After the retreat against Oracion Seis, the Guild Alliance have taken refuge by a cave where they are regrouping.
"hold still" said Lucy as she is bandaging some cuts on Gray's shoulders.
"man, those arrows stings" said Gray while wincing from the stings of his cuts. "they were endless too"
"everyone, we have a problematic situation here" said Jura while looking at Erza whose right arm is turning purple from the poisonous bite of Cobra's purple snake. "Erza-dono has been poisoned"
"I can help!" said Wendy as she kneels beside Erza and place her hands on the poisoned arm. "my magic can neutralize the poison!"
"you have healing magic? That's a lost art!" said Sherry with amazement.
"it's not healing magic" said Charla while having her arms crossed. "Wendy has Sky Dragon Slayer Magic, she's the Sky Dragon Wendy"
"Sky Dragon Slayer!?" said everyone in surprise.
"C-Charla!" said Wendy with an embarrassed look while using her magic that let out a green glow upon Erza's poisoned arm.
"another Dragon Slayer" said Lucy as Gray nodded knowing that Natsu and Gajeel are Dragon Slayers as well.
Everyone watch Wendy heals Erza's poisoned arm as the purple venom slowly disappears and is now gone in matter of passing seconds.
"phew…." Wendy sighs before wiping off some sweat on her forehead and then turns to look at the others. "there is no more poison left in Erza-san"
"that was amazing, Wendy!" said Eve in amazement while Wendy embarrassingly laugh to the compliment.
"now that the matter of Erza-dono's life is at the side" said Jura while standing up "we should think of how we are to plan a counterattack against Oracion Seis"
"yes" said Hibiki while having his arms crossed. "I didn't even calculate the fact that Oracion Seis has other dark guild at their disposal"
"those guys must've planned to have their reinforcement timed when we were going to attack them, huh?" added Ren.
"we shouldn't be asking on that question" said Lyon as everyone glance at him. "we should be asking him"
Lyon pointed a finger out towards Natsu who is at the front of the cave's entrance, the salmon haired mage holding Chitetsu who is still in his demonic katana form.
"Natsu? why?" said Lucy to Lyon.
"at that moment, Gray made an ice shield and he shouted out to not use his magic to defend against the arrows" said Lyon while hardening his gaze "he knows something that we don't"
Everyone looks at Natsu who glance at them before back to the front.
"those arrows are made by one of my old acquaintances" said Natsu as he keened his stare. "one who should have been dead for years"
"are you saying that you have an enemy that joined up with Oracion Seis?" said Sherry while placing her hands on her hips. "and this enemy happens to have weapons that are strong against mages?"
"yeah" replied Natsu before he turns around to look at the others. "I didn't even know that he could still be alive after I had cut him down"
"then the matter is settled then" said Jura while looking to the group "we have another individual who have joined up with Oracion Seis. This would mean that we have to be even more attentive to our surroundings"
"split up" said Natsu as he turns around and face the outside of the cave again "it'll be a matter of time before Oracion Seis sends in their subordinates against us."
"then I'll stay behind" said Hibiki "my magic is best at giving support, and not battle"
"I'll stay with Erza" said Lucy while standing up "Erza is still out and just with him around, I don't think they'll stand a chance"
Kiara squealed as Natsu nodded before the Pop Fox jumps and landed on Lucy's shoulder, staying with her and Hibiki.
"then it is decided" said Jura as he looks at Lyon and Sherry who nodded.
"remember" said Natsu while having a red aura covering his whole body. "if you find yourself against an enemy that you have no idea, leave that enemy to me"
Natsu started walking out of the cave as everyone else watch him.
"Men…..that man" said Ichiya with a hardened look "he has a very mysterious and dangerous perfume"
At Oracion Seis' HQ
The six members have all gathered around while facing a man wearing a dark cloak and hood.
"we are grateful of your assistance…and you are?" said Brain to the hooded cloak man.
"what my name is to you does not matter" said the cloaked figure who leans out a hand under his cloak that is holding a green lacrima crystal. "what I have to offer is what matters"
"a lacrima crystal?" said Cobra before his eyes widen "a Revival magic induced Lacrima Crystal!?"
