The Heir Of The Exiled Chapter 19: The Sentence, a fairy tail fanfic

Good morning my dear readers! xD Here I am and there's the new chapter for my story! There's not much to say since I'm quit reading Fairy Tail manga, at least for a while. Only one reminder before we can proceed. The story is 'T' rated, please remember that before asking why I have to keep definitions of violence and swearing within reasonable limits.

Also, due to the same reason, there will be no 'lemons' in this story. When this story will get enough progress (up to GMG arc, I suppose), I'll make a spin-off for H-content.

Thanks everyone who wrote a review, trust me – these few words are just what author need to continue his work!

Answers for the reviewers:

Wolf Strife: Thank you!

ValinNight: Well, it's finally here. And trust me – I really believe this is worth waiting.

deadmask: Don't mention it. xD Mira VS Ikaruga was tough stuff to write, but I believe It'll match your expectations.

Mira-san: Really? Well, then I think I have to apologize to you, but… well, you'll see by yourself.

FanFictionHunter: Really? Only next two? So you don't interested in other three? xD Mira's chess figure is winged female demon and Natsu's… well, no idea, honestly xD

eze5555: Of course, there will be more flashbacks, but not in this chapter. Sorry, but it already became too large.

Tet19: Many thanks, I really appreciate it. However, man, I want to ask you to stop writing spoilers to FT content, I quit reading it for a while. No offence xD.

InflatedChimp: Here you go! =) This chapter is packed with action scenes to the limit.

meowhaha: Thank you. I really believe that 'caring Mira' personality looks somehow unnatural. She's called 'she-devil' for a good reason =)

Guest: In chapter 4

Geraze90: Thanks for high praise. Yeah, I know what you mean about disappointment. However, I disagree that Lucy is becoming sort of whore. It just seems as if her maturing like froze in time. And, unfortunately, not only hers…

Now, let's proceed. Unlike two previous chapters – this one consists of unique combat scenes. This is the showdown of ToH arc and few revelations awaits you.

This chapter could seem a bit messy – almost half of this chapter was written even before chapter one. Some scenes and events were planned from the very beginning of the story. Good reading and please refer to my footnotes at the end of the chapter.

Chapter updated 11/12/2016

Chapter XIX – The Sentence.

…

September 27, X784, 4:50, Tower of Paradise, 34 minutes until Etherion

(With Gray and Simon)

"Crap! How far away that damn bird has carried us?!" Gray asked in frustration as he and Simon were running downstairs; they still had no idea where the others could be.

"The others probably looking for us right now, I'm afraid we could easily miss each other…" Simon guessed. He knew the tower's layout quite well, and now he and Gray were heading to the place from where they were kidnapped.

September 27, X784, 4:51, Tower of Paradise, 33 minutes until Etherion

(With Mirajane)

Mira turned around the corner and noticed someone on the other side of the corridor. It was a woman, dressed into white kimono with burning skull patterns, also she wore traditional sandals with extremely high platform soles. In her hands she carried very long katana-like sword – an Ōdachi. "I am called Ikaruga. Greetings," She introduced herself.

"Fuck…" Mirajane gulped as she felt powerful magic from her. Mira saw that this woman was walking calmly toward her with closed eyes as petals of white sakura were flying around her. 'This woman… she has an order to kill all of us…' Mira thought, eyeing her opponent. Obviously, she was the one of Jellal's three warriors. 'I hope I've recovered enough of my strength to defeat her…' She-devil thought while Ikaruga was getting closer. Only one month has passed ever since Mirajane reawakened her magic, and, despite she was training a lot during this time, she yet has much to catch up after almost three years of fooling around... "Satan Sōru!" [Satan Soul] Mirajane shouted, eliciting a powerful magic blast as she performed her Take Over spell.

"Yes, this is just what I've been expecting," Ikaruga noted as she felt powerful magic from demon that appeared in front of her, "But I'm no mere passerby on the road, prepare yourself…"

Mirajane decided to act without small talk. "Ebiru Ekusupurōjon!" [Evil Explosion]. She-devil combined her hands together, gathering dark-red colored sphere between her palms and expelling a powerful beam from it. Magic beam shot toward Trinity Raven's captain, which didn't try to avoid the attack. Instead, she quickly drew out her sword and made two slicing moves. Her sword flashed twice and Mira's magic beam turned into a thousand tiny energy orbs, which were practically harmless. However, it seems that Mira was expecting this as she dashed toward her enemy. Despite her lightning reflexes, Ikaruga only understood what's going on after she was grabbed by the back of her head and smashed into the floor face down.

"Auuugh!" Sword mage yelped as she kissed the granite floor. Mirajane raised both her fists with intention to hit the enemy between her shoulder blades, it seems she wanted to break her spine. However, within the fracture of a second Ikaruga quickly rolled aside and jumped on her feet, making some distance between herself and she-devil. "Not bad," She said smiling, despite that a large bruise was swelling on her forehead. Mira looked at her, preparing for another attack as pink-haired woman continued to speak, "You're fast, I didn't expect you to approach so quickly… but, it seems I'm not the only one who didn't notice something…"

As she said that, Mirajane screamed from pain as her skimpy one-piece suite was sliced to pieces, leaving her almost naked, she also got several cuts. "Don't you think it's a bit inappropriate to expose yourself in front of a stranger?" Ikaruga mocked her opponent as Mira fell on knees. "I believe it's called the 'exhibitionism'…"

'Damn… she's quick…' Mira thought as Ikaruga stood still, waiting for Mirajane to realize the situation.

"As I stood and stared… through the shadows of the mist… stood a specter there…" She sang some sort of a poem before addressing to Mirajane again. "While you were raising your arms… It seems you failed to notice a flurry of slices surrounding you where you stood," She noted as Mira stood up.

"So be it," Mira replied, now it was obvious that she won't get an easy victory. "You want it serious? You'll get it! Satan Sōru: Harufasu! [Satan Soul: Halphas]" Bright magic light engulfed Mira's body as she performed another Take Over. A second later light disappeared, revealing Mira in completely new appearance.

"So, you have another Satan Soul?" Ikaruga smiled, examining Mirajane's new demon. "Yes, that's more like it," She noted. Mirajane's limbs now were covered with blue scales, she got scaled horns-like ears and tail, and angel-like wings. Mira's sky-blue eyes became darker and now were focused on the enemy. Ikaruga drew out her sword, preparing for the attack, "Here I come!"

Mirajane rushed toward sword mage and two ladies clashed in melee battle. In her Halphas form Mira matched the speed of Ikaruga's sword, as her scales seemed to be durable enough to protect she-devil from the sword attacks. Each of Mirajane's blows was eliciting a powerful shockwave that caused damage to tower's wall.

Mira already made several attacks, yet Ikaruga appeared virtually unharmed as she was fast enough to block all the blows. Trinity Raven's captain fought with calm smile, having great confidence in her powers. Seeing an opening, she made a quick lunge with her ōdachi, forcing Mira to jump up to avoid the attack on her virtually unprotected abdomen. Mira saw this as an opportunity; she used her wings to gain an altitude and flew behind her enemy, spread her arms wide, gathering darkness magic into each palm. "Tenki: Raikyū!" [Heavenly Demon: Ball Lightning] Mira shouted as she combined her hands together and threw an orb of dark energy in her enemy.

Ikaruga turned around and drew out her sword, eyeing the sphere of dark lightning. "Mugetsu-Ryū: Yasha Senkū!" [Empty Moon Style: Yasha's Sky Flash] Ikaruga swung her sword, creating massive shockwave in arc-like pattern that sliced Mira's darkness sphere in half and struck Mirajane herself, powerful shockwave sent her crushing into the wall, ripping her scales and clothes. Mira let out heartrending scream of pain as she crashed into wall and it crumbled, burying her under the pile of debris.

However, the sphere of darkness magic that was sliced in half suddenly restored itself and, to Ikaruga's shock, continued her way toward her. The sword mage had no time to react – sphere exploded right upon her face, electrocuting and burning her by powerful magic charge. "YYAAAHH!" Ikaruga screamed in agony as Mira's magic not only burned her but also smashed her into the floor.

Yet, one second later Ikaruga recovered and jumped on feet. She was cowered with burns and her kimono was ripped to shreds but she was ready to continue battle. "Mugetsu-Ryū: Karura-en!" [Empty Moon Style: Garuda Flame] Once again, Ikaruga swung her sword, creating powerful firestorm in arc pattern, sending it toward Mirajane with intention to blast her while she's buried under the wall's remains.

By the way, Ikaruga's attacks have nothing in common with Natsu's Senmei Saikō techniques, which uses magic to charge sword – in contrary – Mugetsu-Ryū is magic, which is generated, using sword.

"Satan Sōru: Shutori! [Satan Soul: Sitri]" Mira shouted as powerful magic blast, caused by her transformation, freed her from the pile of debris. Her appearance changed again as now she wore quite revealing dark-blue overcoat, with light edges, which was torn in its lower part, and which reveals a fair amount of her cleavage, being left open on the front and having the parts covering Mirajane's chest linked to a high, wide collar. She also now had some armor plating, but most distinctive element of this transformation, however, were her feet, which were engulfed into a sea of sharp flames, enveloping the ground in the immediate area around Mirajane.

"Another Soul?!" Ikaruga asked in slight shock as Mira raised her arms and literally caught Ikaruga's Garuda Flame.

"Hmpf…" Mira snorted, holding huge fireball above her head, "You're trying to burn a fire demon with such a simple flame?" Mira smiled as she threw the flame back at her enemy. With widened eyes sword mage saw as her own flame flew toward her. She raised her sword to block the attack, yet when flame struck her, Ikaruga got several more burns and was sent crushing into a column behind her. Mirajane dashed forward, trying to finish off dazed opponent, however, despite Mira's immense speed, Triniti Raven's captain already recovered and met her with her ōdachi, ready to strike. Once again, two ladies clashed into brief melee battle.

"Mugetsu-Ryū: Tenshi Hyōjin!" [Empty Moon Style: Angel's Ice Blade] Ikaruga jumped up and swung her sword, creating powerful icy shockwave in arc pattern, which consisted of tiny ice blades, and she sent it toward Mirajane.

"Rei Konzetsu!" [Soul Eradication] Mira extended both her arms forward, creating large black magic seal in front of herself. Second later seal disappeared as Mira shot toward Ikaruga immensely powerful ray of dark flames that shook the entire Tower of Paradise.

Two spell clashed, producing extremely powerful magic explosion. Blast caught Ikaruga in mid-air and smashed her into ceiling with huge force as she made a hole in it, 'kissed' the ceiling of an upper floor and then fell back in the corridor where she fought with Mirajane. Mira got a direct hit from Ikaruga's spell, she wasn't thrown back too far but she now looked like a porcupine because of large number of icy blades that plunged into her skin, also a couple her bones were broken due to force of the attack. "AAAAUUUUGH!" She screamed as blades disappeared and blood spurted from multiple wounds she just got and she fell on floor.

It took about two minutes for both women to recover enough strength to stand up. Ikaruga could barely stand – she was covered with burns and bruises all over, holding to her chest, definitely several of her bones were broken. Mira didn't look better – covered in multiple cuts she was bleeding quite badly, barely holding on her feet.

"I must admit… it was the best battle of my life…" Ikaruga said as drops of blood were flowing out of her mouth – she got massive internal damage. "First time I met someone who managed to match the speed of my attacks, withstood the sharpness of my blade and endure such amount of damage…" She continued to speak, despite it obviously was painful. "But I'm not going to lose to you…" She added, rising her sword, "I never failed my job before and I'm not going to do this now!"

