Hello there, people! As I hoped – I've managed to finish this chapter much faster than previous, and I hope not at the expense of its quality. Here it is, please enjoy reading!
Answers to the reviewers:
Ferdoos: Many thanks man, I'm trying to finish the new chapter for BotSD, I just need a bit of inspiration…
ValinNight: Many thanks for the support.
Silent Reader 6100: Thank you, I like interview part as well =)
A True NaZa Fan: Thanks for the support, I've tried my best =)
eze5555: Thanks, hopefully I'll update BotSD soon…
FanFictionHunter: Yeah, I need to think of something for Juvia I guess…
Yeah, Cana… Well, no booze slayers in my story =)
Lucy got contracts back, yes, but… well, that's no longer matter, you'll see…
Erza now partially a dragon – no more cakes.
"Eve's suit" means "Completely naked woman" as "Adam's suit" means "Completely naked man"
Yeah, in the manga, Igneel made a brief appearance after ToH arc, so I thought that Natsu's parent from my story should appear as well.
Tottenham Hotspur: Yeah, sorry for the long absence. I believe I got some good ideas for Fighting Festival arc.
Mira-san, DBZ101: Many thanks for your support people.
Natsu is Awesome: Good guess. Not precise but still very good ;-)
Void Fart: Many thanks, here is the next one :-)
gratsulover117: Yeah, I've tried to made them that way =)
PlaguedAmbition: Many thanks for the compliment.
Cameron: Oh yeah, I hope I won't disappoint anyone, especially with the ending :-)
Now, let's proceed. Initially, I planned to make two-chapters long arc for Astrum Eclipsis searches. But, you know how it happens – some ideas I planned for this ark were already used in earlier chapters, other can better suit later chapters, Nirvana's arc, for example. Anyway, this chapter equally social, psychological and action-filled. I think this chapter is quite solid. Good reading and do not forget to leave a review. Also, there's some hints for those who likes good old RPGs xD.
Chapter updated 12/12/2016
Chapter XXII – Legends & Curses
…
"Seven demonic warriors were created in Tower of Din. Initially they all were a members of powerful and noble magical (divine) beast tribes, but they all became demonic gods [鬼神], and all of them were representing the destructive powers of nature, and each one was strong enough to rule over or annihilate the entire continent singlehandedly.
These demons are: Procellion – Avatar of Hurricane, Glacion – All-freezing Ice, Conflagrationa – The Corrupted Flame, Concussionis – The Earth Shatterer, Venena – Lady of Poison, Amentiana – She-demon of Madness, and Noxiana – The Darkness of the Night…"
"Natsu, honestly I'm not sure which is worse – the fact that all those demons do exist there somewhere, or the fact that you know about all of that…" Erza sighed, pressing her head to Natsu's chest. But no matter what she was saying, she liked to listen old legends…
"I'm wondering…" Natsu thought aloud, "Were those seven the only elite force of the Tower of Din…?"
October 14, Sunday, X784, 22:00, Bloodfallen family's house
Journey to the Nexus Temple was planned for tomorrow's early morning, so Natsu and Erza decided to go to sleep early. Erza was already in bed as Natsu was sitting next to her, reading some sort of a letter.
"What are you reading?" Erza inquired.
"Investigation team's report," Natsu replied, "One of my informants managed to intercept the report about aftermath of 'R-System incident'."
"What's there?" Erza asked a bit worriedly.
"Nothing to worry about," Natsu hastened to calm her down, "It's just a casualty report, nothing more. Here, look by yourself," Natsu gave Erza a letter.
In general – Natsu was right – nothing remarkable. Most of Jellal's followers tried to flee from the tower to Caelum when they learned about Etherion, but almost all of them were arrested.
Vidaldus Taka and Fakuro were found dead, both of them have drowned. There were no details in report, but for those who participated in those events it was possible to guess what happened.
Seemingly, when Etherion descended and tower outer layer has been destroyed, leaving only lacrima crystal, Vidaldus fell into water, and since he was unconscious – he's drowned.
Same happened to Fakuro when Gray knocked him out and threw out of tower – he fell into water and drowned, due to being unconscious, and thanks to wrecked, but still heavy jetpack.
Ikaruga's body was never found – but since she was killed by Mirajane, it is possible to guess that her corpse was smashed to bits when lacrima shrank, when R-system was activated.
Finally, Jellal's remains were retrieved and buried in unmarked grave. That was all.
"So, not only Jellal, but all his mercenaries also died…" Erza said with mixed feelings.
"That's what they got in reward for working with terrorist," Natsu shrugged. "But they all were murderers, no one's going to cry over their deaths. Worst thing is – there was no bounty for their heads, no idea why…"
"Oh, Natsu, just don't start complaining about missed bounties again," Erza hastened to change subject, "Forget about that tower – let's sleep…"
"I'd glad to, but I can't…" God slayer sighed. "No, of course it's not about that moron Jellal or his fools, it's about Procellion… As I think of it now – we were extremely lucky that Jellal was so obsessed with you…" Natsu thought aloud.
