Chapter 33

Drinking a glass in an old ruined bar, an old man was getting drunk, using a bottle of whiskey right next to him. But apart from the old man, there was no one else in the building. No bartender. No waiter. And even fewer other customers. The place was abandoned, lost in the middle of nowhere, and threatening to fall into disrepair. But, for that person, it was the perfect place to live.

He liked to be alone. Living far from the capital and the evil it contained on every street corner. Here he could think in peace without being afraid of being shot.

Half collapsed on the old building counter, it took a while to straighten up when the door to the place opened. Then, advancing towards him, a figure walked while emitting funny footsteps. Without needing to turn around, the old man could know that the newcomer had a wooden leg, thanks to the noise made by the latter.

Sitting next to the old man, the stranger rummaged in his bag, before taking out a bottle of alcohol, which he placed between them. Barely glancing at the bottle, the old man wanted to know.

" You got lost? "

" No ! "

" Do you want drink a drink here, in this pile of ruins? "

" Not really ! "

" In this case, what do you want and who are you? "

" Tell you what I want will be long! " Confessed the man, starting to smile! " When who am I…! "

Reaching out to grab a drink from the old counter, he wiped it a little, before filling it with alcohol. Drinking dry, he cried out.

" My name is Bulat! And I'm here to tell you about some of my friends that you have teleported to our world! "

" Hum? " Said the bald man, sneering! " Fairy Tail wizards, huh? "

" I have never seen such creatures! " Confessed Wendy.

An hour ago, she and the other Jaegers had participated in a hunt in order to hunt down imposing colossi causing terror to settle among the inhabitants living around the capital as well as traders coming to supply the city.

During their fight, the Jaegers had managed to kill a good ten, while Esdeath had frozen three so that they could be examined.

Looking at one of them, when it had been deposited in the old Stylish laboratory, the girl could not hide a certain form of disgust when she saw his head.

" It looks like his face has been liquefied! "

" Indeed, I could not make a better comparison! " Approved Run, arriving behind his back.

" Run? Do you know what a creature is? "

" Well, according to the latest news, it would seem that these dangerous beasts are none other than genetically modified humans! "

" Hum? Can you repeat ? "

" You heard very well! " Retorted Run, while advancing towards the frozen giant! " As proof, their physical characteristics are close to ours! But why and for what purpose, I wonder! In any case, to create such monsters, only a user of teigu can be able! "

" Stylish…! " Murmured Wendy suddenly, gnashing her teeth.

" Oh ? Are you accusing him right away? "

" Who else could this madman have created such monsters? " Asked Wendy! " And then, his teigu allowed him to achieve this kind of abomination! He turned Seryu's body into a killing machine! "

" Indeed, I too think that it is he who is behind the creation of these mutants! In addition, as if by chance, they appeared right after he disappeared! "

" In this case, he must have another laboratory! " Understood Wendy! " A much more sophisticated than this one! "

" Hum? How can you find out? "

" My sense of smell! " Assured him Wendy! " Remember Stylish still boasted of modifying former prisoners to be his bodyguards? Well, in this case, I find it very strange that I don't feel much in particular here! And even the first time I came here, the smell of chemicals or blood was not that strong! No, for me, he had all his real experiences elsewhere! "

Listening to him attentively, Run suddenly smiled, before affirming.

" Up to now, I have had doubts! But in the end, you are very perceptive and intelligent! I don't want to upset them but, apart from Esdeath, none of the other Jaegers could have noticed this kind of detail! "

" There is something that bothers me! " Confessed Wendy! " If Stylish died before his creatures began to wreak havoc, how did they get free without him? "

" They may have escaped! Unless someone else kindly opened the door to freedom for them! "

" A new enemy! " Wendy understood, knowing full well what she was going to write in her next report for Night Raid.

" Natsu, could you finally tell us what happened to you? " Lubbock asked him.

The latter, his face covered with bandages, began to spoil various incomprehensible things due to the fact that his jaw had been broken.

" We understand nothing! " Said Tatsumi and Lubbock, while the trio were training in rocky space.

" He says that Najenda attacked us without any valid reason and put us in this state! " Happy told them, on Natsu's shoulder, while he was carrying a big bump on the top of his head.

" What have you done, yet? "

" Oh nothing ! We just wanted to do a mission that she didn't want to entrust to us! Result, we arrived too late to do it and we got hit on the way back to base! "

" And what happened with Gajeel? " Wanted to know Lubbock! " Apparently, he wanted to speak with the boss and, a few minutes later, we could hear noises from a beating enough powerful that the building collapsed! Then, the last time I saw him, Gajeel was half dead! "

" For him, I have no idea! "

Sighing with discontent, Lubbock then called out.