Mira stood panting, eyeing the Ikaruga. She still has plenty of magic power, but her body was on edge – she won't be able to take more damage. "Three years ago, I lost my younger sister during mission…" Mira said, using this small talk to gather her thoughts. "When she died, not only me but whole guild was mournful, almost everyone was crying in sadness…" Mira continued, examining her enemy. "It will be a lie if I tell you that I'm not afraid to die. I am afraid and I do not want to die. You can't imagine how much I actually want to live, there are still so many things I want to do. But even more than that, I don't want to let anyone feel the sadness that we all felt when my sister died…" Mira said as she canceled her transformation and returned to her normal form. "Natsu and Erza… I came here against their will, but they will blame themselves if I die… and my brother… I have no right to leave him alone."

"Huh?!" Ikaruga asked in shock as she saw that Mira canceled her magic, "What are you doing?! You want to… give up?!" Trinity Raven's captain was disappointed.

"Not at all," Mira replied calmly. "My friends are counting on me. I cannot let you to continue threaten them…" Mira replied, gathering her magic. 'That's it. I have no choice, I have to use this forbidden spell… It probably will burn out all my magic within seconds, but this is my only chance. It's do or die, Mirajane!' She mentally yelled at herself. "I will use all my powers to defeat you and make sure that we all will return home – to Fairy Tail!" Mira announced as her body began to glow.

"Then let's finish this!" Ikaruga shouted as she again drew out her sword, preparing for last attack. "However, I want you to know – no matter who among us will win – I enjoyed this battle."

"Satan Sōru: Beresu!" [Satan Soul: Beleth*] Mira chanted, once again eliciting a magic blast and gaining new appearance. Mira's skin became tanner, even a bit red, as her hair became longer and now were braided in dreadlocks. Her eyes now couldn't be seen as they were glowing with orange light. Mira now wore large metal shoulderpads, shaped like fiendish faces, which were burning with bright orange flame. She had massive metal gloves with blade-like plates on outer part, gloves length was to the middle of forearm. Some sort of torn off chains, about half a meter long, were attached to her wrists. Also, she wore extremely high leather boots, their length was to the upper half of Mira's hips. Outer parts of boots were covered with metal plates, which were shaped like faces of tormented souls and decorated with runic inscriptions. Mira's buttocks were covered with red/black chainmail skirt as front part of her pelvis was almost exposed, barely covered by black thongs. Her chest was covered by quite revealing chestplate, which could only cover the outer part of her breasts and ribs, completely revealing her cleavage and abdomen. On her neck, Mira wore spiked choker. However, Mira's most distinctive features were not one but three scaled tails and black, burning demonic wings. In her arms, Mira held a large scythe, it was burning with hellish flame and decorated with demonic patterns from tip of the hilt to the edge of blade. "Prepare yourself!" Mira howled with echoing, demonic voice, raising her weapon, "Rei Kyōdatsusha!" [Soul Reaver]

'Another Soul?! How many of them she has?!" Ikaruga thought, but now it was too late to think. Channeling all her magic through her sword, Trinity Raven's captain dashed forward, preparing to strike, as she-devil did the same. BOOM! Another magic blast shook entire tower as two ladies clashed for the last time.

"AAAUUUGH!" Mira screamed in pain as blood spurted from two deep wounds on her abdomen.

"It seems I won…" Ikaruga smiled as she turned around to look at the wounded demon.

"No, you didn't," Mira replied as her transformation wore off – just as she has expected – this powerful soul burned all her magic within seconds, "But know this: I enjoyed this battle as well…"

"Huh?" Ikaruga asked as she felt some cold. She looked down and her eyes widened in horror as she saw a huge through hole, right in the middle of her abdomen. Slowly she fell on her knees as her sight began to become blurry. "Im… impossible…" Ikaruga croaked, looking at Mirajane. There was no blood since hole's edges were burned. "That was impressive…" She added as she fell on her back. Mira just stood, panting and not looking at her enemy. "I have… never once… been defeated… not once… since the guild was founded… until this day…" She spoke as her voice was becoming quieter. "However, you, Jellal, and all your friends are destined for defeat…" She still spoke, despite the horrible wound. Mira looked at her worriedly, not knowing what she meant. "Twenty five minutes…" Ikaruga raised her shaking arm and pointed upward. "See it plummet down… shining light of justice bright… bringing death to all…" She sang as her sight went dark. "Ah… a beastly poem…" Ikaruga moaned her last words, closed her eyes and died.

"Amazing…" Jellal said as he took the female demon-like chess figure and used it to knock over the figure of woman in white kimono. "She looked so cute and innocent in the magazines… well, often things are not that what they seem…" He smiled.

"Twenty-five minutes?!" Mirajane exclaimed in shock as Ikaruga's last words reached her exhausted mind. Suddenly, her legs refused to hold her and she fell on the floor, into the small pool of her own blood. "No! Not now!" She cried desperately. Her body received so massive damage that she couldn't even stand up. "No way! I refuse to die here! I will get out of here!" Mira vowed and began to crawl toward stairs.

September 27, X784, 5:00, Tower of Paradise, 24 minutes until Etherion

(With Simon and Gray)

"Shit! Etherion can fire at any moment and I have no way to know how much time we have!" Simon complained, talking mostly to himself, as he was running along tower's corridor.

"It's the worst part," Gray agreed. "We are running here like crazed, but actually we have no warranty that Etherion will be fired at all…" They rounded the corner and now have been running toward another stair. "Maybe he was just bluffing…"

Two guys climbed up to stairs, now they were quite close to place from where they were kidnapped. They rounded another corner and saw a large corridor, but this one was quite messed up. As Gray and Simon made their way through it, they've noticed a bald and battered Vidaldus, who was lying on the floor, out cold. Also, they saw two girls, which were sitting near him. They were Lucy and Juvia, right now they were using Vidaldus' own hair to tie him up.

"This is another member of Trinity Raven?" Simon asked as he and Gray rushed forward.

"Yes," Blue-haired girl replied, finishing her task. "Lucy-san defeated him with little help from Juvia," Girl explained with smile.

"Juvia, can you please stop it?" Lucy sighed, despite she actually was pleased, "We fought and defeated him together!"

"That's Fairy Tail's sorceresses for you!" Gray exclaimed proudly.

'And Juvia, too?!' Water witch smiled joyfully.

"Okay girls, c'mon – we have to find Mirajane and get out of here!" Gray announced.

"She followed you when that bird dragged you to the window," Lucy informed.

"But it seems she lost you…" Juvia sighed.

"Don't worry, we'll find her!" Simon announced. "C'mon people – this way!" He pointed to the stair that was leading upward.

"Right!" Gray, Lucy and Juvia agreed in chorus.

September 27, X784, 5:03 AM, Tower of Paradise, 21 minutes until Etherion

(With Mirajane)

"I will not die here… I will return home…" Mirajane kept repeating these words like an incantation as she continued to crawl downstairs. Movability of her legs partially returned so now she was crawling on all four, leaving a bloody trail due to her multiple wounds. She was so focused on keeping herself conscious that she didn't even notice as someone approached her. She only understood that here is someone else as pair of strong hands picked her up.

"Oh my God, Mira!" Lucy exclaimed in horror as Gray held her up in his arms. "What happened to you?! You are beaten black-and-blue all over!" Blonde felt herself sick just by looking at Mira's wounds.

Simon and Juvia were just staring at her, not knowing what to say.

"Ikaruga…" Mira replied weakly.

"That's Trinity Raven's captain!" Simon shouted. "She fought her in one-on-one battle?!" He was shocked, 'She's just insane to go alone against one of the most dangerous assassins of all of Fiore! And she even won?!'

Gray traced the long bloody trail, "How much blood did you lose?!" He looked at her pale body with frightened eyes. Even after being tortured by Nelliel and fighting against Jose day after that, she looked better.

"About two gallons… I think…" She tried to joke, unsuccessfully. Gray realized that she's not in condition to answer any sort of questions.

"Okay, please, just hold on to it, I'll get you out of here!" Gray exclaimed.

"Gray…" Mira croaked, "Twenty minutes… until Etherion…"

"WHAT?!" All mages yelled in shock.

"Ikaruga… said so…" Snow-haired girl added.

"We have to warn Natsu and Erza!" Simon exclaimed.

"I'll go!" Lucy announced. "If they're on top then I don't need to know the tower's layout and I have some tricks to take a shortcut! Barugo!" Lucy grabbed her key and summoned Virgo.

"How may I serve you, Hime-sama?" Maiden spirit asked with polite bow.

"Let's go to the top!" Lucy shouted, "Break this wall!"

"As you wish!" Virgo saluted and used her 'Diver' magic to destroy the wall behind Lucy. Blonde and her spirit rushed to the stair that was behind the wall.

"Hey, wait!" Simon tried to stop Lucy but Juvia interrupted him.

"Lucy-san knows what she's doing, we have to leave this place, now," Water witch said.

"She's right, let's get out of here, move it people!" Gray exclaimed. "Mira, hold on, I'll take you to safety in no time!" Ice mage vowed as he started to run downstairs, Gray knew that there's a large medikit aboard the ship.

"Thanks…" Platinum blonde tried to smile (unsuccessfully as well), "Then I'll pass out for a while…" She added and fell unconscious. As Gray took her, she had no more reasons to force herself to stay awake.

"Mira! Mira!" Gray shouted, still running. To his immense relief, the Ice mage saw that she was still breathing, Mirajane just lost her consciousness. "Damn, she is tough…" Gray mumbled, running as fast as he could.

"If I would get such amount of damage, I would be dead for sure…" Simon mumbled, he couldn't understand how she's still alive with such terrible wounds.

'Juvia's envy to Mirajane-sama… being carried in Gray-sama arms…' Water witch thought. 'But please hold on, Mirajane-sama! Juvia can tolerate it…'

"Damn! Please, Mira, just hold on! I'll get you out of here, I swear!" Gray exclaimed. 'Why it should always end up like this?!' Ice mage thought angrily.

September 27, X784, 5:11, Tower of Paradise, 13 minutes until Etherion

(With Natsu and Erza)

Erza, Natsu and Sin were still on top of the tower, waiting for Jellal to show up. "Damn! Where is this scum?! Jellal! Show yourself!" Erza roared, she definitely tired of waiting, her fury was boiling over the edge.

"I'm afraid he won't show up until Etherion will be fired…" Natsu guessed. It seems he and Sin both resigned to fate – they have to wait.

"Patience, Erza…" Sin noted. "If they're going to fire – it probably will happen soon."

"My patience ran out!" Erza shouted as she slammed her fist into the floor, making one more hole in it.

September 27, X784, 5:12, Tower of Paradise, 12 minutes until Etherion

(With Lucy and Virgo)

"Hime-sama, what you're going to do when you will be at the top of the tower?" Virgo wondered as she destroyed another wall.

Lucy froze like paralyzed with idiotic expression on her face, she actually didn't think about it. Virgo understood the reason of her confusion.

"Can I suggest you to hide in celestial spirits world?" Maiden asked.

"What?! But we can't breathe there!" Lucy exclaimed.

"You can enter the celestial realm in celestial clothes," Virgo said.

"Really?!" Lucy's eyes widened in surprise. "Is that so simple?!"

"Yes," Maiden confirmed.

"Then it's great idea, Virgo!" Lucy exclaimed happily. Finally, she found some way to be useful for Natsu and Erza.

"Will you punish me?" Virgo asked.

"I'm praising you!" Lucy was freaked out, "C'mon, let's go!"

September 27, X784, 5:13, Tower of Paradise, 11 minutes until Etherion

(With Mira, Gray and others)

The group finally made it to the wharf. "Juvia, go to the ship's hold – find the medical supplies and bring them to the captain's cabin, I'll bring Mira there," Gray ordered.

"Right!" Juvia saluted and rushed downstairs.