"revival magic, you say!?" said Brain while glancing at Cobra with wide eyes then to the shrouded figure.
"just finding a mage who uses the magic is rare, finding a lacrima crystal that has the magic is even rarer!" said Racer with a bead of sweat sliding down the side of his head.
"I believe those lacrima crystals are worth lots of money, right!?" said Hoteye.
"I can't believe that someone like this guy has one" added Angel "why do you even have one?"
"I happen to hear wind that you need a certain magic to revive a certain individual of your ranks" said the shrouded figure before the lacrima crystal floated towards Brain who catch it in his grasp. "if we can make a deal, I shall help your group in achieving what you desire"
Brain looks at the lacrima crystal in his hand before to the shrouded figure.
"what is your agreement then?" said Brain with a smirk.
"just that you do not interfere my duel" said the shrouded figure while having a smirk "with the Salamander"
Natsu walks within the forest as everyone split up into groups while he is by himself.
"what do you two want?" said Natsu as he stopped in his track before glancing behind to see Wendy and Charla a few feet away while hiding behind a tree.
"u-um….i just thought that you might need help" said Wendy in a stutter.
"I don't, you should have stayed behind with Lucy and the others" said Natsu before he turns and started walking away.
"u-um!" Wendy called out as Natsu stops again to glance at her. "i-I just wanted to ask…on Grandeeney"
"Grandeeney?" said Natsu as he turns around towards Wendy.
"Wendy heard that you are a Dragon Slayer" said Charla while crossing her paws in front "and she believes that you had your magic taught by a dragon"
"are you saying that you too have been trained by a dragon?" said Natsu to Wendy who nodded.
"my mother, the Sky Dragon Grandeeney. She disappeared on X777 on the 7th month on the 7th day" explained Wendy to Natsu who keened his eyes to her. "I was wondering since you are also a Dragon Slayer, I thought you would know where she could have gone to"
"I don't know" replied Natsu while turning away "I don't know where other Dragon Slayer's parents have gone to"
"i-I see" said Wendy with a small frown. "I'm sorry for troubling you"
Natsu glanced at Wendy and sees her sad frown that made him sigh. "don't give up just yet"
Wendy looks up to Natsu as the man gave her a small smile.
"if you always wish to find her, I know that one day your wish will be granted" said Natsu as Wendy slowly smiled and nodded.
Natsu nodded back before his ears twitch once and The Dragon Slayer jumps up to a tree and then into the sky as he got a quick look at the dark forest just a few kms away from him.
"there, huh?" said Natsu before he landed on the ground where he, Wendy, and Charla are now surrounded by lots of dark mages of Naked Mummy.
"hohoho! Looks like we got ourselves the Salamander!" said one of the dark guild members while holding a magic gun.
"let's see if he is as powerful as they proclaim him to be!" added another.
"wawawawa" Wendy shakes and trembles in fear as they were surrounded by hundreds of dark mages.
"we got ambushed so quickly!?" said Charla, seeing the numbers of enemies nearby.
"get behind me" said Natsu who hardened his gaze before he waves his left hand over his face as the Oni Mouth Mask appeared on his mouth. "I'll deal with them"
at Oracion Seis base, Brain stood within the cave with only the accompany of Midnight who is still sleeping on his floating carpet and the mysterious cloaked man. Cobra, Angel, and Hoteye were sent out to dispose of the Guild Alliance while the three remained.
"and you are certain that this lacrima crystal can resurrect him?" said Brain to the hooded figure who nodded.
"that magic is over centuries old and has been preserved perfectly" replied the hooded figure before turning to look forward as Racer came running in while carrying a large coffin.
"it took me more than a minute because of how heavy the damn thing is" said Racer as Brain smirked and then wave his skull staff to the side. The large coffin glowed before its door slowly opened.
"it is finally the time to awaken him" said Brain as inside the coffin is Jellal who is unconscious while chained inside the coffin.