" Why should I do this patrol with two guys and a cat and not with the girls? I feel like I have bad luck! "

Groaning then, Natsu finally pulled on his bandages and tore them off.

" Ah, I hate these things! "

Opening and closing his mouth several times, he ends up affirming.

" I still have a little pain but it is bearable! To say that I almost died at the hands of this fury! "

" If you listened to the orders, this would not happen! " Lubbock retorted.

" Bof, I am a guy made to go for it and not to stay put! "

Looking around, he noticed.

" If we continue like this, at this rate, we will be finished after dawn! It is preferable that Happy and I fly over part of the place while you two are going to inspect the other part! "

" Not sure you are discreet, as well! " Retorted Tatsumi.

" Even if dangerous beasts see him what do you think could happen to him? " Asked Lubbock! " So let him do it! Anyway, at the first opportunity, he would be able to get us into trouble, even in a clueless place like this! "

Not praying then, Natsu jumped into the air before being transported by Happy.

" We meet again later! "

Then, a few minutes later, staring at the floor, Natsu cried out.

" There are really no animals around! Too bad ! I wanted to have a little barbecue, me! "

" Forget about it ! It is clear that no large animal can live in a place devoid of any trace of vegetation! "

" Stop! Stop ! " Suddenly ordered Natsu.

" Hum? " Said Happy! " What … ? "

Sudden wing beats were heard not far from them. Then staring at the moon, just in front of them, the duo could see a silhouette taking shape and advancing straight towards them.

Recognizing a smell, Natsu grunted before ordering.

" Quick, bring us down! "

Immediately, causing them to lose altitude, Happy managed to hide them behind a large rock, before Natsu fixed the silhouette of a small winged dragon, and more specifically the person who was standing on it.

" But it's … ? " Happy began.

" Esdeath! " Growled Natsu.

Passing over the two friends, the general passed them, without seeing them, and finally left, in the direction from which they came.

" What is she doing here? " Wanted to know Happy once she was gone.

" No idea ! However, it goes straight to where Tatsumi and Lubbock is! Tsss, no choice! We must stop it! "

" Thumbtack ! Another reason to be bumped by Najenda, when we get back! "

" This time it's not the same! " Retorted Natsu, being very serious! " Neither Tatsumi, nor Lubbock, nor the two together will make the weight in front of her! "

" Mmmh, you're right! "

Finally taking off, the Exceed started chasing Exceed, while Natsu pesta, finding that he did not have his mask on.

" Gee, I didn't think about taking it! "

" Ah, me neither! If we fight it, it can spread our faces, even if we manage to flee! "

" No choice ! " Said Natsu, wrapping his scarf over his head! " In ninja mode! And then, we just have to capture it and we will have won! "

However, Happy suddenly stopped, when he saw Esdeath leave the back of his dragon, to fall on the top of a cliff.

" What does she make? "

" I can smell Tatsumi! " Affirmed Natsu! " She must have spotted him! "

However, to his surprise, when Happy got closer, he couldn't help but feel a drop running down his head as he saw Esdeath hug Tatsumi in his arms.

" But that … ? "

" Love is beautiful ! " Assured Happy, rolling the '' r '' in his own way.

Backing away then, he transported Natsu to another cliff, while the latter wanted to know.

" You can explain to me what's going on? "

" Do you not remember? After being kidnapped by Esdeath, Tatsumi revealed that she was crazy in love with him! And it seems true! "

" Yes, but it's an enemy! "

" Perhaps, but I doubt that she knows who Tatsumi really is! Well, the real question is: what do we do? We go for it or we wait! "

" For once, I don't know! " Confessed Natsu.

Suddenly, a bright light was seen, on the cliff where was Esdeth and Tatsumi, dazzling the duo.

" That ? "

" SHAMBHALA, activated! " Someone shouted.

And, in an instant, the "couple" disappeared, like a simple mirage.

" What ... What? "

Flying immediately, to understand what had just happened, the duo of Fairy Tail flew over the cliff, to see a man with a cape and a hood on his head.

" Who's that person ? "

Then turning to them, the stranger began to smile at them, seeing them.