"Okay, Simon, raise the sails, we have to get out of here!" Gray exclaimed. "I'm going to treat and bandage Mira's wounds, and she needs a blood transfusion… fortunately I have the '0(I) Rh–' blood type… "

"Wait, how about Erza, Natsu and that blonde girl, Lucy?!" Simon asked in surprise, "We can't leave them there!"

"They have Sin," Gray replied. "I'm sure Lucy will make it in time so all three of them will escape."

"Oh, right!" Simon actually forgot about little boney creature. "Damn… Erza, I hope you know what you are doing…" He thought, raising the sails. Erza changed too much since he saw her last time – now he couldn't predict her intentions at all. 'Crimson Cardinal… Please keep her from reckless actions…'

"Well, time is almost up…" Jellal smiled to himself, "It's time for our lovely couple to split up… I'm wondering – who will remain to be sacrificed to my master?... Or they both will perish for good?" He asked himself as he used his darkness magic to move aside his chessboard. It seems that board was standing on some sort of button that should become unpressed when weight will be removed. However, Jellal held it pressed via his magic – it seems he was waiting for a suitable moment.

September 27, X784, 5:15, Tower of Paradise, 9 minutes until Etherion

(With Erza, Natsu and Sin)

Natsu came to the window and looked at the horizon, Sin still was on his shoulder. "I'm wondering… what if Sieg was unable to convince the council to use Etherion?"

"No idea," Sin replied, "But Jellal spent eight years to build this tower, I doubt he'll try to escape anyway. Maybe he has some spare plan…" Sin guessed. "By the way, Natsu, are you worried about Mira and others?"

"It will be a lie If I say that I don't…" Natsu admitted, yet his voice remained emotionless. "But I'm afraid that now it's just too late to look for them… Neither of us isn't obliged to babysit other wizards, remember? But, I must admit, it doesn't look good, this is not how I've planned it. According to my initial plan, Jellal should've been lying here dead for about an hour ago…"

"I knew that he's a scum but never imagined that he's also a coward!" Erza exclaimed in frustration, from the center of the throne room.

"Yeah… Okay, there are five of our people here, and they have Mira and Gray, I'm sure they can handle Jellal's gang," Sin concluded.

"No kidding. Besides, they came here willingly…" Natsu added and looked intothe window again.

Suddenly, a powerful explosion shook the entire tower, literally tearing Jellal's throne room in half. The western part of the room, where Natsu and Sin were, was torn off from the building and began to fall and crumble, dragging Natsu along. "What the?!" Natsu was caught off guard, as he couldn't understand what's going on. "Sin!" Natsu called for his familiar but boney creature was struck by large granite plate and knocked out.

"Natsu!" Erza shouted as she saw that he was thrown out and now was falling down from the tower's top floor. "Natsu!" She dashed to the edge of the crumbled floor but there wasn't anything she actually could do to help him.

"Natsu?!" Accidentally, Lucy saw the god slayer falling down as she was running upstairs beside window. "What's happened up there?!" Natsu, however, didn't notice her – he was facing away from tower.

'Okay, this is not good!' Natsu thought as he grabbed his familiar with right hand, and Gladius Terminus glinted in his left. "Senjin no Dogō!" [War God's Howl] Natsu, facing away from tower, shot his spell that way, using it as a jet stream to fly closer to tower's wall. When he was close enough, he plunged his katana into the wall, still holding his familiar with right hand. Using his sword as a hook, he remained hanging on the tower's outer wall, at tower's bottom level. "Jellal… You'll pay for this…"

"Damn! What shall I do?!" Lucy thought in panic. "It's about ten minutes until Etherion, I can't reach them both in time!"

"I think I saw Natsu-san holding his flying companion," Virgo noted.

"Really?!" Lucy exclaimed in relief. "Then let's go – Natsu will soon get back to the top!" Blonde said and they continued to ascend. However, she miscalculated time… only six minutes left.

On top of the tower, Erza looked down. Eyes of she-dragon saw what happened to Natsu. Actually, she knew that fall even from such a height is not enough to kill Natsu, but still… "Nice move…" She noted to herself as she witnessed Natsu's actions. "Natsu, hang on! I'm coming down to you!" She shouted and prepared to jump down – she wanted to use ledges on tower's outer wall to descend quickly.

But suddenly, she heard as some sort of a door opened behind her. "Dear me… It seems the game is over already," Jellal said as he appeared from hidden door, "It's been a while, Erza."

"Jellal…" Erza growled as she saw the very essence of her hatred, "You think this is so funny to play games with people's lives?"

"Oh, but of course. Life and death are the very basis of all things; they intensify every emotion," Jellal said, taking few steps toward Erza. "Or to put it a rather different way: there's nothing quite as dull as 'Life'," He added.

"Yours definitely is dull," Erza replied as floor began to crack because of her fury. "But don't you worry, I'll end it soon enough," She added, examining her enemy. She was a bit surprised – his magic was unexpectedly weak… also she picked up some smell from him, it was very weak but extremely disgusting, Erza couldn't even describe it.

"I assume you've figured out my plan about Etherion?" Jellal said, through tower's surveillance system he saw what Natsu and Erza were doing. "As soon as it will fall, only thing I need is sacrifice…" He smiled. "So, shall we begin the preparations of your body for the ritual? What do you think?"

"Actually, right now I think that your brainless head will look great in my garden, impaled on a pole…" Erza replied, ex-quipping her combat outfit. "Jellal, I came here not for a small talk, I already have all the answers I need…"

"So you came to bring me to justice?" He smiled.

"Justice? Ha ha ha ha…" Erza laughed joylessly. "No, I came here for vengeance!" Erza replied as her eyes blazed with fury, "For all eight years of misery that I and my friends have endured because of you! I came to throw your breathless corpse to hell!"

"Oh no! You're going to die, sacrificed to my master!" Jellal laughed maniacally. "That much is pure fact! It is your destiny!"

"You're wasting my time Jellal! Just die!" Erza roared and dashed toward Jellal at incredible speed. Boom! She slammed her forehead into his face so fast that he couldn't even raise his arms to protect himself. 'I'm sorry Natsu, but I'm afraid you won't get your share… He's so weak…' Erza fought as Jellal broke a column with his body.

"You bitch!" Jellal bellowed, gathering darkness magic in his palm, and shot a powerful ray of darkness from his hand toward Erza. She, however, just extended her right arm forward, gathering her star dragon magic in her palm, and used it to reflect Jellal's ray back at him.

"What?!" Jellal exclaimed, dodging his own ray of darkness. "How you did it?!" He asked in shock. Also he noticed that, despite Erza ex-quipped her armor, she actually was unarmed.

"Surprise for you, punk!" Erza replied scornfully. "It's time for you to feel the power of Ushinatta Mahō [Lost Magic]!"

'Lost magic?!' Jellal thought in shock, as Erza moved for another attack.

Dragon slayer dashed to him and grabbed him by collar, and at this moment Jellal managed to take a good look into her eyes. His own eyes widened in shock as he saw her vertical slit, dragon-like pupils. "Seiryū no Hōkō!" [Star Dragon's Roar] Erza released her plasma breath point blank, smashing Jellal into ceiling.

"It's not over!" Jellal bellowed, creating a sphere of darkness magic in his hand, in the form of ghosts that revolves around the center. He then shot it at Erza, releasing several ghosts that began to wrap around her, entrapping her in some sort of a cage.

However, Erza just snorted. She created a layer of plasma around her body, and with bright flash Jellal's cage was incinerated. "Weakling!" She snorted scornfully and rushed toward shocked Jellal. "Seiryū no Kudatsume!" [Star Dragon's Crushing Claw] Erza slammed her plasma-covered foot into Jellal's abdomen. Boom! He crashed to the ceiling again and fell to Erza's feet.

'And you're telling me… this is that same Erza?!' Jellal thought in shock as he saw her raising fist for another attack. "What are you?!" He yelled as he understood that he just can't win.

"I am a Dragon Slayer!" Erza replied with pride, "Seiryū no Shōgeki!" [Star Dragon's Shock Blow]

"Guaaah!" Jellal screamed as Erza smashed him with several plasma tendrils, protruding from her fingertips, making several burns on Jellal's body and leaving several smoldering cracks on the floor.

"Still can move? Well, that's easy to fix," Erza noted, looking at Jellal with her glowing eyes, "Warifu: Ōotama!" [Rune: Tracking Bullets]. Two dozen of white-purple runes appeared all over Jellal's skin. Then, within a moment, two dozen of white-purple glowing bullets, which appeared all around Jellal, pierced his body.

"AAAGH!" Blue-haired man screamed as he got two dozen of severe burns.

"Any last words, worm?" Erza asked, narrowing her eyes.

"He really brainwashed you well…" Jellal croaked, remembering smiling, cheerful girl from his past, comparing her to remorseless machine that was standing in front of him now, ready to end his life.

"Hmpf…" Erza grunted. Actually, Natsu really had a great influence on her worldview. She learned two things thanks to him; first – to respect herself and that she's not the reason for all of the world's misfortune; and second – some people are truly beyond redemption. Also, as a dragon slayer, Erza actually got a small part of Dragon Queen's personality…

"Well, I don't know what to say… I think you'd better finish this now," Jellal said, as weird smile appeared on his face. "However, I want you to know this – by killing me you won't avenge anyone. I am not Jellal… I am Siegrain…"

"What!?" Erza's eyes widened in shock.

"Doesn't it obvious?" Man on the floor asked. "What do you remember about Jellal? Don't you think that your victory over me was a bit too easy?"

"But… but…" Erza stuttered, she was deeply discouraged. His words actually were making sense. Eight years ago, Jellal effortlessly captured the entire Tower of Paradise, but this man… he is entirely weak. The one who called himself Siegrain in the council, on the other hand, is a Wizard Saint. "You want to say… that all this time…" Erza growled as anger began to boil inside her with renewed vigor.

Man on the floor chuckled, "Jellal found me soon after he expelled you. He explained that he now serves some higher purpose, told me his plan to revive his master, to create 'Paradise'… He said that he needs me to watch over the tower while he is going to make his way into the council. It was his plan from the very beginning. I was just a mere doll in this plan, just like your former nakama… a couple of dolls, working to achieve Jellal's dream. The creation of this 'Paradise'…"

"Then what he's planning to do?!" Erza demanded an answer. "He knew that you won't be able to defeat me, then what's his plan?!"

"We'll see soon enough, won't we?" Man asked, as both he and Erza felt some rambling. "The satellite square must already be expanding in the sky above the tower. Let's just wait a few seconds…"

September 27, X784, 5:24, Magic Council ERA, Etherion sequence completed.

"The final stage of Etherion firing sequence is complete," Dispatcher announced as huge sphere of shining light was ready, creating large magic vortexes around itself. "Expand the satellite square!"

"Thus we pray…" Org and Belno said.

"Thus we pray…" Frog-like council employees said in chorus.

"Thus we pray…" Leiji and Michello said.

"Thus we pray…" Sieg and Ultear said.

Only Yajima remained silent, angrily looking at azure-haired young man.

September 27, X784, 5:25, open sea, near Tower of Paradise

"Whoa, whoa…" Simon mumbled in shock. "Are they seriously going to fire the Etherion?!"

"Natsu, Erza, Lucy!" Gray shouted as he appeared on the deck. He was paler than usual and his right elbow was bandaged. "Don't tell me… they are still there?!" Gray asked in horror.

September 27, X784, 5:25, Tower of Paradise

(With Natsu and Sin)

Natsu was running upstairs, hurrying to help his bride. He, however, went astray, 'Curse this idiotic tower! Half of these corridors leads to nowhere!' Natsu looked at his familiar, "Come on, Sin, wake up already! I need your help!" Sin, however, still was out cold. "Oh no, not now…" Natsu looked up as he felt some rumbling, he guessed that it is probably the Etherion. "So out of time… Erza, just hold on, I'm coming!"