Several dark guild members went flying in the air before they landed on the branches of the trees nearby. Wendy hugs Charla as both were shaking in fear while looking at Natsu who has a dark guild member in a choking grasp.
"I won't ask again" said Natsu as his eyes glows while his tone going lower and darkening. "where is the location of the Oracion Seis HQ?"
The dark guild member just made choking grunt sound before Natsu throws him up and then kicks him away, sending him crashing to several trees in an instant.
"worthless" said Natsu before he glanced at the last dark guild member who is hiding behind the bushes while just shaking nonstop. Natsu squinted his eyes as he started to make his way towards the scared dark guild member.
"t-t-this man….he's a monster!" said Charla while shaking as her tail stand up in alerting danger.
"he just took them out….i-i-in just 3 minutes!" added Wendy, feeling really scared.
Natsu kicks the dark guild member to the ground before piercing Chitetsu near the man's face on the ground, barely cutting off the man's nose.
"if you want to live with that life of yours" said Natsu before Chitetsu's blade ignites in raging flames that is burning hot against the dark guild member's skin. "I suggest you answer my question quickly"
"i-i-in the cave! Oracion Seis' HQ is located 10km west of our position!" the dark guild member screamed out as he is scared for the sake of his life.
"if your words are a lie" said Natsu as he leans Chitetsu's blade near the man's face. The flames on the katana's blade raged even more to the point that it is burning the poor man's face.
"i-i-it's not! The truth! I'm telling the truth!" screamed the man while in tears before he passed out.
Natsu scoffed before he pulls Chitetsu out and then glance at Wendy and Charla.
"let's go" said Natsu as Wendy and Charla shakingly nodded.
The three went off while leaving behind a field filled with knocked out and bruised dark mages who were all taken down instantly by Natsu who didn't give them mercy.
Natsu leads front while Wendy and Charla were behind, both of them were being quiet while scared because of what they witness from Natsu.
"he has brutality, power, and a non-forgiving nature in battle" thought Charla while being very cautious of Natsu. "this man is the Salamander"
"there it is" said Natsu as the three stopped by a cliff that showed an abandoned village down below. Natsu kneels and squinted his eyes as he could see light coming from a cave below. "they are in that cave"
"u-um…should we tell the others?" asked Wendy as Natsu got up and glance at her.
"no need, I'll take them all out in one swoop," said Natsu before he looks back down to the cave where he soon heard an explosion sound coming from within. "that?"
Brain sat on the floor with a surprised look as he looks upon Jellal who stood out of his coffin with an expressionless look. The revived man having awakened from his coma seems to be lacking in thoughts.
"hahahaha! To think that the revival Lacrima Crystal had such power!" said Brain with a laugh before he sees Jellal looking at him. "huh?"
Jella swung his arm at Brain, causing the floor below the Oracion Seis leader to fall into a pit.
"gah!?" grunted Brain as he fell right into the pit.
Jellal looks down at Brain and then to Midnight who is still asleep, the man then looks outside where Natsu with Wendy and Charla stood in front. The Fire Dragon Slayer had rage in his eyes as to see Jellal once again as the man was believed to have perished when the Tower of Heaven disappears.
"Jellal!" exclaimed Natsu as he dashes right at the man and swung Chitetsu but Wendy suddenly got in between the two.
"PLEASE DON'T!" screamed Wendy as Natsu's eyes widen in surprise before he directed Chitetsu's swing upwards, missing his attack and this caused Natsu to get hit with a blast of magic from Jellal that sends him crashing to the wall before rocks came raining down on him.
Wendy gasp a bit before she turns to look at Jellal who is somehow gone.
"J-Jellal?" said Wendy before looking around for the man.
Natsu came bursting out from the pile of rock a few seconds later as he growls angrily while looking around for Jellal.
"Jellal!" Natsu growls out as his eyes glows red.
"he's gone" said Charla to Natsu who looks at her. "he just disappeared when you got blasted by his attack"
"what did you say?!" said Natsu before he turns towards Wendy who caused him to lose the chance to attack Jellal. "you….why the hell did you stop me!?"