"What?! Why!?" Erza was quite surprised to hear such a statement, to say the least.
"Don't get me wrong," Natsu said as he leaned down and kissed Erza's forehead, "I just mean that if he wouldn't try to sacrifice you, but used someone else instead… Seemingly, necessity to sacrifice a mage, whose powers are on par with one of Ten Wizards Saints was an exaggeration. Just strong mage or mage with good potential was enough – we saw it ourselves. Phantom Lord was disbanded – he could kidnap one of former members of "Element Four". Gray's friend, his former co-pupil, he also would suffice. Or he just could trick and sacrifice the woman who fought against Mirajane – since she was on par with her – she definitely could serve as a sacrifice…"
"I understand," Erza nodded. "In that case Procellion would've been revived, and we even wouldn't have been aware of it, until it's too late…"
"Exactly," Natsu nodded, "In that case they both would have returned to Tower of Din, where demon could completely recover and restore his full power. And then… even I afraid to imagine what could have happened in that case…" Indeed, demon with enough power to fight against several divine beasts and gods, rampaging through this world…
"Alright, Natsu, I understand your concerns, but we have to get up early tomorrow, come here," Erza invited her husband to join her in bed.
"Yes, you're right," Natsu agreed, putting off his coat.
October 17, Wednesday, X784, 11:00, Town of Magnolia.
Today the new issue of Sorcerer weekly was released, but, well, unsurprisingly enough, it just made Fairy Tail even more infamous than it already was.
"Chin up, Lucy," Levy tried to cheer up blonde, "At least you got into the magazine…" In the end, Jason made Lucy's photo, which was pretty nice. But other photos weren't that good: Gajeel on stage, Mira with hangover, drunk Cana, brawls in the middle of guildhall, Gray in his trunks, Elfman with stupid smile, Wakaba dressed like a beggar (as usual), etc…
"Yes, but… It's not how I've imagined it…" Lucy sighed heavily.
On the other side of the town, some man, who looked like a tramp (a real one, not like Wakaba), dressed into raggedy suit and coat, noticed the magazine in the trash dumpster. It seems that Fairy Tail's name was familiar to him somehow as he took the magazine and began browsing through it. "Lucy…" Man mumbled with raucous voice as his hands began to tremble.
October 17, Wednesday, X784, 16:00 (local time), Somewhere in the skies above northern shore of Pergrande Kingdom.
"Erza, have a look at that!" Natsu called for his newlywed wife, as she seemed deeply submerged in her own thoughts.
"What? Where?" She perplexedly looked around.
"There!" Natsu pointed upward and on the right.
Keen eyes of she-dragon quickly focused at what Natsu was pointing. "Is that… a bird?!" Her eyes widened in surprise as he took a good look at that.
That was a big, no, huge crane-like bird. Its wingspan was at least a two hundred feet, and it had a long S-shaped neck, and a long, pointed bill of a corresponding size. But the most distinctive trait were bird's feathers, which were shimmering with all colors of a rainbow. As the bird flew by, sunlight landed on the multicolored feathers, reflecting a brilliant luster that was unusually gorgeous.
"Natsu, what is that?!" Erza asked in awe, being impressed with the bird's beauty, she never saw such a bird in a lifetime.
"I think this is a seven-colored cloud heron," Natsu replied. "Don't ask, I have no idea what it's doing here. I thought that absolute majority of magical beasts' tribes have left the continent of Ishgar several millennia ago, with dragons being the one of a very few exceptions…"
"Why?" Erza wondered.
"Can't say for sure, but I think it has something to do with ethernano's activity dropping down here…" Natsu shrugged. May be later, when he'll get more of free time, he'll be able to study magical beasts' tribes activity properly. But right now, he had more pressuring matters.
The bird definitely wasn't on the way with Natsu and Erza, so it quickly flew away and disappeared over the horizon. But Erza remained under a strong impression for some time after that unexpected encounter.
October 17, Wednesday, X784, 22:00 (local time), Eastmare village, northern border of Ishgar.
All that wonderful atmosphere, that arose during the flight, completely crumbled as Natsu's team arrived to this small, but surprisingly cozy inn.
"Okay, you two can continue to complain and whine, or we can find that Temple and get one of the most powerful artifacts on this continent," Natsu said in slight annoyance.
"I choose complain!" Erza raised her hand.
"And I will whine!" Sin raised his boney claw.
"Oh, come on, I spent three months to find that damn sword, and that is what I got in return?" God slayer asked resentfully. It was almost impossible to get under Natsu's skin, but when it comes to his beloved one, and his familiar…
"No, you spent three months to find a place where we can die in a thousand horrible ways," Erza replied as Sin nodded in agreement.
Natsu's team, Shinryō no Setsuma, rented a room in the only inn in this village, the closest settlement to the 'Poisoned Forest'. Somewhere inside of that huge impassible taiga, Lake of the Dead was located, with the cursed temple in the middle of it.
"Sweetheart, I remember that I promised you to return to the resort, but this is so much cooler! Just think of it – we got a chance to explore the legendary Nexus temple!" Natsu held his ground.