(With Lucy and Virgo)

"What's going on?!" Lucy exclaimed, by her calculations it should be about five minutes until firing, she was almost on top.

"Hime-sama! Take my hand!" Maiden spirit shouted, but because of local earthquake tower began to crumble, and Virgo was struck by crumbling stair.

"Virgo!" Lucy screamed in panic as maiden was knocked out. "No! This is… the end?!" Lucy gasped in horror as bright light illuminated the corridor where she was.

(With Erza)

"Thus we pray for the sacred light…" Blue haired man smiled as whole room became illuminated with the brightest light.

Two magic seals appeared above the Tower of Paradise, one square and one round as huge bright sphere appeared above those seals. At the next moment, huge beam of powerful magic shot down from it, seemingly obliterating the entire island with tower on it, and creating a huge tidal wave.

(On the ship, with Gray and others)

"Aisu Meiku: Shīrudo!" Gray shouted as he was running toward ship's bow. Gray created huge flower-like shield, large enough to protect entire ship from giant wave made by Etherion. Shield withstood the wave's blow, but ship heavily jolted.

"Etherion…" Simon mumbled in horror, "They actually did it…" Both he and Gray were looking at huge cloud of steam in disbelief. Are their friends... actually... died?!

September 27, X784, 5:26, Magic Council ERA

"Etherion successfully fired! A direct hit!" Dispatcher announced. "I repeat! A direct hit!"

"Has it been successfully destroyed?!" Belno asked loudly, "We need confirmation!"

"Ethernano fusion density increasing steadily; unusual weather conditions are likely to result," Council employees were talking between themselves.

"Just how many people were inside this tower…" Org mumbled uneasily.

"We have prevented the resurrection of Zeref. If a few were sacrificed, then it was with good cause," Michello replied.

"We can try to justify our actions as much as we like… but it will not heal the hearts of the families of those who perished…" Org said with mournful sigh.

September 27, X784, 5:27, Tower of Paradise

"What's going on here…" Weak voice of a girl asked from behind as Gray and Simon were eyeing the huge steam cloud at the place where tower was.

"Mira?!" Gray asked in shock. Snow-haired girl was climbing upstairs with huge efforts. "What a hell are you thinking!? You shouldn't stand, not to mention walk!"

"Gray, please…" She replied weakly, "I'm not in condition to argue…" Mira turned her sight to the steam cloud and her eyes widened in realization. "Etherion?!" She gasped, "Wait, where's…" She looked around, trying to find Natsu, Erza and Lucy. "Don't… don't tell me…?!" Asking this Mira began to fall, unable to hold on feet.

Gray dashed to catch her. He, however, didn't try to lecture her or bring her back to the cabin. Ice mage knew how stubborn she is – as soon as she will be able to stand again, she'll come back here. However, no doubts – this stubbornness of hers is the reason why she's alive now. "Easy, easy, Mira, hold on," Gray tried to calm her down. "There's still a chance that they've escaped."

"What happened here?!" Juvia appeared on deck, she was resting in first officer's cabin but woke up when ship jolted.

"What the…" Simon said as he again looked at the tower. Steam cloud began to dissipate, revealing a huge crystal-like construction.

"The outside walls crumbled… leaving some kind of crystal?!" Gray asked in shock.

"Is that… Is that a lacrima?!" Mira's eyes widened. "Simon, what the hell is going on here?!"

"No idea…" He replied. "This is the first time when I see it as well…"

"Juvia never saw anything like that…" Water witch mumbled.

'Great… All stairs have crumbled…' Natsu thought, now he was forced to climb on tower's top using lacrima's ledges. "Sin, damn you! Wake up!"

"Etherion descended…" Lucy mumbled, "Then why I'm still alive?" She looked around, trying to understand what happened. "Virgo! Are you okay?!" Lucy noticed the maiden, who was lying nearby, still out cold.

"Okay, it happened," Erza said, looking at azure-haired man sternly, "Now what?!"

"I'm sure Jellal will show up in no time," He replied.

September 27, X784, 5:28, Magic Council ERA

Council employees were in panic.

"Something's wrong!"

"Something seems to be counteracting the ethernano in the very epicenter of the blast!"

"No… no! This is…"

"Fusion density has gone into rapid decline!"

"We're getting readings of a separate energy, an incredible magic power!"

"Our equipment can't keep up!"

"What is this?!"

"Restoring visuals now!"

Image of huge lacrima appeared on the screen.

"Target is still standing!"

"No! What… What is that?!"

"It's a giant lacrima crystal!"

"The lacrima has… absorbed all the Etherion's magical energy?!"

"WHAT?!" All councilors screamed in unison.

Yajima headed to Siegrain – he alone wasn't shocked or panicking. He stood on the second floor's balcony, calmly observing the chaos below. "Sieg!" Yajima asked angrily, "What exactly is the meaning of this?!"

But Siegrain just turned around, gave Yajima one last scornful sight and disappeared.

"What?!" Yajima asked in shock. "Gone!? Sieg has gone!?" Yajima was shivering all over.

September 27, X784, 5:30, Tower of Paradise

"Thank you for your patience, Erza," Azure-haired man said, standing up and dusting off his dark blue coat, "I think you earned a revelation…"

"Huh?" Erza looked at him in surprise.

"I must admit, you've really surprised me…" A man's voice noted from behind.

Erza turned around, only to see the same looking guy, dressed in white coat and pants. "Jellal?!" She roared. However, eyes of she-dragon were able to see in infra-red specter, she could see the body's heat signature, Erza already used this ability to see Nelliel when she was invisible. And now she couldn't see the heat from Jellal's body. "Projection?!" She growled. "Where are you?! Show yourself!"

"Umm… okay, let's clarify some things first," Man in white coat smiled. "I'm not Jellal, he is," He pointed at his twin, dressed in dark blue hooded coat. "I'm Siegrain."

"What?!" Erza's eyes flashed with fury as she looked at the guy that she defeated, "You tricked me?!"

"Oh, it was very cute, Erza," Siegrain smiled. "You pitied some poor guy who was forced to do dirty work by his evil twin…"

"Sorry, but I was in danger, I couldn't defeat you in my current condition," Jellal said. "I had no choice but to deceive you…"

"Since when you two are together in this?!" Erza demanded an answer.

"Hmm…" Sieg smiled. "Think back to the first time we ever met, Erza. You made a big mess during some mission, so you and Makarov came to present the council with the written apology. But you mistook me for Jellal and attacked me at once."

"Well, we do have the same face, so I can hardly blame you…" Jellal noted.

"I finally managed to calm you down by telling you that I am his twin brother," Siegrain continued his story. "But I don't think you ever truly lost your hostility towards me."

"And why should I have?!" Erza growled angrily. "You're his elder brother, yet you did nothing to stop what he was trying to do! Even worse, you were keeping watch over me for him! And now you've provided the magical charge for his insane idea!"

"Yes… I made a mistake there. I should probably have said something like 'I will find Jellal and stop him, without fail,' back then…" Sieg noted, walking toward Jellal. "But my greatest miscalculation was meeting with you at all. After I finally managed to become a member of the council."

"I knew it… I just had to kill you without allowing you the last words…" Erza growled.

"Yes… I'm glad that you were the one who remained in my throne room after my bomb exploded. If it was your boyfriend… He too might fit the sacrifice, but he would've killed me without small talk…" Jellal said as he and Sieg were watching at each other, "But now it is already too late…"

"And why is that?!" Erza growled. "He's just a projection, he can't help you! I'll just kick your ass again, and this time…" Erza's eyes began to glow with fury.

"Just a projection?" Sieg asked with smile, "You're still not getting it, Erza?" Suddenly, his body became transparent and he began to literally merge with Jellal.

"The two of us are one and the same…" Both Jellal and Sieg said in chorus, as Siegrain's image was becoming more and more transparent, "And we always were."

Erza's eyes widened in shock, "N… no! You can't be!" She exclaimed as Sieg completely fused with Jellal. "He was YOUR psychic projection?!" She was freaked out.

"Yes. Siegrain was me, plain and simple," Jellal replied as he completely fused with Siegrain.

"Impossible!" Erza exclaimed in disbelief "You…" Suddenly, she remembered her conversation with Natsu when she told him about her past for the first time. He mentioned some fact about Sieg, but she did not attach any importance to it back then. "So… so this is why you've been constantly avoiding meeting Natsu in person?! Sieg had no person!"

"Yes…" Jellal smiled, "When we met for the first time, he immediately noticed that I'm a projection, despite I was pretending that I'm real. Because of him I was forced to use some sorry excuses for the rest of the council – why I'm using projection while everyone else are in person…"

'Damn… If only I was listening to him more carefully instead of thinking about his…' Erza scolded herself. 'Ah, just drop it – it's impossible to not to think about this…'

"I hope you enjoyed your fleeting freedom, Erza…" Jellal gave her a haughty smile. "It was all a part of my plan. A plan to resurrect my master."

"Exactly how many people you've deceived, you swine?!" Erza yelled in fury. "And what benefits you're going to get by resurrecting Zeref?!"

"Zeref?" Jellal asked a bit surprised. "Oh, you still think I'm trying to resurrect Zeref…" Jellal chuckled. "Zeref and his puny demons are just an old story. I used his name just to scare the council, and to make Ultear think that she has things under control… Foolish girl, she'll be the first to accept punishment, for an attempt to trick me."

Now Erza really was taken aback. Suddenly she remembered that Jellal actually never mentioned Zeref's name since she came to the tower, he always used the word 'master'… "Then… then who you want to revive?!"

"You'll see soon enough… oh, no, sorry, but you won't see anything – you will be sacrificed…" Jellal chuckled. "But rest assured – when my master will return – Zeref's name will be forgotten…"

"You just insane bastard!" Erza bellowed.

But Jellal ignored her as his body began to glow, "Haha…" He chuckled as he clenched his fists. "My power… My magic has returned!" Erza felt powerful magic from Jellal's body. Now it was more like the power of one of the Ten Wizard Saints. "To be honest, you too managed to surprise me a few times…" Jellal noted to Erza. "A Dragon Slayer? Interesting… Come then, let me see the power of a Dragon Mage…"

"Ego lacero te usque correptum!*" Erza shouted furiously as her body now was engulfed by plasma glow.

September 27, X784, 5:38, Magic Council ERA

"The R-System has absorbed all 3000 million idea of magic energy!" Dispatcher announced as most of council employees were still panicking. "That much magic concentrated in one spot should lead to a giant explosion!"

"What in the world is going on?!" Belno demanded an explanation.

"We've been deceived…" Yajima mumbled in horror. "We've lost! Damn it!" Suddenly he noticed that whole building began to crumble.

"What's going on?!" Michello exclaimed.

"It seems that building itself is aging at an incredible rate!" Three-eyed councilor shouted.

"Is this an Ushinatta Mahō?!" Org exclaimed with a sweatdrop, "Toki no Enko?!" [Arc of Time]

"Watch out!" Belno shouted as council members and employees began to run from the building, "It's collapsing!"

"We must ru…" Leiji shouted as his head was struck with large stone and he saw stars.

"Councilor Leiji!" Flog-like employee exclaimed.

"Ahhh!" "Let's run!" "Help!" "Evacuate everyone!" Everyone was panicking… except for Yajima-san.

He looked around and saw Ultear casting some spell as large magic circle was above her. "Ultear…" He mumbled in disbelief, "You too?"

"It is all for Siegrain-sama… No, for Jellal-sama!" She replied with blest smile. "That man's dream is now… about to be fulfilled."

September 27, X784, 5:41, Sea near the Tower of Paradise

"It's the R-System…" Simon mumbled.

"What?!" Gray and Mirajane asked in shock.

"This is the true form of the Resurrection System that we've constructed…" He replied. "It now has been activated…"

"Activated?!" Juvia exclaimed, "Are you saying that Zeref has been revived?!"