"i-it's because….he's..my friend" stuttered Wendy before she got her cheeks slapped hard by Natsu who looks furious.
"do you think that it was the right thing to spare that man's live!? That man ruined the lives of others! Including my friend!" exclaimed Natsu in rage. "and you protect him because he is your friend!? Such a pitiful lie!"
"hey!" exclaimed Charla before Natsu glares at her and that made the feline clamp her mouth shut. Natsu turns to look at Wendy who cries while holding her slapped cheek.
"I have no idea why your guild only sends the both of you, but they made a mistake in sending the two of you to join the alliance!" exclaimed Natsu with his eyes glowing red in rage before the man turns around and started walking out of the cave. "return back to where Lucy and the others are and stay there! Dare to leave and I will hunt both of you down!"
"h-hey! where do you think you're going!?" said Charla to Natsu who left the cave.
"I'm going to hunt down Jellal!" said Natsu before he looks above and then did a high sprint into the air.
Charla nervously sweats a bit before she turns towards Wendy who is crying in tears.
"let's go, Wendy" said Charla as wings appeared on her back before she grabs Wendy's back and flies herself with her out of the cave, leaving behind Midnight and Brain who seemed to still be in a trance.
"to think that he used such hostility towards me, I never knew that he had such a thing" said Brain before looking up. "was he able to hear our discussion of nirvana in his state?"
Brain's eyes widen before he quickly stands with rage upon his face.
"damn you Jellal! Do you mean to keep Nirvana to yourself!?" exclaimed Brain in rage before he realized something as he looks up and realized that the hooded figure who had given the revival lacrima crystal had disappeared before Natsu and the others came in and after Jellal's awakening. "don't tell me…."
"COBRA! AFTER JELLAL AND THAT TRAITROUS BASTARD! HE IS AFTER NIRVANA! THAT'S WHY HE GAVE US THE REVIVAL LACRIMA CRYSTAL! AFTER JELLAL AND KILL THAT HOODED BASTARD!" screamed Brain as a few kms away in the forest, Cobra stood on a tree while having a smirk.
"I hear you loud and clear" said Cobra before looking around "I'm hearing Jellal's footprints here"
Somewhere nearby, Gray, Lyon, and Sherry were surrounded by a large group of dark mages who are led by Racer and Angel, both Oracion Seis members against the three who are outnumbered.
"against two of them was already hard enough!" said Gray while wiping off some dirt on his cheeks.
"you're whining behind, Gray?" said Lyon with a smirk to his sibling disciple "so likely of you"
"shut up!" said Gray with a glare at Lyon.
"come on, you two! We are facing our enemies here!" said Sherry while preparing her magic.
"get them" said Racer as all the dark mage subordinate went on the attack against the three.
"here they come!" exclaimed Gray while having cold air coming out of his hands.
"I can see that!" said Lyon, readying his own magic power.
The dark mages charges before a crimson red blur zooms pass all of them in an instant.
Natsu appeared in front of Gray and the others as the man swung Chitetsu to the side before all the dark mages fell defeated in an instant.
"N-Natsu!?" exclaimed Gray in surprise to see the man so soon.
"S-Salamander!?" said Lyon and Sherry, surprised as well.
"h-how did this guy get here?!" said Angel in surprise while taking a step back.
"he was supposed to be nearly 100 miles away from here, right?!" said Racer, not wanting to mess with Natsu at the moment.
Natsu lifted his shadowed face up before revealing his glowing crimson red eyes while cold air is coming out of the oni mouth mask.
"you two" said Natsu while glaring hard at Racer and Angel. "where is Jellal?"
"huh? What are yo-!?" said Racer before his face got grabbed by Natsu and was soon slammed to the ground then the dark mage gets kicked straight to a tree that broke down upon Racer's crash. Natsu appeared in the air above Racer before the man came down sending a diving kick straight at Racer's stomach causing a mixture of saliva and blood to come out of the man's mouth. Natsu grabs Racer's neck and lifts the man up before he spins the man around and threw him into the air. The Dragon Slayer swung Chitetsu upwards and sends countless air slashes to cut the dark mage in every direction.
