Chapter 58

" What? " Roared Syura.

Being in the prisons of the palace, the man had turned to the members of his team, and more particularly to Giry and Champ, who had just announced to him that the capture of Natsu had not been a great success.

" You are telling me that no one came to help the Salamander but that you still managed to lose sight of it? But you are really a bunch of big losers ! "

" What do you want ? " Asked Giry, simply picking up his ear. " Surely he used a spell to teleport or something! And if so, there was nothing we could do about it! "

" You deserve that I make you execute. " Roared Syura.

" Ah? " Said Giry, unimpressed by his words.

" Hey, if you are not happy, you only had to pursue it. " Remarked Champ.

This time, it was through gritting his teeth, that Syura looked at his two comrades. In all honesty, no member of his team had shown him real attachments since the creation of Wild Hunt. However, since the loss of his teigu, his place as chief was very often called into question. Giry and Izou were now strong heads, while Champ began to follow their example.

" At least, you have a new prisoner. " Remarked Giry, going away. " Me, this race made me hungry! I'm going to the kitchens! "

" I accompany you to drink a little sake. " Informed Izou.

And soon, the others began to follow them, regardless of what their "leader" might think.

" Minute. " Stopped them Syura. " Now that this problem is solved, I order you to go immediately to the place of execution! Knowing Night Raid, chances are they will go help their friend! "

" Pfff! Not interested. " Informed Dorothea. " I have run enough for today! "

" In addition, Esdeath will surely reserve all enemies for her. " Remarked Giry. " She will let off steam so much that nothing will remain of them! "

" Oh, what would I like her to treat me like this. " Said Suzuka, blushing.

" It's an order. " Roared Syura.

" What if we refuse? " Izou asked him, while frowning.

Soon, Syura felt threatened, while each of his men turned to him, while displaying sinister smiles, or faces reluctant to accept orders. It was clear that they were seriously starting to no longer consider him their leader.

" You have the choice. " Growled the lman. " Either my father always allows you to kill, without suffering the slightest consequence, or Budo and Esdeath will take care of your case, after that of Night Raid! "

" Tsss! What a big mouth. " Remarked Champ.

However, knowing that all too well in which camp each of them should be, they ended up railing before heading out of the palace to get to the place indicated. However, one of them ended up muttering "What a shabby!", Which made the others giggle.

Enraged at the behavior of his men, it was with force that Syura had to control his anger as he approached one of the prison cells. Being inside the latter, Seryu was chained to a wall, while she had numerous marks of blows on her face.

" See what we have here! I am surprised to see a Jaeger come back so quickly from the capital after having dropped it! "

" Tsss! I have no lesson to receive from you! "

" You will tell me so much! But you know Seryu, my proposal still stands! "

" Your proposal ? "

" Yes ! That of joining Wild Hunt! Of all the Jaegers, you are the only one who has enough guts, for my taste, to deserve to enter! "

Then, holding out a hand to him, he noticed.

" It's very simple ! All you have to tell me is where the base of Night Raid is! Afterwards, you will be free and even decorated by the empire! "

Now that her absolute justice no longer made her blind, Seryu had no trouble detecting her lie. It was clear that the man intended to kill her, once she had told him everything. It was for this reason that she retorted.

" You can always die. "

Pretending to be saddened by his response, Syura finally clicked off, a group of executioners arrived, with axes or sabers. As for the one who came out on top, he held a small form in his hands, which seemed to be on the verge of death.

" KORO. " Horrified Seryu.

Having been brought here, in pieces, the teigu currently had limbs cut and numerous lacerations everywhere. These teeth had even been pulled out. And as soon as one of his wounds seemed to heal, one of the guards opened it again with his saber.

" I wonder if you will always hold your tongue, while your little adored little one is being tortured for you. " Giggles Syura.

Approaching him, he put one of his fingers on Koro's stomach, while affirming.

" According to my knowledge of organic teigus, its core must be here! "

Then grabbing a saber, he said.

" If you don't quickly tell me what I want, I wouldn't hesitate to destroy its core. "

Then seeing Seryu clenching his teeth, as a sign of helplessness, Syura sneered.

" What were you saying earlier? Ah yes, that you played the role of diversion! What a good joke! I don't know what your plan was, but it failed! And in the end, you got caught while your friend fled cowardly! In the end, Night Raid makes me laugh! At first, I thought they were worth it, but in the end, it was just a bunch of losers! Ha ha ha! "

" HAHAHAHAHA. " Suddenly couldn't hold back Seryu.

Freezing at this moment, Syura saw her exploding with laughter, as if he had just said the most comical thing there is.

" Who is funny? "

" Honestly, we are the ones who overestimated you! affirmed Seryu, while displaying a malicious smile! But, I really didn't think my plan was going to go so well! "

" Your plan? Stop bluffing, it doesn't take! "

Sneering more, Seryu noticed.

" Everything was planned! Using the power of Chelsea as a real diversion captures my fact that you think Natsu has run away and using Koro to try to get information from me! But you know what, if you had destroyed his vital core from the start, Wild Hunt could have won! "

" What? What do you mean ? "

" KORO! " Roared Seryu. " NOW ! "

Waving at this moment, Koro's mouth suddenly began to swell.