"I don't know…" He replied through clenched teeth, "It's my first time seeing the system in action as well…"

September 27, X784, 5:43, Tower of Paradise

"Mītia!" [Meteor] Jellal shouted as he surrounded his body with magic, and dashed toward Erza. With immense speed, he flew around her and struck her back, then struck her in chest by leg kick, then he struck her head from above. His attacks were quick and precise but actually they did quite little damage, only enraging Erza more.

"You punk!" Erza growled, "Seikō Kudō!" [Starlight Drive] White light engulfed Erza's body as she used her self-improvement spell. Now, with her greatly improved reflexes she matched Jellal's speed. She couldn't fly but she was able to block all of his attack.

"Damn bitch!" Jellal growled, "Hebunrī Bīmusu!" [Heavenly Beams] He released several fast-moving arrows-like beams from his hands to attack Erza, however, despite beams were homing, Erza easily avoided them.

"And that's it?!" Erza mocked her enemy, "This is the power of a Wizard Saint?! Just how many people you've bribed to get this title?"

"You disgusting crud! You want it rough!? You'll get it!" Jellal shouted as he gained altitude and placed both hands on top of each other, with the top hand having only the index and middle fingers spread out. Seven Magic seals appeared in front of him, connected together by rays of light so it looked like a constellation. "Shichijōken!" [Seven Stars Sword] Jellar cast a spell, releasing his magic in form of seven powerful light blasts. "This magic is comparable in power to an actual meteor!"

However, before Jellal's magic reached the ground Erza opened her mouth, taking a deep breath, and all of Jellal's light blasts headed into her mouth. "What?!" Jellal's eyes widened in shock, "She devoured my spell?!" As Erza continued to inhale the air, Jellal suddenly noticed that magical light around his body also headed to her mouth. As he was stripped of his 'Meteor' spell he began to fall down. "No! It can't be!" Jellal screamed as he fell on lacrima's surface, he was angered and confused.

"Ha ha…" Erza snickered, "So this is your primary magic… A tasty one…" Eyes of she-dragon blazed with white plasma light, "Now I'll fulfill your wish and let you taste the power of a Dragon Slayer!" Erza dashed forward, grabbed Jellal's body and pile-drived him into the ground head first. While he was sticking from the ground with his head inside the lacrima, Erza waved her arm and drew a rune on lacrima's surface, around Jellal, "Ai Warifu: Tōkai no Keishō! [Ai Rune: Hidden Crystal]" Pillar of white-purple light shot into the sky, launching Jellal into the air. As light dissipated, Azure-haired man began to fall, but just before he reached the surface, Erza struck him to groin with her plasma-covered leg, "Seiryū no Kudatsume!" She sent him crashing into boulder-like lacrima, also releasing her roar at him, to speed him up, "Seiryū no Hōkō!" All her spells were more powerful than before due to her self-amplification spell. Powerful blast made a large crater and elicited large cloud of dust.

"Mītia!" However, Jellal wasn't ready to give up, he again covered his body with magic and soared into the air, "Hebunrī Burasuto!" [Heavenly Blast] Jellal clenched his fist, except for two fingers, and then swiped it backwards. A large sphere of his Heavenly Body Magic appeared in front of him and rushed toward Erza.

"Jellal, it's just useless…" Erza pointed at him before she again made a deep breath and consumed both Heavenly Blast and Meteor spells, making Jellal to fall on the ground again, being deprived of his spell.

"She's immune to my magic?!" Jellal exclaimed as he finally realized the situation.

"Jellal, pay attention. You wanted to see the power of a Dragon Mage? Then I'll show you the really destructive magic!" Erza announced, in the end, she spent so much time and efforts learning this spell…

"You'll pay for this!" Jellal bellowed, but then he gulped as he felt powerful magic from scarlet-haired dragon slayer.

Erza raised her arms, gathering huge amount of plasma in her arms, "Metsuryū Ōgi: Tengoku Chōshinsei!" [Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Heaven's Kingdom: Supernova] Twisting plasma energy took shape of a miniature spiral galaxy with bright core, and Erza threw it, aiming at horrified Jellal.

Immensely bright and powerful blast lit up the sky to the very horizon and shook the entire lacrima crystal, destroying the top of crystalline tower. Blast was as powerful as from Natsu's analogous spell.

Aboard the ship, all four – Gary, Mira, Simon and Juvia – they all saw the explosion. "I be damned…" Simon mumbled. "What was that?!"

"It's Natsu's magic…" Gray replied, unsurprisingly he mistook the spells, they were quite similar, this is why Erza managed to master this spell relatively quick – Natsu helped her a lot.

Lucy was familiar with this magic as well, she also mistook it as Natsu's spell. She decided that Natsu already returned to the top of the structure and soon everything will be over. Yet, driven mostly by curiosity and by wish to know what is going on there she continued to climb on top. Since Virgo was knocked out, Lucy used forced dismissal and now was climbing on her own.

Natsu too was making his way on top, but he had no idea what is going on, at all. He saw the explosion of course, but… He was climbing slower than he could, since he was forced to carry his familiar, who was still out cold, despite Natsu actually fought with desire to leave him… or throw him into the sea…

On top of the tower, Jellal was laying in the middle of a huge crater. His mouth and eyes were wide open as he was shocked with Erza's might. Yes, he may have some spells of comparable power, like Altair, but she's immune to his heavenly magic and with such speed she'll avoid 'Altair' with ease… Jellal definitely was at great disadvantage…

"I'm really sorry that it has to end like this…" Erza said mournfully. She stood still, looking at her old friend, as her long braid was waving on the wind. "In the end, it was you who inspired us to fight for freedom… But you came too far with your insanity, you're far beyond salvation…" Erza said, coming closer to Jellal. She extended her arm forward, summoning a sword from her magical space.

"Master… I can't defeat her… I need… help…" Jellal croaked, crawling away from the approaching dragon mage.

"Stop it Jellal. Stand up and die with honor, let me keep at least those tiny bits of respect to you that I had in our childhood…" Erza said, raising her sword. "Abase not thyself, Jellal, neither sigh nor weep…"

Suddenly, when Erza was ready to deliver the finishing blow, Jellal's eyes flashed with violet light and he cast a spell, "Ranki no Tōko!" [Storm Demon's Screech]. He opened his mouth and released a black beam of dark wind, mixed with lightning.

"Auuugh!" Erza screamed as Jellal's spell struck her, she was caught off guard and rolled head over heels, away from him.

Jellal quickly charged toward dazed opponent and struck her with leg, covered with the same dark wind, mixed with lightning "Ranki no Sōkon!" [Storm Demon's Maim] Erza flew forth and crashed into a large lacrima boulder.

"Ahahahaha!" Jellal laughed maniacally, looking at shocked Erza. "All right, it seems my Heavenly Body Magic is inferior to your Dragon Slayer Magic. Then let's see how you will handle the power of my Master!" Azure-haired man raised his arms to the sky, "Rairan Honshitsu!" [Thunderstorm Essence] Streams of dark wind, entangled with violet lightning, shrouded Jellal's body.

"I'm fucking tired of you!" Erza growled as she quickly stood up and prepared for another round, "Just die already! Seiryū no Hōkō!" Titania again released her dragon roar in form of concentrated blast of plasma.

"Ranki no Tōko!" Once again Jellal released a black beam of dark wind, mixed with violet lightning. Two spells clashed, producing powerful and violent explosion. Erza was struck by shockwave and rolled head over heels away from Jellal. She had no time to recover as Jellal, with inhuman speed, dashed to her, grabbed her body, lifted her above his head and slammed her into the ground face down.

"Auuuuhhh!" Erza screamed in pain as Jellal again struck her by leg kick:

"Ranki no Sōkon!" Force of the blow sent Erza crashing into lacrima pillar on the edge of the tower. Erza quickly recovered and tried to make some distance between enemy and herself, she needed some time to re-estimate her opponent. However, Jellal rushed after her and, despite Erza's 'Drive' spell, he easily caught up with her and slammed his fist into the back of her head, "Ranki no Totsushi!" [Storm Demon's Piercing Sting] Erza flew forth and 'kissed' with another lacrima pillar, destroying it by her face and body. "You disgusting bitch!" Jellal growled, eyeing Erza, who quickly rose on her feet and now was looking hatefully at Jellal, ignoring the trickles of blood from her nose and mouth. "You'll pay for humiliating me in front of my master, for making me to beg for his help!"

'What happened?!' Erza thought, looking at Jellal's disgusting smile. 'What is this magic he's using now?! It feels so evil and violent…'

'ERZA!' Suddenly Titania heard the Andromeda's voice inside her head. 'ERZA, THIS MAN – HE'S NOT HUMAN ANYMORE! HE'S ACTUALLY POSSESSED WITH SOMETHING AND HE USING ITS POWERS! YOU CAN'T WIN NOW! YOU HAVE TO RETREAT!'

"What?!" Erza shouted, "Eight long years I was waiting for the chance to deal with him! No way I'm going to retreat now!"

'ERZA, ENOUGH! YOU HAVE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT PURPOSE THAN SOME PITIFUL REVENGE!' Dragon Queen exclaimed.

"Pitiful revenge?! This man is an incarnate of evil!" Erza growled. "You want me to kill your personal enemy, yet you want me to let my own enemy be?! I hate him as much as you hate the Black Dragon!"

'ERZA IT DOESN'T MATTER RIGHT NOW! YOU'RE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO DEFEAT HIM! YOU HAVE TO RETREAT FOR NOW! THE ODDS ARE AGAINST YOU!' Andromeda tried to reason with her.

"Oh really?!" Erza asked sarcastically, "Where was that prudence of yours when you fought against the Black Dragon!? When his minions showed up and odds became against you?!"

'I WAS TOO STUBBORN AND TOO ARROGANT, I'VE UNDERESTIMATED HIM A LOT, AND I'VE PAID DEARLY FOR IT! I WANT YOU TO NOT REPEAT MY MISTAKE THAT COST ME MY LIFE!' Andromeda was still trying to convince Erza to run.

"No way!" Scarlet-haired mage retorted, she was waiting too long to just run away now. "I just need to hold up until Natsu will arrive, together we'll finish him off!"

'ERZA, HE'S USING POWERS OF SOME VERY POWERFUL BEING, THERE'S NO WORRANTY THAT EVEN TOGETHER YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DEFEAT HIM!' Dragon Queen exclaimed.

"If he can use power of his 'master' then just let me use yours!" Erza demanded.

'I CAN'T! DRAGON SLAYER HAS TO FIND HIS OWN WAY TO USE IT! BESIDES, YOUR BODY ISN'T READY FOR IT YET! YES, YOU CAN USE MY LACRIMA, BUT YOUR BODY HASN'T EVOLVED ENOUGH TO USE SUCH POWER SAFELY! YOU MUST ACCEPT MORE OF MY HERITAGE FIRST!' Indeed, when Erza became a dragon slayer, her body began to gain dragon-like properties. In time, she'll become a dragon-enough to harness the real power of a dragon. Her evolution's will have several stages, each time allowing Erza to use more power. However, right now, she's still at the very beginning of that path, her body's compatibility with that power is still low… If she'll use too much – she'll get a severe backlash.

All this time Jellal was looking at Erza with indulgent and a bit surprised face expression. 'It seems I struck her head much harder than I thought… she's hallucinating…' He smiled with himself. Of course, he thought so as Erza was talking aloud with nobody.

'JELLAL!' Suddenly, loud and angry voice sounded in his own head. 'STOP FOOLING AROUND – FINISH HER AND REVIVE ME! NOW!' Voice demanded.