Racer fell to the ground in a big crash as he is not moving nor is there any indication that he is even breathing.
"N-Natsu…that was…..overkill" said Gray as he, Lyon, and Sherry who holds her hands over her mouth took a few steps back.
Natsu looks down at Racer before he glanced at Angel who is petrified in her place while sweating a lot in fear.
"if you don't answer me quickly" said Natsu as Chitetsu's blade ignites in raging red flames. "you'll meet the same fate as your friend here"
Lucy is sitting in the cave while watching over Erza with Kiara.
"I hope everyone is alright" said Lucy before glancing at Hibiki who is using his magic Archive to check on things. "how is it with the others?"
"Ren, and Eve are still on their way to find Oracion Seis' hideout while Jura-san is engaging against one of the Oracion Seis member. While Gray, Sherry, and Lyon are against two while surrounded by lots of dark mages around them" said Hibiki with a serious look before his eyes widen in surprise. "this is…"
"what is it?" asked Lucy to Hibiki.
"I just checked and Daimou's signal appeared along with Gray and the others, then the enemy Oracion Seis and the other dark guild mages were all taken down" said Hibiki while typing down the keys on his Archive magic's keyboard. "did he took them down on his own?"
"if it's Natsu…" said Lucy before her face went a bit grim when she imagines Natsu standing on top of a pile of beaten mages. "…..I think so"
Kiara squealed before she looks to the front and sees Wendy with Charla flying in. the Pop Fox squeals to Lucy who turns and sees the two.
"ah, Wendy and Charla are back" said Lucy as Hibiki sees the two-coming inside. Wendy sniffles while holding a hand to her red cheek.
"Wendy? Are you alright? did you got hurt?" asked Lucy, seeing Wendy's red cheek.
"n-no" said Wendy but Charla stepped in front of her.
"that beast of a friend of yours slapped her!" said Charla as Lucy looks a bit surprised, knowing that Charla is referring to Natsu.
"b-but why did he did so?" asked Lucy, a bit confused.
Charla soon explains on what had happened, from the point of them finding the Oracion Seis hideout to the point of their meeting with Jellal.
"Jellal is back!? But that's impossible!" said Lucy, knowing of the man's demise at the Tower of Heaven.
"are you two referring to Jellal Fernandez? The man who caused the destruction of the Council's previous headquarters?" said Hibiki, hearing the conversation.
"I don't really know what this Jellal connection has with that friend of yours, but Wendy once told me that the guy had saved her life once and she owes him one" said Charla as Lucy looks a bit confused before turning towards Wendy who has been quiet in the whole conversation.
"Wendy, is that true?" asked Lucy to Wendy who slowly nodded her head.
"I just…..Jellal saved my life once when I was still little….i just…" said Wendy while sniffling in tears. "sorry…I'm so sorry.."
"don't cry, Wendy" said Lucy while placing a hand to her shoulder before pulling the young girl into a comforting hug. "it's not your fault"
"I know that the Salamander is ruthless in battle and all, but he didn't have to slap a young lady's beautiful face" said Hibiki with a disagreeing look before he looks down and his eyes widen. "what the!?"
Lucy looks at Hibiki who has wide eyes as she looks to where he is looking, and her eyes widen in surprise too because of Erza being gone from her place.
"eh?! Where did Erza go!?" said Lucy in surprise as she looks around and realizes that Kiara is also gone. "Kiara too?!"
Meanwhile, a few kilometers away from the hideout, Erza is running in the forest as her thoughts are on Jellal who she heard is still alive.
"Jellal…" Erza muttered out before she heard a squeal behind as she turns and sees Kiara chasing after her. "Kiara, go back!"
Kiara squealed as she just followed Erza before she jumps and latches on the scarlet knight's skirt. The Pop Fox intending to follow her all the way through.
Erza sighs with a smile before she looks forward and continued running in the forest to find Jellal.
At the area where Natsu and the others are at.