" That … ? " Wondered an executioner, seeing her triple in volume.

Confused himself, Syura remained frozen for a few moments, before finally widening his eyes.

" Don't tell me … ! "

Taken by a bad feeling, he ran straight towards the hill, saber forward.

" Die this teigu. " He ordered, blade pointed towards the place where his vital nucleus was.

Too late. Finally opening his jaws wide, Koro managed to spit something out of his mouth. And then a figure ignited his fist before sending it right into Syura's face. Burned, Syura did not even have time to shout that he was then forcefully dispatched against a wall.

Moaning in pain, he finally collapsed on the ground, inert.

" That … ? " Several guards wondered, stepping back.

Standing up, meanwhile, Natsu cracked his neck a little, which seemed somewhat sore.

" Hell, we were cramped in there. "

" It's the last time I go into a dog's stomach. " Affirmed Happy, while these hairs were covered with drool. " Yuck, it's disgusting. "

" That's… It's Natsu Dragnir. " One of the executioners feared.

" What? Was he hiding in the dog? "

" Don't someone go and get some reinforcement. "

But when someone was about to leave to sound the alarm, a real column of fire stopped him.

" That … ? "

" I promised Wendy not to waste my time in unnecessary combat! affirmed Natsu, igniting his fists! So, I'm just going to settle for all of you and go get my friends! Prepare yourself, it will hurt! "

Barely able to swallow, the executioners then screamed in panic, the instant Natsu rushed at them.

Then, two minutes later, picking up a bunch of keys, Natsu quickly smashed the bars of Seryu's cell, before removing his chains.

" First part of the plan accomplished. " She noticed, massaging her wrists.

" The fact that Koro had to swallow us was not a great plan. " Retorted Happy.

" You're kidding ? " Asked Natsu. " It is the first time that we have managed to enter so discreetly somewhere. Usually, we are always spotted and we are forced to supply a plan, which always ends with the explosion of the building! "

" Let us focus! Seryu stopped them, looking around! Now we have to find Tatsumi and Lubbock! "

Trying to find them with his sense of smell, Natsu eventually spotted the awful smell of blood that was omnipresent throughout the area. Then turning his gaze in all directions, he ends up having the impression of reliving an awful scene. The place where they were resembled the hangar in Aria's villa. There were numerous weapons of torture everywhere as well as corpses lying here and there.

Scattered in cells, hundreds of people, all injured and even dying, had pressed themselves against the bars of their cells to see Natsu massacre all the executioners responsible for their condition. They felt like they saw a glimmer of hope in the hell they were going through.

" I ... I dream or what? "

" This guy has just beaten this bastard of Syura, in one blow? "

" All the executioners are all on the ground. "

Then seeing the keys in Natsu's hand, someone begged him.

" I beg you ! Free me ! I would become your slave if you get me out of here! "

" Learn me too, please. "

" Me too, I want to leave this hell. "

Begging one after the other, the prisoners began to shout.

" Leave us! Free us! Free us! "

Hearing the enormous fuss they were making, Seryu muttered.

" Koro. "

Immediately, the animal behind him took on the shape of a monster, frightening all the prisoners.

" The next one he opens his mouth will be his meal. " Taught them Seryu.

" Hey. " Cried Natsu. " What does that mean ? "

"Don't worry. " Assured him Seryu. " It was just to silence them! If they continued on this path, they would have raised the alarm! "

" What do we do with them? " Wanted to know Happy.

" Of course we release them. " Assured Natsu. " Leone and Mine told me that most of the palace prisoners were here because they criticized the Prime Minister's ideas! No question of leaving them here! "

" Let's try to find our comrades first. " Seryu said, looking for them.

Sniffing the air again, Natsu suddenly widened his eyes, recognizing the smell of Lubbock, mixed with that of his own blood.

" That … ? " Wondered the mage, running immediately towards the origin of the odor.

Arriving before the bars of a cell, Natsu froze, seeing the body of his friend, lying on the ground, with a sword stuck in the abdomen.

" Lu… LUBBOCK! "

Hitting the bars, he disintegrated them, before crouching near his friend.

" Lubbock! It's okay ? Are you alive? Hey, open your eyes! "

Grimacing at once in pain, feeling Natsu touch him, Lubbock ends up opening his mouth and blood comes out.

" Damn it, what happened to you? "

" He was tortured. " Understood Happy. " They put him in this state so that he could say the hiding place of Night Raid! "

Hearing that, Natsu stopped. Then, slowly, the other two could see flames enveloped his body.

" The manure. " He roared, turning around. " They will pay me! "

However, Lubbock's hand suddenly grabbed his scarf.

" Na ... Natsu! "

Looking down at the injured man, Lubbock saw him fight the pain as he used all of his last to keep his eyes open.

" Natsu…! I must admit something! When you joined us, you and your friends, I was unhappy with your presence! Compared to me, you were very brave and you were not afraid of anything! You were the complete opposite of me, especially you! I was afraid of ending up in my shadow, and becoming useless in Night Raid! However, … ! "

Feeling his eyes fill with tears, he said with a small smile.

" I am happy ! Happy to die knowing that you will be there to protect Night Raid! I beg you, Natsu! Save our friends! "

" Hey, what are you talking about? " Asked Natsu, pretending to lift him. " We bring you back to the base! "

Screaming in pain, Lubbock begged him.

" Stops! I beg you ! It's too late ! "

And, as if to prove it, the boy's cheeks swelled, before they spit out the equivalent of a pool of blood.

" Lubbock. "

Despite the situation and the pain, the green haired boy suddenly snickered.

" Don't worry ! They ... They tried to extract information from me! But ... But I said nothing! I ... I was stronger than them, Natsu! "

Listening to him, not knowing what to do, Natsu finally affirmed.

" You can be proud of yourself, you did ... a good job. "

" I am a hero ? " Lubbock asked him, feeling his last strength leave him.

" What? " Natsu wondered. " But of course, silly! You have become one since joining Night Raid! You are a hero and my friend! "

Chuckling somewhat, hearing this last comment, Lubbock suddenly raised one of his hands in the air, before raising two fingers upwards. Thus, he could perform the symbol of Fairy Tail, under the bewildered gaze of Natsu and Happy.

" Live… Fairy Tail. "

Then, her smile turned into a grimace of pain, before she finally stopped… forever. Seeing the boy's hand drop to his chest, Natsu froze, as if his brain had stopped working. And it lasted more than a minute.

For his part, Happy was shaking as he tried the impossible to calm his sobs which threatened to burst at any moment.

" Na ... Natsu. " Said Seryu, taking a step towards him.

A figure suddenly jostled her. Mocking his presence, Syura rushed straight towards Natsu. After this new defeat, this time, he only wanted to take revenge on him. He didn't care about the rest of Night Raid. He wanted to kill Natsu.

" Dies forever. " Syura roared, striking his head with a club with spades.

Doing nothing to defend himself, Natsu was beaten unceremoniously. He took a blow so powerful that the dust around his body was lifted. It was a blow that would have destroyed anyone's skull.

" Hahaha! Poor fool. " Spat Syura. " You're going to die, just like I killed your buddy moron! And soon, your second friend will be executed too! Haha…! "

He suddenly uttered a cry of pain, feeling his hands burn. Releasing his weapon, he widened his eyes, seeing the latter start to overheat, while the area that had touched Natsu's skull had melted before he even hit him.

" What … ? That … ? "

It was then that Natsu turned his face to him. Stepping back, Syura could see black patches forming on her face, very like tattoos. As for Natsu's eyes, they only showed pure hatred. Seeing them, Syura couldn't help but notice that Natsu's aura had changed.

In every fight against him, he always had the impression of fighting against a real dragon. But there, it was as if Natsu embodied a horrible demon.

Surprised, too, Seryu ends up hearing footsteps behind her. Turning around, she was surprised to see Koro back off. Trembling on all sides, he looked horrified as he squeaked like a little puppy. It was the first time Seryu had seen him like this.

As for Happy, no longer recognizing Natsu, he could only stutter.

" Nat… Natsu? "

The latter remained motionless. Seeing him thus, Syura ends up shaking his head, to regain his senses.

" Tsss! I don't know what you're doing! However, … ! "

Running towards Natsu, he directed the edge of his hand towards his neck.

" I will kill you for good. "

Natsu's foot suddenly sprayed his neck. Motionless for a short while, Syura felt like he was being struck in slow motion, as he gradually felt the horrible pain appear.

Then, the next second, his body was sprayed against a wall. The percussive, head first, Syura felt the latter explode, just like her cervical vertebrae. Before he even touched the ground, the Prime Minister's son was dead.

There was immediately a heavy silence. Natsu had just smashed one of the most powerful soldiers in the empire in one fell swoop.

However, his friends only stared at the mage, while the latter did the same. He was just staring at them with hatred. And that was how he took a step towards them.

" Nat… Natsu? " Asked Happy. " You ... Are you okay? "

A grunt was the only answer from his friend, while his new transformation seemed to have made him lose all trace of logic.

Igniting his fist, he was almost about to attack them.

" Natsu. "

Suddenly, the sparkle in his heart moved a little. Feeling horrible pain, Natsu stopped before roaring in pain. It even ends up falling forward. Catching up with him, Seryu let him rest his head on his shoulder, while the boy's eyes were wide open, while he was breathing with difficulty.

The pain hurt him so much that it allowed him to regain his senses. Disappearing, his tattoos were only a distant memory, while Natsu seemed to be somewhat lost.

" Natsu, how are you? " Asked Happy.

Still remaining silent, Natsu ends up grabbing Seryu's hand, before entrusting him with the bunch of keys.

" Take that and set the others free. "

" What? " Seryu wondered, while Natsu finally left to enter the palace directly.

" Free them and get out of here! You did your share of the job. " Natsu assured him.

" But where are you going? " Asked Happy, running quickly to him.

" Me ? I will do what I should have done from the start! "

Staring at the ceiling, he roared.

" I will destroy the palace. "