"Yes, master!" Jellal replied immediately. Indeed, time was short – Erza's 'Supernova' spell damaged the lacrima tower and magic began to leak away. "All right Erza!" Jellal shouted, interrupting Tiatnia's dispute with Andromeda. "Say goodbye to this world, it's time for you to became a sacrifice!" Jellal rushed forth, preparing to strike, his eyes were still glowing with violet light.

'Um… Natsu… hurry up… will you?' Erza thought as she felt Jellal's magic.

Lucy was almost on top of the tower. Just about fifty feet left. Natsu was about one hundred and fifty feet behind, forced to use only one hand to climb up, because he was using another one to carry his knocked out familiar.

"Ranki no Bida!" [Storm Demon's Tail Swipe] Jellal brought his arms together, as if holding two-handed weapon, and created dense stream of black wind, entangled with violent lightning. Jellal moved so fast that Erza couldn't react in time, despite her self-improvement 'Drive' spell was still active. Titania was struck by his spell and sent crushing into big pillar of lacrima. Jellal rushed after her and slammed his leg into the back of her head, smashing her to the floor face down, "Ranki no Sōkon!" His blow stunned Erza, and while she was trying to stand up Jellal cast another spell. He raised his hands to the skies and cast a spell, "Ranki no Raigeki!" [Storm Demon's Thunder Strike] Large cloud of dark wind appeared above Titania and bright, violet lightning shot down from it, right onto Erza.

"YYYAAAAAAAUUUUU!" She let out a heartrending scream of agony as she was electrocuted with super-high voltage. She fell on knees, Erza was almost paralyzed due to powerful electroshock. Her body was smoldering, the air was filled with the smell of burnt flesh.

'Erza!?' Lucy thought as she heard her scream. Stellar mage was desperately looking for some ledge – only about ten feet left to tower's top.

Due to harsh wind Natsu didn't hear his bride's scream, but he just felt that something bad is going on at the top of the tower. 'Sin, I swear I'll kick your ass for this!' Lil dragon was still out cold.

"Ahahaha!" Jellal laughed maniacally. "Now, prepare to meet your end! I'll finish you with my own magic! Try to eat that!" Jellal shouted as he crossed his arms above his head to begin casting the spell, eliciting storm wind around himself.

"What's this magic?! Feels so awful…" Lucy thought, cowering her face from wind, as she finally climbed on top. "Wait, what's going on?! Shadows extending towards the light?! This spell is…"

"Fall into endless darkness, Dragon Slayer!" Jellal shouted, preparing to release his spell.

Despite Erza was able to consume almost all of Jellal's spells, she was sure that she won't be able to eat this one – this magic was more like dark matter, almost anti-light. "Are you going… to kill me…?" She asked, "I thought that to revive your master you need a sacrificial body…" She was barely able to move her lips.

"That's true…" Jellal replied. "The conditions roughly require the body of a mage on par with one of Ten Wizards Saints. But… no one said that you have to be alive at the moment of sacrifice. Freshly killed body will suffice as well! Tentai Mahō: Ankoku no Rakuen!" [Heavenly Body: Paradise of Darkness (Altair in anime)] Jellal unleashed the black orb toward Erza.

"Natsu… Where are you…?" Erza asked weakly, eyeing the huge approaching orb. Suddenly, someone rushed to paralyzed Erza and pushed her away from orb's path. Erza couldn't understand what happened as orb exploded, producing powerful shockwave. When dust and smoke dissipated, Erza saw Lucy, standing on her knees in front of her. But it wasn't a happy reunion…

Erza's eyes widened in horror as she managed to focus her sight at blonde. "Erza, are you okay?!" Lucy asked worriedly.

"Lu… Lucy…?" Erza could barely speak because of shock, horror and despair.

"Ah, this…" Lucy smiled softly as she realized that Erza is looking at a large, bloodstained lacrima crystal, which was sticking out of Lucy's stomach. It seems that crystal was propelled by the explosion and made a through hole in Lucy's body. "Do not pay any attention to it…" Lucy's words were becoming quieter, her internal organs obviously were severely damaged. "It's good that you're alive…" She added as she fell on her back, "It seems that I finally was of some help…"

"No… No… Lucy! Please don't!" Despite recent electroshock Erza forced herself to crawl to Lucy's body. "Lucy! Please don't die!" Erza screamed despite she knew that no one can survive such an injury. "Lucy!" Erza screamed again, however, despite her screams, she wasn't crying.

"Erza… please… find a kind owner… for my spirits…" Lucy whispered her last words, closing her eyes, as she breathed her last.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Erza let out desperate scream.

"Pathetic!" Jellal laughed maniacally. "Now that's what I'd call 'dying in vain'! I knew that blondes are stupid, but this!? The situation hasn't changed one bit! No one can leave this tower alive!"

Hearing Jellal's words, Erza felt such a tremendous surge of hatred that all the hatred she felt in her entire life combined was incomparable to it. "YYYYYYAAAAARRRRR!" Erza's deafening roar shook the entire tower as powerful magic blast smashed Jellar into lacrima boulder.

"Guuaaah!" Jellal screamed in shock, he was looking at Erza, as her body was engulfed into a sphere of overheated plasma energy.

"You platinum bitch!" Erza yelled, "If you don't want to give me your powers THEN I'LL TAKE THEM MYSELF! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Another magic blast shook entire tower as huge dragon apparition, made of pure star energy, appeared behind Erza when she awakened her Dragon Force. Large platinum scales appeared on her cheeks and forehead, elbows, thighs and shins. Also she got further elongated, and sharper, canines and, most importantly, two pairs of neat golden horns on her head. "Rrrrrr…" Erza let out a dragon-like growl, "I'll burn your soul to ashes!" She was talking with low echoing voice – it sounded like the mix of Andromeda and Erza's voices.

Within the fracture of a second Erza rushed forth and slammed her metal boot into Jellal's abdomen with tremendous force, sending him crashing into lacrima pillar. However, before Jellal crashed into it, Erza appeared on his way and struck him into groin, sending him flying into opposite direction. Again, Jellal didn't reach his 'destination' as Erza again appeared on his way, and this time she struck him right between legs. Before Jellal could scream, dragon slayer struck him into face with her forehead.

Within three seconds, Jellal received about a dozen of devastating blows. Erza jumped up and let out an advanced version of her roar, "Seiryū no Kōhaisoku!" [Star Dragon's Devastating Breath] She released huge plasma blast from her mouth, with both blast power and radius subsequently increased.

However, even after such an attack Jellal was able to continue fight. He appeared from explosion, cowered with his dark wind and lightning and began to climb on highest pillar. Erza immediately rushed after him. "I cannot be defeated!" He shouted. "The humanity must pay for its sins! Those who let kids to be enslaved and killed have no right to live! Together with my master we'll wipe out the entire humanity to begin with clean sheet, to create new humanity!"

"Like hell I let such a scum as you to create anything!" Erza bellowed in fury, chasing for Jellal.

"You can't understand! No one can understand it! I'm the chosen one! I alone have the will to change the world! To turn the wheel of history! Fools like you will never understand this!" Jellal yelled as she stopped and began to draw a seal in the air.

Erza also climbed on pillar and saw the seal. "Abisu Bureiku?!" [Abyss Break] Are you trying to take down the whole tower?!"

"Just give me another eight years… no, this time I'll build it in five years… Master… Just wait a little longer…" Jellal whispered, preparing to release the spell. "Ugh!" Suddenly, Jellal yelped as his seal disappeared when Gladius Terminus plunged into his back. It seems that Natsu finally made it to the top and threw his sword at Jellal.

"What's with this guy…" Natsu mumbled to himself, even he was surprised, "I never saw such a disgusting soul…" Natsu also saw Lucy's body, but he didn't try to do anything – he knew that she's dead, and now wasn't the time for mourning.

The wound, made by Natsu's sword, wasn't mortal at all, but that distracted Jellal for a moment, which was enough for Erza to launch her final attack.

Within a fracture of a moment, shining, white-purple rune was drawn all over Jellal's body, right on his skin. "Soru Auera: Senmyō no Keishō!" [Sol Auela: Vivid Crystal] In the next moment, just for a mere second, Jellal's body itself shone like a star. This light was so bright that it could have eclipsed both moon and sun, comparing to that light, the light from Etherion looked like a dim candle.

"YYYYAAAAAAAUUUUAAA!" Jellal's scream could be heard a thousand feet away from tower. A common human would've been completely wiped out from existence. That didn't happen to Jellal, but when light dissipated, he seemed completely paralyzed. All that left is to deal the finishing blow.

Completely engulfed in plasma energy, Erza rushed to Jellal and caught him in mid-air. She pulled out Natsu's sword from his body and threw it down, to the lacrima's surface. "It's time for you to become a part of history, Jellal…" She growled, overturning Jellal's body. "Metsuryū Ōgi "Kitamune Hikari" Tengoku Rakugesei!" [Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Aurora Borealis: Heaven's Kingdom: Falling Star]

Dragon-like apparition around Erza lit up the sky to the very horizon once again, as streams of light rushed toward her from all the surrounding space. Still holding Jellal upside down, Erza rushed to the ground, rotating at ferocious speed. BOOM! Erza peli-drived Jellal into the lacrima's surface with tremendous force, making huge crater by his body and sending deep crack to the very bottom of the tower. Standing upon his body, Erza caught Natsu's sword, which she threw down a second ago, and with a merciless swing she chopped off Jellal's head and then plunged the sword into the lacrima, right through Jellal's wicked heart.

On the ship, all mages were shocked and confused by this sight, they saw the tremendously bright flashes and that tower itself was almost torn in half.

Natsu stood still, with his mouth wide open. He just witnessed the ultimate dragon slayer technique, not to mention the S-ranked runic spell. The girl that got her new powers less than three months ago… awakened her Dragon Force! Surely – dragon lacrima, her uniquely balanced elemental attribute and dragon's soul inside of her are huge advantages, but still… 'Erza… You are magnificent…' He thought, even by Natsu's standards it was incredible…

Lucy's body remained in the edge of the crater.

Erza stood upon Jellal's beheaded body, which now has been lying in pool of his own blood. Natsu came to her, and without saying anything Erza buried her face into his chest. Her Dragon Force wore off, and she just stood like this. Erza didn't cry or speak. She completely ran out of emotions, she just stood with her face, buried into Natsu's chest, unwilling to see this tower or this wretched world itself. The world that just deprived of life the young, kind, and cheerful girl. Natsu also stood still with his eyes closed, holding Erza's head, trying to figure out the way – how to inform the others that Lucy is no more.

Another young girl lost her life… Technically, it wasn't Natsu's fault – she came here willingly, and, as it was said, Natsu isn't obliged to babysit every mage from the guild – he has his own goals and ambitions. Objectively speaking, by interfering into the battle of such scale, Lucy tried to jump way over her head, but still… that wouldn't have happened if not for Natsu's completely pathetic performance. Being unable to notice that bomb that threw him out from the throne room… that's truly pathetic, especially for a 'famous bounty hunter'… Not to mention, that, if not for Lucy, Natsu's own fiancée would've been the one dying, though he wasn't aware of that yet. Today Natsu truly ashamed himself.

Gladius Terminus was still plunged into Jellal's body, and, since both Natsu and Erza stood with their eyes closed, none of them noticed that strange blue energy flowed from Jellal's body into Gladius Terminus' blade…

'Glog!' Suddenly, a strange gurgling sound attracted Natsu's attention. He turned his head and his eyes widened in surprise. He saw Lucy's body, which now was literally sinking inside of lacrima crystal.

"Lucy?" Natsu asked in surprise, as if he was doubting his own eyes.

Erza raised her head and traced Natsu's sight, she also saw Lucy's body. "What the?!" She gasped. Both slayers dashed to the lacrima wall.

"We need to get her out of there!" Erza exclaimed, "We can't leave her like this – she at least has to be buried properly!"

"Stay back!" Natsu warned, raising his fist, he wanted to break the lacrima wall.

