stylish! " It's finish ! "

" Hu ... Human bombs? " Roared Lily! " Are you ready to kill your own men? "

" Men? " Astonished Stylish, before starting to sneer cruelly! " Wait, there is a little misunderstanding! The best thing that could define this bunch of morons is "laboratory rat"! "

" Doc… Doctor? " Wondered Mimi.

" W… Why? " Asked Me! " You improved us! You made us elite warriors! So why ? "

" Elite warriors? " Sneered Stylish! " Don't make me laugh! You are only guinea pigs in my eyes as well as replaceable pawns, that's all! "

Suddenly a strange noise was heard. It looked very much like someone sucking something up.

" Huh ?"

Disappearing one after the other, each of the flames flew straight towards Natsu's mouth, while the latter swallowed them at high speed, under the surprised looks of the members of Night Raid.

" But that … ? "

" He eats the flames? "

Finishing his meal, Natsu suddenly punched his fists, while affirming.

" Now that the poison is no longer there and that I have regained my strength ...! "

A torrent of fire enveloped his body as he roared.

" I am fired up! "

Suddenly straightening up, Susanoo presented numerous injuries to her body. However, in the space of a few seconds, the latter began to close, before disappearing completely.

" That … ? " Astonished Mine! " Who are these two monsters? "

" Natsu is like Gajeel! " Understood Leone! " He eats his magic element to become stronger! "

" Susanoo! " Suddenly cried Narenda! " The enemy is southwest of the base! Stop it and eliminate it! "

" Understood ! " Assured the man, running at once in search of the enemy.

" Happy, are you ready? " Asked Natsu.

" Aye! " Affirmed the latter, making his wings reappear.

" In this case, we go for it! "

Seeing his enemies rushing towards him one by one, Stylish grumbled.

" You wanted it! "

" Don't try to save time! " Retorted Lily! " No one will come to help!"

" Why want help ...? " Stylish asked, taking out a syringe! … " When you can do it yourself? "

And before Lily could stop him, he pricked himself on the arm and sneered.

" You will see beauty in its pure state! My greatest masterpiece! "

Seeing her body change to triple in volume, Lily thought it was good to back away, while Stylish said.

" Night Raid can't do anything against me! And as soon as I have crushed you, the empire will be that I am the greatest scientist of all time! "

Having assumed the size and appearance of a giant, his lower body was completely unrecognizable while the upper torso and head were at the location of the face of his creation.

" Haha! Wonderful! However, I need more power! "

Turning then to his minions, he had no qualms about grabbing Hana with one hand before grabbing Me and Mimi with the other.

" Master ! Stop, please! "

" What is he doing ? " Lily wondered.

" You are my precious food! " Assured Stylish, while a terrifying mouth opened at the level of the abdomen of his creation! " Let's join forces! "

" FIRE DRAGON'S FIST! "

Struck at the level of the pelvis, Stylish lost his balance, and unleashed his prey. Crashing against the ground, Me and the two others could only be surprised when they saw Natsu put himself between them and Stylish. Staring at him, he exclaimed.

" These guys are your friends ... and you dare to eat them to get stronger? "

" My friends ? I don't care about the life of these pathetic people! As long as she is not as beautiful as me, no one will have my respect! "

" So, I guess it was you too who blew up the bodies of others! "

" Of course ! Unfortunately, you had to spoil while saving your friends! It could have been a perfectly beautiful finale! "

" Shut up! " Roared Natsu, advancing towards him! " More I hear you, more I want to tear you down! Not only did you take it out at Night Raid, but you also dared to treat yours like rubbish! I hate people like you!"

Looking at him more closely, Stylish suddenly exclaimed.

" Hold on ! You and the blue thing behind your back ... but yes! You are the two types wanted for having infiltrated the royal palace and come out alive from a fight against Esdeath! Can I know who you are? "

" Natsu, from Fairy Tail! "

" Fairy Tail? " Wondered Stylish, seeming to think! " It's strange, it tells me something! "

His memory eventually gave him an answer and the man could remember a discussion he had had with Seryu, when he wanted to know more about Wendy.

" Yes that's it ! Wendy's former group! Fairy Tail! And Seryu also told me about you! You're the type she helped the other day! "

Smiling then, he said.

" Magnificent ! It's perfect ! If you are part of Night Raid, I guess Wendy must be part of it too and that she has only one spy! "

Still sneering, he cried.

" It's simply excellent! When I prove that she is a traitor, I will ask Esdeath to leave her alive so that I can make her my new laboraty rat ! And she will suffer for humiliating me the other day! "

Hardening his gaze again, Natsu muttered.

" Happy? "

It didn't take more for his exceed to take off and go straight towards Stylish's head.

" Hum? " Said the doctor.

" I will never let you touch a hair of Wendy's, and not one of my friends! "

" Idiot ! " Insulted Stylish, trying to punch him! " Do you at least know who I am? I'm the great Stylish, of the Jaegers! If you put your hand on me, you sign your death warrant! "

" I have already done it for a long time! " Retorted Natsu, while Happy had no trouble dodging the giant's blows.

Then finding himself in front of Stylish's body, Natsu roared.

" As soon as I signed up to be part of Night Raid, I immediately understood that I could never live a life in this world, without having to be on my guard! FIRE DRAGON'S…! "

Suddenly, strange tentacles wrapped around his arms and legs and immobilized him.