" Say, there are a lot of people here tonight! "

" Hey, what did you do to Tatsumi? " Wanted to know Natsu! " Who are you ? "

" Me ? I'm just Syura, a simple vagabond! "

" Tsss! Don't make fun of me! You don't look like a vagabond! " Roared Natsu! " Give us back Tatsumi, illico presto! "

" Oh, but that would ruin all my fun! " Replied the man! " I much prefer to take you where it is! "

" What? "

Getting into position, Syura pulled out her teigu, before giggling.

" Forward! SHAM…! "

Taking Natsu's fist, he got kicked back, with a bloody nose.

" Wow ! " He cried, taking his nose! " Dirty brat! "

Standing in front of him, Natsu ordered him.

" Tatsumi! Right now ! "

" Go to hell ! " Syura yelled at him, trying again to use his teigu! " SHAMBHALA! "

Bringing a disk of light under Natsu's feet, the man snickered, until he noticed Happy grabbing Natsu. Moving him away from the circle, he allowed his friend to escape, when the latter closed.

" Grrr, bastard tomcat! SHAMBHALA! "

Bringing up other circles, he roared as Happy managed to dodge them before they could close in on him. Using his speed, he avoided being teleported to Syura's great frustration.

" But are you going to stop moving, yes? "

" Did you see, Natsu? His power is useless until we are in his circles! "

" In this case, accelerate and finish it with a blow! " Said Natsu, covering himself with flames.

" Aye, chief! "

Then seeing the Exceed gain height, Syura began to roar.

" We're trying to run away, huh? "

Yet to his surprise, Happy ends up turning around and rushing straight at him. Concentrating, meanwhile, Natsu transformed his flames into golden flames, while his arms were covered with a semblance of scales.

" Go ahead, let me go! "

Swinging it with all his might, Happy let the mage rush straight towards Syura, while his flames took the form of a sword.

" What? "

" FIRE DRAGON'S SWORD HORN! "

Immediately causing a circle to appear at his feet, Syura dropped into it and disappeared when Natsu hit the mountain on which he was. Like a meteor, he managed to pulverize the block of rocks.

Not far from the latter, Lubbock was forced to back away while debris began to fall in all directions.

" Damn it ! Natsu is still wreaking havoc! "

Then dropping onto what was left of the mountain, Natsu stood still, seeming to wait for something to happen.

Finally, opening behind him, a new circle gave way to Syura, who pretended to punch Natsu, attacking him from behind.

" I've got you ! "

However, he only hit the void, while Natsu had stooped while appearing to have predicted his attack. Then turning on itself, it covered its foot with flames, before sending its heel right in the jaws of Syura.

Feeling his skull crack, while he felt that his skin was melting, the man was ejected for several meters, before crashing against a rock.

" That ... that dirty brat! " He roared, trying to get up.

Hearing footsteps, he couldn't hide his fear, while Natsu walked over to him, looking increasingly threatening.

" You have three seconds! One two … ! "

" This is useless ! I could never beat this monster! A strategic withdrawal is essential! "

" SHAMBALA! "

Then creating a circle between Natsu and him, Syura ends up backing up before shouting.

" Don't think you won this game, fire dragon! I'm not just anybody ! My name is Syura, son of the Prime Minister! From now on, having me as my enemy, I swear that your life will become a real nightmare ! "

" Son of the Prime Minister? " Natsu wondered.

" Natsu! Above all, we must not let him go! " Happy said, while Syura took the tangent.

However, appearing right in front of them, Tatsumi left the circle created by Syura and found himself right in front of the duo.

" That … ? Natsu? Happy? "

" Tatsumi? "

" Tatsumi! " Suddenly called a female voice from the circle! " Are you OK ? "

" Ah, Esdeath! " Tatsumi recognized her! " We must not stay there! "

Grabbing his collar immediately, Natsu let Happy make them fly in the air, before moving away as empty as possible from the circle. Throwing a glance behind his back, Tatsumi could nevertheless see Esdeath, appear in his turn, and even thought he saw her staring at them, while they fled away.

" My God ! This day with her was eventful! "

" Hein? " Natsu wondered! " You only stayed ten minutes in this circle! "

" What? Ten minutes ? Impossible ! I still slept an entire night on this island! "

" Hein? What island are you talking about? Where did you go? "

" Uh, I would not be embarrassed but, I think we forgot something! " Suddenly noticed Happy as he made his way back to the base.

Running to destroy his lungs, Lubbock tried his best to follow Happy and the others, while he roared.

" Wait until I find you! You will pay for trying to abandon me! "