But suddenly, they both heard some loud, hissing sound from behind. They turned around and saw that a flow of black smoke gushed out from Jellal's beheaded body and began to dissipate inside of the lacrima crystal, which also began to absorb his blood.

"What the…" Natsu whispered. He turned around and noticed that Lucy's body began to shine. "Lucy? What is going on?" He seemed completely confused.

"Natsu!" Erza gasped in sudden realization… "Natsu… we… we've just activated the R-System!"

"What?!" Natsu asked in shock. "But I thought it requires a powerful mage as a sacrifice…"

"Me too! But Jellal said that it is not necessary for a sacrifice to be alive, recently killed mage will suffice too! And Lucy… well, you said it yourself – her actual magic power is at least on par with that girl [Mirajane]!" Erza explained.

"What have we done?" Natsu whispered as whole lacrima pillar began to shine.

In the sea, Gray, Mira, Simon and Juvia – they all too saw that tower began to shine.

"The tower… what the…" Simon gasped.

"Don't… tell me… that Etherion's power is going wild!" Gray shouted in shock.

"Going wild…?!" Simon exclaimed.

"Just having all that magical energy stored in one place is incredibly unstable!" Mirajane explained.

"And now all that magical energy has nowhere to go…" Juvia added, shivering all over. "It's going to erupt into one gigantic explosion…"

"But what about Erza and others?!" Simon asked.

"There's no use talking about saving people at this point…" Gray said through clenched teeth, "Every single one of us… is doomed."

"I'm sorry…" Mira whispered, "I'm so sorry… My lust for adventures… going to kill us all…"

"No!" Gray exclaimed. "We made this decision together! We came here together! And if we're going to die here…" It's good that Juvia's sight was chained to the shining tower and she didn't see how Mira clenched Gray's arm…

"No! Look!" Simon exclaimed as tower suddenly began to melt down, "It's not an explosion! This is…"

"What the hell…" Mira whispered, looking at melting and shrinking lacrima, clenching to Gray's hand, and she felt his own grip on her palm, as light faded away.

"This is…" Gray gasped in shock…

Both Natsu and Erza were forced to shield their eyes from the bright light. When light faded, first thing they saw was that now they stood upon little island made of lacrima. It was about 10% of tower's original size. Tower contained about three billion ideas of magic, resurrection process apparently consumed about 2.7 billion. Unused 300 million ideas remained incased into remaining lacrima.

Jellal's beheaded and now bloodless corpse was lying nearby. It seemed like entire mass of his tainted blood was soaked into the lacrima. Yet, both Natsu and Erza were feeling someone else's presence nearby, they heard its breathing, feeling its tremendous power.

They raised their eyes and saw… him. "SO, I REVEALED TO YOU AT LAST…" Huge beast said by low, echoing voice. Demon had the lower body of a large cat, the upper body of a human, and the face of a cat topped with vicious horns. His body was about 300 feet in length and 210 feet in height. His body was black, like it was made of obsidian, with large, spike-like pillars, sprouting from his humanoid shoulders and long massive tail. Both his shoulders and tail were glowing with dark violet lightning torrents. In his right paw he held a massive sword, similar in appearance to a Zweihander, which was cowered with electrical discharges. [A/N: Those who need a reference – just imagine Berial from DMC4 with violet lightning instead of flame].

"Erza…" Natsu gasped in shock as he examined the creature, "This… this is… Amethyst-eyed demon, Avatar of Hurricanes – Procellion!"

"Demon?!" Erza asked. "You wanna say this is one of Zeref's devils, like Deliora and Lullaby?!"

"Comparing to him Deliora and Lullaby just are harmless fur animals!" Natsu replied. "No, comparing to him even strongest of Zeref's devils are nothing! Even Acnologia is a pathetic weakling comparing to him! He is one of 'Seven Guardians', the seven demons [鬼神 (Kishin)] that were created to oversee and guard the place where all sorrows are sleeping, Tower of Din!"

"What?! How?! Why?!..." Erza just had too much of emotional bouleversements for one day, and now the name of that wretched tower surfaced again…

"FASCINATIG… SOMEONE IN THIS WRETCHED PLACE ACTUALLY KNOWS WHO I AM…" Demon said, looking at Natsu and Erza with his glowing violet eyes, "THOUGH… YOU AREN'T FROM HERE, EITHER…" Definitely, the eyes of the guardian are able to see a lot of things, hidden from mere mortals.

According to its body structure, one can assume that once, long, long ago – that creature was a member of a proud and noble tribe – Snow Sacred Tiger tribe – divine beast tribe that derived from the White Tiger of the West himself, possessing his purest bloodline. But now, that creature surely is a demon and a wicked mutant (obviously, due to his human-like upper body, for instance), and the only thing it retained from his original species is tremendous power, which was further amplified with demonic transformation.

"Procellion?!" Suddenly, Sin's voice sounded from behind, it seems he finally woke up, maybe due to Procellion's appearance.

"SIN?" Demon asked in slight surprise as he noticed the little boney creature. "LONG TIME NO SEE… AND IT SEEMS EVEN YOU, LORD OF THE DAMNED, WAS AFFECTED BY WILTING WITHOUT GUIDANCE OF OUR MASTER…" Apparently, even though Procellion already saw Sin through Jellal's eyes, he couldn't recognize him until they've met in person.

Erza stood as if she lapsed into idiocy, her exhausted mind just refused to accept new information. She looked at Natsu with empty eyes.

"Erza, I swear I tell you everything!" Natsu assured her, "Just please don't break up with me…" Well, she actually can't break up with him even if she wanted, due to dual mating mark, and Natsu knew it, but still…

"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU, SIN?" Demon asked, still looking at a boney creature. "WHY YOU ARE WITH THESE MAGGOTS? I KNOW THAT YOU ARE WITH THEM WILLINGLY…"

"I do not like where all it is going…" Sin whispered to Natsu's ear as he sat on his shoulder.

"Me neither…" Natsu agreed.

"AH, IT DOESN'T MATTER. WHEN I'LL DESTROY THESE PUNY CREATURES, I'LL RETURN YOU BACK TO THE ARCEM DE AETERNITAS, MAY BE THERE YOU'LL REMEMBER YOUR TRUE PURPOSE…" Demon added.

"Fuck you and your tower!" Sin replied, Arcem de Aeternitas was another name for Tower of Din. "No way am I going back there! I've never asked anyone to create me, and I don't care about any stupid purpose!"

"HOW DARE YOU TO INSULT OUR MASTER!?" Demon growled angrily. He raised his huge sword and prepared to strike Sin, and Natsu along. Natsu quickly extended his left arm, using his telekinetic power to pull out Gladius Terminus from Jellal's body and summon it into his arm. God slayer quickly raised his sword to block demon's attack. BOOM! Procellion's attack elicited a powerful shockwave, exhausted Erza was knocked from her feet but Natsu managed to block the attack. He held the sword with both hands and large cracks appeared under his feet. "IMPRESSIVE…" Demon noted, impressed a bit that Natsu was able to block his attack.

"All right demon, I think there's no way we can talk this all through, so, let battle rejoice!" Natsu shouted. Obviously – no matter who's going to say what – battle is inevitable, the demon definitely doesn't need witnesses of his ressurection… "Let's deal with it, Sentō Chūkaku!" [Combat Core] Natsu used his self-improvement spell, preparing for battle, and trying to draw demon's attention to himself as Erza slowly got back on her feet.

"YOU CHALLENGING ME?" Procellion chuckled. "YOU THINK YOUR DIVINE BLOOD MATCHES MY POWER? I DOUBT IT!" Demon shouted, making a deep breath. Natsu quickly dashed forth to cover Erza – she was too exhausted for another fight. Procellion released powerful breath attack in form of lightning storm, mixed with dark wind. Natsu stood in front of Erza and raised his sword, "Shinunoru Tōryūgi: Mōi no Sōtai!" [Death Knight Combat Style: Fury of the Frost Emperor] He channeled his deathfrost power into sword, slicing demon's magic. Black-blue arc from Natsu's blade appeared in front of him when demon's magic clashed with his katana.

It required all of Natsu's strength to withstood this attack – Demon's breath was more powerful than that shot from Jose's Jupiter. Yet, Natsu managed to slice demon's breath and made it to flow around him and Erza.

When Procellion's attack stopped, Natsu quickly rushed forth, between demon's legs, under his body, and appeared behind him. "Senjin no Yōshihō!" [War God's Proton Cannon] With his arms extended forward and completely clad in crimson energy, Natsu fired a massive, concentrated beam of antimatter, aiming at demon. Natsu's spell struck Procellion into the back of his head, producing massive explosion. However, demon got almost no visible damage, despite it was quite an advanced spell.

Black beast growled angrily and turned around, raising his sword. "YOU INSOLENT WHELP!" However, it was exactly what Natsu wanted.

"Sin!" Natsu shouted, waving to his familiar. Actually, Natsu knew that he can't defeat this demon – it simply too powerful. Even though he's severely weakened by recent resurrection – probably now Procellion can use only about 5% of his true strength at best – he's still much, much stronger than Deliora and Lullaby combined. Natsu just wanted to distract the demon to let Sin carry Erza away – she could barely stand on her feet and couldn't run. After that Natsu wanted to use his deathfrost arts to make an icy path over sea surface and run away from demon. Plan was good, however…

Boom! As soon as Sin grabbed Erza, before he could gain any altitude, both he and Titania were smashed to the ground by demon's tail swipe. "GUAAH!" Erza screamed in pain, her already exhausted and severely damaged body couldn't take much more. Sin also was lying on the ground, almost unable to move.

"Erza!" Natsu shouted. He tried to check her, but demon blocked his path. Procellion moved much faster than Natsu thought possible for the creature of such a size.

"NO ONE WILL GET AWAY FROM HERE!" Demon shouted. "FIRST, I'LL KILL THIS INSOLENT WHELP, THEN I'LL PUNISH THE GIRL FOR KILLING MY SERVANT, AND THAN WE'LL TALK AGAIN, SIN!"

'This is not good!' Natsu thought, 'He's equally dangerous from back and front! What shall I do?!'

Demon raised his sword for another attack. He swung his huge sword down, and this time demon's sword moved so fast and blow was so powerful, that despite his 'Core' spell Natsu was unable to block or avoid the attack – he was smashed into the lacrima as demon's sword made a deep crack in the crystal island and sent forth a massive shockwave. "GUAAAAAGH! Natsu screamed, receiving severe damage.

"Natsu!" Erza shouted, she wanted to check Natsu's condition, to help him somehow, but her body failed her – she was unable to at least stand up.

Procellion removed his sword to see what happened to Natsu, maybe he thought that Natsu is done for. However, he was wrong. Natsu quickly stood up and cast a spell: "Metsujin Ōgi: Ketsusei Manjinyō!" [God Slayer's Secret Art: Blood Star: Ten Thousand Blades Dance] God slayer created a huge number of energy blades and launched them at demon. Blades started to swirl around Procellion, slicing his body. Few seconds later they all exploded, producing powerful chain blast. Right after explosions, Natsu raised his sword and charged it with huge amount of magic, making it to shine as bright as sun, "Senmei Saikō: Senpenbanka!" [Sure-kill Shot: Everchanging] Natsu performed only 250 attacks – he couldn't let himself to spend all his mana, besides, he knew that even one of his most powerful techniques won't be enough to do any significant damage, he just wanted to move demon as far away from Erza as possible.

Demon growled in fury as he got several scratches from Natsu's spell and several flesh-wound from his sword technique. However, just as Natsu thought – overall damage was minimal. However, using distraction, created by his previous attacks, Natsu climbed on demon's back. He thought that he could damage demon's spine if he'll strike with his sword directly. But, just as Natsu raised his katana to plunge it into demon's back, Procellion covered his body with dark violet lightning, electrocuting Natsu with very high voltage. Natsu let out a loud scream of agony and, being almost paralyzed because of electroshock, he fell on the ground.

"Natsu!" Sin shouted, he tried to fly to Natsu and rescue him but Procellion struck him by his left paw, throwing boney creature away.

"STAY BACK!" Demon growled at Sin, raising his sword to finish Natsu off. God slayer could barely move a muscle, "DIE, PATHETIC BRAT!"

"No!" Erza exclaimed, gathering all of her remaining magic, "Seiryū no Hōkō!" She released her dragon roar, using all the magic she could muster. Unsurprisingly, her spell did no damage at all.

"ALL RIGHT, I'LL START WITH YOU!" Demon growled, turning around. He raised his huge sword, preparing to smash Erza to bits. Titania gulped in fear, she knew that there's no escape for her this time. As he was staring at Erza, Procellion didn't notice that Natsu reached for the closest piece of lacrima and began to eat it. "JELLAL WAS A LOYAL SERVANT…" Demon said, "DEATH IS YOUR PUNISHMENT FOR KILLING HIM, GO TO OBLIV…"

"Shut your disgusting mouth!" Natsu bellowed as he struck demon into his belly with huge force. Huge demon has been thrown aside for about fifty feet and wailed in pain.

"Natsu?!" Erza exclaimed in shock, looking at her fiancé. "What are you…?!"

'THIS BRAT?!' Even Procellion was shocked, 'HE'S FLARING WITH MAGIC!'

Indeed, Natsu now was engulfed into powerful magical vortex as entire mass of ethernano, which was still stored inside remnants of lacrima island, now was flowing into his body.

"He's consuming… the Etherion?!" Both Sin and Erza exclaimed in shock.

"AAAARRRRGGGHHH!" Natsu let out deafening war cry, slamming his fists into now empty lacrima, sending powerful shockwave around himself. Next moment he fell on knees, chocking, forced to spit out some lacrima substance. "AARGH!" Natsu roared, holding to his throat – obviously now he felt terrible pain.

'DID HE THOUGHT THAT CONSUMING AN 'IMMENSE MAGICAL POWER' INSTEAD OF HIS OWN ELEMENT WOULD GIVE HIM SOME KIND OF POWER BOOST?!' Procellion tried to understand Natsu's actions, 'BUT INSTEAD HE WAS DESTROYED BY HIS OWN RECKLESSNESS!'

"What does he think he's playing at?!" Erza asked in shock. "Etherion is composed of basic elements, it has nothing to do with aggression!" She yelled.

"No!" Sin suddenly exclaimed, "Etherion is the weapon of mass destruction! Technically it's the pure aggression! In Natsu's case it is a perfect carrier for ethernano!"

As a confirmation of Sin's words, powerful pillar of magic shot into the sky from Natsu's body as two pairs of crimson, angelic wings appeared behind his back.

"What is this?!" Erza whispered in awe.

"This is the final stage of a God Slayer's magic – the Avatar!" Sin explained. "In this state his power is comparable with the power of an actual God!"

"Now we will talk…" Natsu growled as his eyes were burning with hate and madness.

'THIS CREATURE… HE ACTUALLY ABSORBED THE ETHERION?!' Demon couldn't believe his eyes. Next moment he wailed in pain as Natsu appeared beneath him and slammed his fist into demon's belly, throwing the gigantic fiend into the air.

"Sin!" Natsu shouted, creating a huge ball of blue flame in his hands.

"Do it!" Sin replied, confirming that he's ready.

Natsu threw gathered deathfrost energy into his familiar. With bright magical flash Sin disappeared, turning into… no, not into frost wyrm, into full-sized, skeletal, dragon-like creature, whose bones were burning with dark blue flame. Skeletal dragon let out a deafening roar, eyeing the demon that just recomposed himself after Natsu's attack.

Procellion made a deep breath, preparing for another attack via lightning storm. Sin did the same. Two huge monsters released breath attack toward each other – demon made the lightning storm as Sin released the concentrated blast of deathfrost magic. Their spells clashed, causing an extremely powerful explosion, which elicited another tidal wave. Natsu dashed to Erza and covered her from rending shockwave with his crimson wings. "Natsu, what is this?!" Erza asked in awe, looking at Sin, who managed to overpower demon's breath attack and now the enemy seemed dazed.

"This is Sin's true form," Natsu replied with low, 'metallic' voice, "Eighth guardian of Tower of Din, Lord of the Damned – Sinalledion!"

"IN EXCANGE FOR FREEDOM FROM THAT DAMNED TOWER I SWORN MY LOYALTY TO LORD BLOODFALLEN!" Sinalledion shouted, he now was talking with high iron voice, "YOU AND YOUR MASTER CAN GO TO HELL!"

Two monsters rushed at one another, grappling with each other in merciless battle. Demon tried to use his sword to hit skeletal dragon, but Sinalledion parried it with his tail swipe. Demon grabbed dragon's exposed ribs by his paws and tried to break them, making the skeletal creature to roar in pain and anger as Sinalledion struck demon's sides by his claws, leaving deep scars and making the demon to bleed and wail in pain. Yet, despite severe damage, demon began to push the skeletal creature back – probably Sinalledion was at minimum power, either. Demon managed to raise his sword again and this time he landed a successful blow on Sinalledion rear claws. Skeletal creature roared, but next moment he wrapped his tail around demon's paw, which held sword, and shouted, "Natsu, now!"

"Understood!" Natsu replied, and using his wings he soared into the air and took position above the demon's back, spreading all four of his crimson wings. "Procellion!" God slayer announced, "For complicity in murder of Lucy Heartfilia and an attempt to kill my fiancée, I'm sentencing you to death! Metsujin Ōgi "Shitsuyō Totsugeki" Ketsusei Ryōkōken!" [God Slayer's Secret Art: Relentless Assault: Blood Star: Phantom Queen Sword] Completely engulfed into crimson energy, Natsu overturned in mid-air, extended his sword forward and shot down as a huge crimson arrow. He struck the demon's back, making a through hole in his body, destroying a section of his spine and several internal organs.

Demon wailed in agony, as his power weakened.

When on the ground, Natsu again took his sword with both hands, channeling as much of his magic into Gladius Terminus as he could. "Senmei Saikō: Jūrokuya: Yabu!" [Sure-kill Shot: Sixteen Nights: Devastate] Natsu threw his sword into the air. Gladius Terminus became at least forty times bigger than usual, and began to spin, as if turning into a circular saw's blade, which then shot downwards, crashing into Procellion and slicing his lower body in half, and splattering demonic blood all over the lacrima island.

Demon was done for, and when his grip weakened, Sinalledion made a shot forth and bit demon's neck, breaking it.

It was all over – demon's breathless and heavily mutilated corpse fell on the ground.

"Victory…" Natsu whispered as he fell on knees in complete exhaustion. His wings disappeared as Sinalledion's transformation wore off and he again turned into a little boney creature, which landed on Natsu's shoulder. "Nice job, my friend…" God slayer thanked his 'familiar'.

"You too, my lord, you too…" Sin replied.

"Madness…" Erza whispered. The depth of her shock had no medical definition. By the way, those who were on a ship have similar thoughts – they saw the battle between monsters and Procellion's death.

Suddenly, some noise again caught Erza's attention – demon's body began to turn into ash as dense stream of black smoke shot into the sky. And when smoke stream dissipated and ash has been blown away by the wind, Titania's eyes widened in shock again. She saw Lucy's body, laying on the edge of lacrima island.

Footnotes:

Ego lacero te usque correptum! – I will tear you to shreds!

Arcem de Aeternitas – Castle of Eternity

Procellion – This name was originated from Latin word 'Procellae', which means 'Hurricane'

Sinalledion – This name was originated from a combination of words 'Sin' and Latin word 'Maledictum', which means 'Damnation'

Spell list:

Barugo – Virgo

Aisu Meiku: Shīrudo – Ice Make: Shield

Ushinatta Mahō – Lost Magic

Toki no Enko – Arc of Time

Abisu Bureiku – Abyss Break

Mirajane's spells:

Satan Sōru – Satan Soul

Satan Sōru: Harufasu – Satan Soul: Halphas

Satan Sōru: Shutori – Satan Soul: Sitri

Satan Sōru: Beresu – Satan Soul: Beleth. In Goetia, Beleth is a mighty and terrible king of Hell, who has eighty-five legions of demons under his command

Ebiru Ekusupurōjon – Evil Explosion

Tenki: Raikyū – Heavenly Demon: Ball Lightning

Rei Konzetsu – Soul Eradication

Rei Kyōdatsusha – Soul Reaver

Ikaruga's spells:

Mugetsu-Ryū: Yasha Senkū – Empty Moon Style: Yasha's Sky Flash; 'Yasha' means 'Female Demon'

Mugetsu-Ryū: Karura-en – Empty Moon Style: Garuda Flame

Mugetsu-Ryū: Tenshi Hyōjin – Empty Moon Style: Angel's Ice Blade

Jellal's spells:

Mītia – Meteor

Hebunrī Bīmusu – Heavenly Beams

Shichijōken – Seven Stars Sword

Hebunrī Burasuto – Heavenly Blast

Tentai Mahō: Ankoku no Rakuen – Heavenly Body: Paradise of Darkness. In anime it called the 'Arutearisu' – Altair

Rairan Honshitsu – Thunderstorm Essence

Ranki no Tōko – Storm Demon's Screech

Ranki no Sōkon – Storm Demon's Maim

Ranki no Totsushi – Storm Demon's Piercing Sting

Ranki no Bida – Storm Demon's Tail Swipe

Ranki no Raigeki – Storm Demon's Thunder Strike

Erza's spells:

Seikō Kudō – Starlight Drive

Seiryū no Hōkō – Star Dragon's Roar

Seiryū no Kudatsume – Star Dragon's Crushing Claw

Seiryū no Shōgeki – Star Dragon's Shock Blow

Seiryū no Kōhaisoku – Star Dragon's Devastating Breath

Metsuryū Ōgi: Tengoku Chōshinsei – Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Heaven's Kingdom: Supernova

Metsuryū Ōgi "Kitamune Hikari" Tengoku Rakugesei – Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Aurora Borealis: Heaven's Kingdom: Falling Star

Warifu: Ōotama – Rune: Tracking Bullets

Ai Warifu: Tōkai no Keishō – Ai Rune: Hidden Crystal

Soru Auera: Senmyō no Keishō – Sol Auela: Vivid Crystal

Natsu's spells:

Sentō Chūkaku – Combat Core

Shinunoru Tōryūgi: Mōi no Sōtai – Death Knight Combat Style: Fury of the Frost Emperor

Senjin no Dogō – War God's Howl

Senjin no Yōshihō – War God's Proton Cannon

Metsujin Ōgi: Ketsusei Manjinyō – God Slayer's Secret Art: Blood Star: Ten Thousand Blades Dance

Metsujin Ōgi "Shitsuyō Totsugeki" Ketsusei Ryōkōken – God Slayer's Secret Art: Relentless Assault: Blood Star: Phantom Queen Sword

Senmei Saikō: Senpenbanka – Sure-kill Shot: Everchanging

Senmei Saikō: Jūrokuya: Yabu – Sure-kill Shot: Sixteen Nights: Devastate

Well, this is it people. Chapter nineteen has been completed. I really hope it was enjoyable. Do not forget to leave a REVIEW! A lot of reviews will encourage me to work faster! See you in the next chapter – Psycho Circus. It will be the conclusion of this arc, remake of 'interview' chapter and, if chapter won't become too big – the wedding! Cya!

P.S. I will never forgive Mashima for that he did to Ultear. Jellal had to be dead and forgotten, not she.

P.P.S. Yes, Lucy died. But still she's going to be around here for some more time. What I mean? Read further.