" But that … ? "

" You can't do anything against my genius! " Assured Stylish, while the tentacles came out all around his body! " Now die! "

Suddenly spinning it in all directions, the tentacles finally let go. Being dizzy, the duo saw that, too late, Stylish's fist fell on them, propelling them forcefully, against the ground.

" Natsu! " Tatsumi horrified as he ran towards him, carrying Akame on his back.

" No time to take care of him! " Retorted Lily, while showing her wings! " We must immediately stop this monster! "

Flying then, he was immediately followed by Susanoo. Using extraordinary speed, the latter was able to strike one of Stylish's legs with his mass. Although his attack was not very effective, it did attract Stylish's attention.

" Little vermin! " He roared, pretending to want to crush him.

Flying straight towards her head, Lily drew her sword to cut it. However, seeing him arrive, Stylish raised his tentacles in front of him in order to create a shield. Being sliced in its place, each of the tentacles ejected a green liquid which touched Lily's body. Shouting then, the latter dropped his sword, while he had the impression of feeling his arms burning to the bone.

" Do you like my acid? " Stylish asked, before his giant's arm grabbed Lily ! " Poor fool! If you had accepted my proposal earlier, none of this would have happened!"

Unable to free herself from her grip, Lily clenched her teeth, while Stylish squeezed the pressure to reduce her body to a pulp.

" From now on, you will experience suffering! "

However, an impressive shot pierced his shoulder. Then ceasing to function, the giant's arm dropped, letting go of Lily.

" What … ? That … ? "

Looking up, Stylish addressed only hatred to Mine, who was flying on the back of the flying skate, along with Najenda and Gajeel.

" Bandy bastard! You don't know who you're fighting against! "

" It' s you that understand nothing! " Retorted a voice.

Getting up at that moment, Natsu carried Happy in his arms, while his body had numerous injuries.

" Are you still alive? "

"Whether it's Fairy Tail or Night Raid, one thing is certain! " Affirmed Natsu, while flames and electricity surrounded his body! " Its members should never be pissed off! "

"Go to hell ! " Roared Stylish, lifting his foot to crush him for good.

" LIGHTLING FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR! "

Swallowing its flames and the lightning that surrounded it, Natsu ejected from his mouth a huge beam of energy that shot straight towards the giant's abdomen. Hit, the latter was forced to retreat, while many cracks had appeared where the flames had touched him.

" Impossible ! My armor! My creation ! My genius! "

" GADJEEL! " Suddenly yelled Natsu.

Not being asked, the mage immediately took over and dropped into the void.

"You will see my specialty! Anti-dragon magic, KARMA DEMON IRON SPIRAL! "

Then transforming his legs into a big spiral, the mage had no trouble hitting Stylish's damaged abdomen and crossed the latter. Having then a huge hole in the belly, the giant found himself so damaged that he fell to the ground.

" Waste trash! " Roared Stylish, trying to straighten up.

Nevertheless, fear was read on his face, as he saw Tatsumi run straight for him.

" Dash! " Yelled the latter, throwing Akame.

Seeing the latter rush at top speed towards him, Stylish raised his arms to order these tentacles. However, it was only too late that he remembered that Lily had cut them, preventing the doctor from having a new shield.

" No, I… lost? "

A second later, he spit blood, while Akame had just gutted it.

" Elimination completed! "

" No, I have… I still have so much to do! "

However, as Murasame's power began to take effect, Stylish eventually felt his heart being attacked before he stopped beating.

Then seeing the giant fall for good, Tatsumi made his armor disappear, before falling to his knees with a broad smile on his face.

" We… we won! "

" Super job! " Said Leone, arriving with the others.

" Wow! Fairy Tail mages… they are amazing warriors! " Spear said.

" Tsss, I could have done the same thing with my eyes closed! " Assured Lubbock.

Sitting in turn, before wincing from his injuries, Natsu shook Happy a little.

" Are you okay, buddy? "

" I think I have a broken leg! confessed his friend, being unable to lift it! And I guess we can't go see Wendy! "

" Unfortunately no ! But don't worry, I'll take care of it! "

" That's what scares me! " Happy said.

The sound of a step was then heard. Turning around immediately, Natsu noticed that Me, Mimi and Hana were behind him, not quite sure what to do.

" Are you still there? " Natsu wondered.

" Heu ... hey well ... uh! " Said Me, while Mimi helped her to stand.

" We… we don't want to hurt! " Assured Mimi! " At least, not anymore! "

" In this case, run quickly! " Natsu advised them.

" Huh ? " wondered Hana! " Are you serious ? "

" I don't like to kill people! " Confessed to them Natsu! " And then, after what just happened, I doubt that helping the Empire again is what you want! Come on, go! "

Hearing him speak with such sincerity, the three ancient turns of Stylish knelt before Natsu, before exclaiming.

" Thank you very much ! Thank you, Natsu-sama! "

" Natsu… sama? " Wondered the wizard.

" Hey, Natsu! " Then called him Tatsumi! " You're here ? "

" Wake up! " Natsu ordered, before leaving for his companion.

He didn't have to say it twice for the trio to flee into the forest, without really knowing where to go now.

Landing at this instant, not far from the body of Stylish's creation, the flying ray let Najenda set foot on the ground and was immediately greeted by her subordinates.

" Boss, nice to see you again! "

" You arrived just in time! "

" Who is this guy with the horns on his head? "

" No time to explain everything in detail! " Retorted Najenda! " If the enemy finds the base, other people may be able to come there in no time! Go get your stuff right away! "

" To do what ? "

" We are moving ! Of course ! "