"B-Brain plans to use Nirvana's magic t-to reverse the light of legal guilds into darkness, so that they would be evil and just kill each o-other" said Angel while back against a tree, her body is burned and bruised up by Natsu who stood in front of her while glaring down with glowing red eyes. "a-and he plans…to use Nirvana on C-Cait Shelter as i-it's the most closest guild"
"that's Wendy's guild!" said Gray as he, Lyon, and Sherry are behind Natsu.
"where is Nirvana's location?!" said Lyon to Angel.
"i-I don't know….Brain said that o-only Jellal k-knew of Nirvana's….s-sealed location" replied Angel while looking down, not wanting to look at Natsu's glaring red eyes.
"then we don't even know where to even start!" said Sherry before she sees Natsu lifting up Chitetsu as the katana's blade ignites in flames.
"w-what are you?" said Angel before she gasp when Natsu swung the flaming katana right at her that made the dark mage scream.
Before the flaming sword could hit Angel, Gray got in front and blocked Chitetsu with his hands that are covered in cold ice.
"stop, Natsu! we got the information that we need!" said Gray to Natsu who stares at the ice mage with his red eyes. "let's just capture her and hand her over to the Council when we stop the rest of her guild from getting Nirvana"
Natsu looks at Gray before the flames on Chitetsu's blade disperse and the man slowly pulls the katana away. He then turns around and started walking away from the group who looks at him.
"that man is just as dangerous as the last time I seen him" said Lyon with a nervous sweat running down the side of his head.
"yes" added Sherry in agreement before she turns to see Angel who had passed out from the near-death experience. "that man is very terrifying"
Gray looks at Natsu before to Angel who he placed some ice cuffs on her arms and legs, then takes away the Celestial Spirit keys that she had with her.
"let's get back to Lucy and the others" said Gray as he carried Angel over his shoulder and then looks at Lyon and Sherry. "We get these two away and then find wherever Nirvana is"
"what about him?" asked Lyon while pointing to where Natsu is standing at as the man is facing towards the forest.
"hey, Natsu. let's go" said Gray to Natsu while walking towards him. When Gray got close to Natsu, his eyes went hostile as a cloaked figure stood a few feet away from them. "Lyon, Sherry!"
Lyon and Sherry look in the front and saw the cloaked figure as they got beside Gray and Natsu, believing that the mysterious stranger is an ally of Oracion Seis.
"seems that I have found you at last, Natsu" said the cloaked figure whose smirks appear under the cloak with his eyes hardened towards Natsu whose eyes glows redder. "It is time for you to die!"
"looks like this guy is the one who helped Oracion Seis back then!" said Lyon while preparing his Ice Make Magic.
"get back" said Natsu as he grabs his cloak that hangs around his right shoulder before throwing it away to reveal his right arm that is covered in white and black tentacles that are connected with Chitetsu's handle.
Feeling a bit disgusted, Gray sees that the tentacles are spreading all over Natsu's right arm and are attaching themselves to his own skin.
"hey, Natsu….those tentacles thing" said Gray as Natsu just walks towards the stranger who took off his cloak to reveal himself wielding a kusarigama and is wearing some sort of black and blue yukata with jeans mix.
"leave" said Natsu as the Oni Mouth mask on his face started to grow as it started to cover Natsu's entire face slowly. "NOW!"
Natsu dashed at the stranger as both men swung their weapon's blade at one another, causing a shockwave to blow out that nearly shook the entire field.
"w-what power!" said Sherry in surprise as she nearly got off balance.
Natsu and the stranger started swinging their weapons at one another as fire sparks and powerful wind gust blew out everywhere.
"let's get back!" exclaimed Gray while tightening his hold on Angel's body. "this guy is fighting Natsu at his full power! We shouldn't be staying here!"
Gray and the others started backing away as Natsu swung Chitetsu down at his foe who blocked the katana with his kusarigama, the power of the swing is so powerful that the ground bellow the two breaks and cracks.
Natsu and his opponent backed away from each other before both dash and swung their weapon's blade while glaring at each other.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye
