Chapter 79: Infiltration.
"Who do we have left?!" Makarov asked, looking around at the remnants of both White Eclipse and Fairy Tail. Even with the remaining forces, half of them were bruised and beaten. Jaxon, and Cygnus were both bandaged up, yet still raring to go as the two Eclipse members held the most angered visages; the image of Tobias and his cocky expression just before pulling the elemental trigger on them back at the valley. Gray and Juvia remained silent and bandaged until Reiss walked over, angry. "And what happened? Why was only Kuro and Nami taken?! Huh!?" Juvia could only look away. Gray did the same, attempting to explain himself. "I don't know kid... after that Tsunako guy left with Sora and buried us in the ruins of that building, I was barely coming to when I saw a figure pick them both up and take off with them. It definitely wasn't human, so of course it was Tartarus, but that's all I can tell you."
Selene walked out, eyes half-lidded as she joined the rest of them. That's when Makarov turned to her. "How is he?" He asked the Dragon Slayer. Selene shrugged, keeping her sights on the ground. "Sorry, I don't know these things. That old lady is taking care of him though.."
"More importantly, how are you?" Cana asked. Selene raised her head to give everyone a clear sight of how she looked almost as bad as Laxus did. "I'm fine...there was just so much of that Anti-Ethernano that it seeped through my mask, but I'm okay." She started to tremble just a bit, grimacing at what happened earlier. "But even though the idiot swallowed most of that crap, still...hundreds of people died! What the hell was that thing!? Can the others do the same?"
"I don't think so, but don't rule out the possibility." Makarov stated. "Darn it. They've got Erza and Mira...Lisanna, Nami And Kuro. Laxus and Reve are both too injured to even move..." He clenched his right fist tightly. "Alright...! There's only one option left! We have to take them head on! Before anymore blood is spilt, we have to beat them to the punch! Levy! Can you pinpoint their location?"
"Already on it, Master!" She exclaimed. "Hey Levy, now should be a good time to tell you that —"
"Not now." She said, cutting Droy off as she began working. Droy wanted to speak again, but Jet grabbed him by the shoulder, shaking his head. "It'll come shortly. Don't worry." Jet's words caught Lily's attention for a second, but that was all as they allowed Levy to get back to work. Cana then looked around. "Hm? Where'd that pathetic Elfman go?" She asked, getting up from her seat to go look for him.
In the other room with Porlyusica The Raijinshu all stood by Laxus's bedside. Bandaged up like Jaxon and Cygnus were, Freed and the others looked on with disdain, watching Laxus quietly gasp for fresh air, feeling as if they failed their group leader. "I should have been there. This is my fault." Freed professed, attempting to take all of the blame. "I would have never let him make such a selfish decision. To inhale all of that..."
"There's nothing we could have done. He would have acted anyways." Evergreen admitted. "Now we just have to wait for him to pull through." Bickslow added. "He will pull through." Freed would reply, badly choking up. "It's Laxus. Of course he'll pull through. And the one who did this will pay for it."
Off to the other side of the room, Taya sat bedside with Skye right behind her. Both held the same somber expression as they hovered over the unconscious Reve's side. His entire torso was bandaged, for underneath were three large holes within his body. Porlyusica then walked over to the three of them, staying back just a bit. "Pulling those things out of him was a huge risk, and I'm not even sure it paid off. It'll be a while before he recovers from such an attack...if he does recover."
Neither Taya nor Skye said a word to her diagnosis. Instead, both sets of eyes were kept on Reve. As Porlyusica left, Taya sighed heavily as she rested a single hand on his bandaged torso. "I guess this is what you meant back then. I'm not good at watching your back, am I?"
"Taya..." Skye murmured.
"That's because that's my job." Zalen said, walking in with Waiston. "I always watch his back, and every time I'm not there... you're supposed to be beside him, which I'm sure you were, so don't blame yourself for an attack he couldn't sense. It was a demon right? Only you could have seen it coming, and no matter how many times I play it in my head, it would have been a miracle for you to save him before this happened. Don't hurt yourself over something uncontrollable.." Even though he tried to be the voice of reason, Zalen himself could be seen, hurt and worried about Reve's condition. Waiston cracked his knuckles, a vein protruding from his head as he did. "Wait until we find them. We'll ruin their lives for good for what they've done. We'll get Kuro and Nami back too. We need our own plan though.."
Skye looked up. "I've been listening from here. It seems we're attacking head on, right? That might make them act hastily, and not in a good way. They have Kuro and Nami, so the second we infiltrate, I'll look for them. I can cover more ground alone."
Taya simply nodded, never removing her sights from Reve. Waiston then continued. "Perfect. And while you're doing that, we'll be busting their heads wide open, Team Volver style!"
"Takeru is still out with Natsu. So if we know them as well as we do—"
"With all of the kidnappings, they're probably already on the way to Tartarus by scent." Skye finished Zalen's sentence, removing herself from the wall she leaned upon. "Let's get ready then! We should be finding their location soon!"
"Right!"
Taya finally stood up, standing over Reve now as she remained quiet for seconds longer. Soon, her nails dug into her own skin as she curled her hand into a fist. "Father or not, he won't get away with what he did. Don't worry. When you come to, he's the last person you'll have to be worried about. Sleep well, cowboy. We'll be back to get you out of this guild as well."
"Geez That Flame Brained maniac and his sidekicks are such a hassle to keep up with! Sorry, but I'm exhausted just keeping up with their idiocy." Luke said, sitting atop a table whilst leaning back. "Nows not the time." Lucy commanded, holding a crying Happy in her arms. Luke simply waved her off. "That's what I was saying when he nearly killed us all fighting that Jackal guy. The demon even said any time someone touches him, that part of them explodes, and what does he do? He fights him bare handed anyways! And you...!" He spun and pointed towards Cynthia vigorously, yelling. "Don't go following that idiot's footsteps! Who told you to get involved when you can't even control your magic, huh!?"
Cynthia held up her right hand with a childish, guilty smile that didn't last long. "Aheh...sorry. Natsu looked like he needed help so I...helped..."
Luke sighed again. "I knew I was in trouble once your guild master told me to meet with y'all to protect that asshole of a councilmen. And now the dummy's left without us straight to who knows where!?"
"You know Takeru went with him til right?" Lucy asked, giving Luke a look after his verbal drilling of The Salamander. "Thank the gods. At least he has a sane person with him.. and even that's not enough. Now they're probably captured too."
"It was some ice guy!" Happy shouted. "He froze both Natsu and Takeru and took them away! Please save them! Please save Natsu!"
"It's okay, Happy." Lucy reassured, holding him close. "We'll get him back, don't worry."
"It's a good thing you guys won that fight however." Makarov spoke. "Michello, The councilman you were protecting, was able to tell us exactly what those demons want. I never knew the council had such a weapon on them.. Face. Apparently, three people of the council hold the key to activating it. Only the former Chairman knows who, which was a good thing I sent Erza and Mirajane that way...or so I thought.."
"Wait!" Lucy shouted. "If the former Chairman knows who they are, why didn't Tartarus just put all of their efforts into him?"
"Maybe they did." Luke reacted, folding his arms over his chest. "Erza and Mirajane captured? I know these demons are tough, but we didn't hear anything about them being over there. No Daityas, no Tartarus big names, but they were captured? That just means...Crawford is a traitor."
Crash! A large fist slammed through a table. It was Makarov, absolutely livid at this point. It startled everyone, even White Eclipse. He then turned to Levy. "Levy!"
"I'm looking — found them!"
Two people shouted "found them!" One was Levy, but her direction then turned to the other, Reo, who was seen outside with the guild door wide open. Everyone ran outside to see exactly what she was up to, and as they did, it was shown. The Sun Mage was illuminating the sky with her magic, and the sun rays were being used as compasses, picking up anything foreign in the sky. "They're directly above us!"
"She's right..." Levy murmured, closing her book. "Right above us."
"Alright then! Everyone, prepare for battle! We're taking the fight to them!"
"Yo! Elfman! You down here!?" Cana called out to the man, stepping down from the staircase that leads to the basement of Fairy Tail. Once she reached the floor, she turned her attention to Elfman, who was just standing there in the middle of the room with his back turned to her. "Hey! Get ready. We're about to attack Tartarus, so get up here. Stop sulking over your failures and come on." No response from the Takeover Mage. "Hey, I'm talking to you!" She shouted, walking over with an annoyed expression. Once she reached him, she brushed him aside, only to see a bomb like lacrima, glowing at its peak. "Wha-what are you doing!?" Before she could react, Elfman tackled Cana to the ground, holding her down as he shouted. "Don't interfere! I must do what she says, or Lisanna...! Lisanna will!"
"He's being controlled!" Cana began looking around, trying to think of a way out as she slowly began losing to his overwhelming strength. "This has to be the way!" He shouted again.
"Think Cana! Think! If I don't do something, we're all gonna die! Wait!"
"This is the end of Fairy Tail!"
As massive explosion occurred, decimating Fairy Tail down to nothing but unnoticeable rubble. Just beyond the smoke however, three glimmers of light could be seen soaring high into the air. The exceeds, carrying a deck of cards within their paws, were now on the fast track towards Tartarus.
At the same time, back at Daityas's camp, Rugal opened the portal as the rest of them remained ready to go. Some grinning, some holding determined features, the Tartarus Outcasts all stepped forth together through Rugal's dimensional portal to wage war upon their own kind.
As Happy and the others arrived, they dropped the cards they carried, releasing everyone who was inside. Once free, Makarov didn't hesitate in giving orders. "Alright! Find a way in, and take no prisoners! Porlyusica! Will you be okay with Reve and Laxus?" She nodded. "Don't worry about them. I'll make sure they're okay. But make sure to find the blood of the demon who poisoned Laxus. I need to make an antidote, and soon."
"You heard her!"
Just as he shouted, guards of Tartarus started appearing from each horizon of the giant cube they stood upon. "Oi...I don't know which way is up and which is down." Romeo said, looking around as they quickly became surrounded. "No matter." Luke said, slamming his hands together in a Maker's position. "The only direction we need is forward! Ice Make: Black Lance!" Shooting his hands forward, the Copy Cat created a plethora of frozen lances, shrouded in Black God's Magic as well. The attack crashed right into the incoming soldiers from the front and with few remaining, Cygnus leapt forward, High into the air and then back down again. Once he slammed his feet into the ground, the soldiers around him began levitating against their will. With a stoic expression, the Gravity Mage then pressed his hands together. "Fall." He stated, and they did just that, crashing hard into the ground.
Skye looked around, knocking away anyone that came her way. "This is a waste. These guys aren't important. I need to find a way in to get to Nami and Kuro..." Just as she wished, her prayer was answered as a rumbling was heard. Looking over towards its source, a once captured Erza shot out from the midst of the cube with a giant jousting lance, and one of the Nine Demon Gates with her. Skye didn't hesitate, leaping inside and darting off to find her friends.
"Erza!?" Makarov shouted. Erza then replied. "I'm fine! Go after the others! I can handle this here!"
The demon she was in the midst of battle with, Kyouka, chuckled at her statement, using lengthened nails to wrap around Erza's frame and slam her into the ground. "How bold of you to say such a thing against someone like me."
"Right! Everyone, we're going on! Let's go!"
"I'm coming Nee-Chan!" Elfman helmed, the first one to plummet into Tartarus's headquarters. Everyone soon followed behind, White Eclipse and Fairy Tail alike.
Running full speed, Skye was passing every patrolling guard with nothing but a swift wind catching their attention. It wasn't that she was just fast. Her assassin like skills granted Skye the ability to use stealth without sacrificing her speed at all. So as the Blade Requip Mage slipped past everyone, she found herself already deep within the realms of Tartarus. Quietly skidding to a stop, she lunged out of sight, unknowingly hiding behind one of the many rejuvenation chambers as she peered around it to see a bunny-human looking creature humming to herself. It seems she made it just in time to as Jackal, the demon who fought Natsu and then blew himself up, removed himself from one of the many.
"Jackal! You like even more handsome than before!" She exclaimed, making a weird, very annoying noise that resembled some kind of laughter. Jackal took a step back, grossed out by her. "Stop that Lamy, before I kill you." He then took the time to look at his improved form, clenching both fists afterwards as he walked away to join the upcoming fray. "I'll make sure to pay those bastards back for what they did, that's for certain though.."
"So they can regenerate, even after dying?" Skye asked herself, still quietly watching. Her eyes then widened after she scanned each chamber. The assassin covered her mouth, trembling as she spotted him — Lamy coincidentally walking over to him and Mirajane at that moment. "Humans sure do take longer to change into demons, huh? That's okay.." She said, placing her face to their glasses, glaring at both Kuro and Mirajane. "...I can't wait to watch your ugly face transform into something handsome to look at. And you, woman. How does it feel to have demon particles running through your bloodstream? I'll make sure that pretty face of yours hits every branch of the ugly tree on the way to rebirth!" There was the ugly laugh again, and Skye trembled in anger, seasoned with a bit of worry — unsure of what would happen to Kuro if she didn't act soon.
"Taya said not to act alone...What would Reve do? I can't just leave Kuro and Mirajane in there! And it took a while for me to get here, which means the others won't be here for a while..."
As she spoke, Lamy shouted. "Huh!?" Staring at Mirajane, with a few seconds passing, Mirajane was now staring back at her. "Wh—" Soon, the glass began to break, and finally, it shattered, causing Lamy to back away. "What's going on!?"
"I'm sorry, but I already have demon particles in me. It's how I use Satan Soul." She boasted, now standing before Lamy with a menacing look.
"So it was a waste then?" Mirajane turned her sights to the voice, noticing footsteps making their way towards her. From out of the shadows she now stood, two gold horns protruding from the sides of her head. A white band separated her hair from her face while her frame was covered by a beige-leopard printed kimono and thigh high socks. Sayla, fr Macro Demon, and one of the Nine Gates stood before Mirajane now with an unamused expression. "No matter. I'll just put an end to your tale here then."
Through a dark cave Cynthia and Wendy walked together along with Charla. Side by side and scared out of their minds, the two stayed together as they continued forward. "I can't see a thing." Wendy stated. Cynthia lit a flame with her left hand, but it barely gave them the light they needed. "I don't want to use too much." She replied softly, expressing such in an obvious manner. Wendy nodded with a smile. "It's okay. It'll just have to do."
"Just concentrate, both of you." Charla told them. "Stay focused. We're looking for Face, remember?"
"Right." The both agreed, and continued forward. Finally, after some time, Wendy sniffed the air. "It's different here." She announced, making the observation. "Different how?" Cynthia asked. "I'm not sure, but..." Wendy moved forward, Cynthia right behind her. "...I can tell it's important."
"Is this what Kyouka sent me to guard against!? These two munchkins won't fill me up! Damn you Kyouka!"
"Huh?" The two girls looked up only to see someone hanging from the ceiling. No doubt, a demon of Tartarus. "How dare she foist this task upon me!"
As he shouted, the demon dropped from the ceiling, Wendy and Cynthia leaping out of the way just in the knick of time as he landed. A tall, muscular demon with pale blue skin, four arms, and six segmented tentacles as legs. His triangular-fang like teeth were shown as she professed his dismay for having to fight two little girls instead of a larger human. "Tartarus!" Wendy shouted. "That's right!" The demon replied. "Kyouka said someone would come down here and try to stop Face, and that I could devour them, so imagine my disappointment when I found out it was just two little girls!"
As he yelled, he swung, attempting to punch them both into the ground. Both Cynthia and Wendy leapt away in opposite directions, holding their ground for his next attack.
"Beating up on little girls, Ezel?" A voice rang from behind. "Huh?" Ezel turned around to see who it was. Once he spotted him, the Demon Gate gained an angered glare as he continued walking forward. "Tobias. You have some nerve showing up alone against me."
"Tobias!?" Wendy shouted in shock. "That means the others are here too...this is bad
Are you here to stop Face as well?" Cynthia asked so naively. "Why would I do that? I don't care about magic being depleted from this world. I thrive on curse power just like every other demon. What I'm here for, is to take this behemoth out. And since you're here too, you can join him in his new grave. How does that sound?"
"We're in trouble." Cynthia whimpered, keeping her back against a wall and next to Wendy. "Cynthia. Listen. They're serious. There's no holding back here, okay?" Wendy pleaded, pressing her hand against Cynthia's. "But...what if I lose control again?" She asked.
"That's fine if you do. Just like I promised, I'll be here when you do. I'll make sure you come back. But now is not the time to hold back. Trust me, okay?"
She turned to her, noticing how serious Wendy was when she spoke. Cynthia then nodded as the three sides prepared for an all out fight within the caves or Tartarus.
"Get ready..." Wendy said once more, noticing the bloodthirsty looks in Tobias's and Ezel's eyes.
...because they won't be holding back either.