"What on earth made you marry him?" Sin wondered, looking at Erza.
"I wish I knew… ouch!" Erza yelped as Natsu pinched her ass, "It hurts!"
"I know," Natsu replied with narrowed eyes, "Nasty girl… Okay, let's go to sleep, in bedroom I'll remind you why you married me…" And as lust began to consume Erza, Natsu picked her up and headed to the bedroom, leaving Sin with guard's duty…
Next morning, 8:05 (local time).
Sin was flying just above trees' crones, with Natsu and Erza on his back. Green mist, which was enveloping the entire forest, was poisonous, so slayers were wearing gas masks as a precaution. Strange noises could be heard from below the trees' crones, and Erza could swear that those strange lights actually were glowing eyes.
"I can't understand…" Erza mumbled. "Legend says that this temple had to be a symbol of brighter future. Why they built it in such a horrible place?"
"This forest hasn't always been like this," Natsu replied. "Before the war it was a beautiful place, golden sakuras and rainbow osiers were growing here, as forest was shining under sunlight. But war changed everything…"
"What happened?" Erza asked, as it was mentioned – she likes old legends.
"Some time after dragon's civil war erupted – it actually turned into a three-sided conflict... before all of it ended with Dragon King's Festival, I mean. There were dragons that wanted to coexist with humans, and dragons that wanted to dominate over them. Soon, dragon slayers also were split into two camps – those who allied themselves with dragons, supporting the idea of coexistence, and those who wanted to claim this continent for humankind, with themselves as rulers. First group of dragon slayers made this temple into their stand, as they've rebuilt the luxury palace into impenetrable bastion. Many attempts to capture Nexus Temple failed as attackers from both enemy forces suffered many losses.
And then they developed a vile plan to defeat loyalists. Instead of fighting honorably, they poisoned the forest with black, corrupting magic, no doubt they used enslaved Zeref's demons to empower corrupting magic…"
"Zeref…" Erza growled, "I'm already tired from hearing that name…"
"As I understand – Zeref wasn't anyone's ally in that war – his fault was that he created his idiotic devils, which were captured and enslaved by power-hungry dragon slayers… but that's another story…
…As corruption was spreading, life inside the temple slowly became unbearable, not only because of the poisoned flora, but also because a lot of aggressive, vile magical beasts filled these lands. In the end, loyalists had to flee from their fortress, but before they did, they locked the entire place and hid it somehow, to make sure that none of their secrets will fall into the hands of heretics. No wonder that, when Andromeda fell in battle, artifact made of her blood and bones was hidden there…"
'WELL, I HAVE TO ADMIT – MAYBE HE'S FAR NOT PERFECT, BUT HIS KNOWLEDGE IS ADMIRABLE, I CAN'T DENY THAT…' Andromeda's voice sounded in Erza's head.
"For me he's perfect…" Erza whispered with smile as she embraced her newlywed husband.
"Okay, Natsu, tell me then – how exactly you're intending to find that temple of yours?" Sin inquired, "This forest is almost six thousand square miles in size, we can't just fly around, hoping to find something, you know?"
"Sin, how long do we know each other?" Natsu asked with irony. "Of course, temple isn't marked on any map as its location protected by magic. But, as you know, I can see through magical disguises, and I have a physical map of this region, there're not too many places where you can make an artificial lake and build something in the middle it of…"
"So, in other words we're going to find a needle in a haystack…" Erza concluded.
"Yes, but we have a magnet," Natsu noted.
October 18, Thursday, X784, 10:20 (local time), Poisoned Forest.
"There, I can feel something!" Natsu shouted as he felt some disturbance nearby, "Fly toward that plateau!"
Sin did as Natsu asked and soon they were floating above big flat plateau, almost in the middle of this cursed forest. Erza sniffed the air, "I smell death… despair… here it's stronger than anywhere else…" She shuddered from the smell.
"But I can't see here any sign of a lake or a building," Frost wyrm said, looking around.
"I'm sure it's here, I can feel very specific magic, all around this place," Natsu informed.
"Okay, and how you're intending to find some sort of entrance?" Erza asked as even her dragon's eyes couldn't see anything through these dark trees' crowns.
"Somehow like this," Natsu replied, making deep breath, "Senjin no Dogō!" [War God's Howl] Powerful vortex of crimson magic headed down to surface, but instead of making an explosion, it was dissipated with massive electrical discharge. "Amazing…" Natsu whispered.
"This whole plateau is just an illusion?!" Erza exclaimed in surprise, "Unbelievable… How much magic you need to create something like that?"
"All inhabitants of this place were dragon slayers, much more experienced than we are," Natsu said as Sin descended lower. Frost wyrm swung his tail, hoping that it will pass through illusion, but instead he struck the solid surface.
"It's not just an illusion…" Erza said, seems she was impressed with this magic. "It's entirely magical surface!"
Sin landed on surface. Despite these trees ware fakes, here was very dark, cold and creepy under their crowns as damn green mist was so dense that visibility was less than fifty feet. "So, how we're going to find the island in the middle of this lake, if it covered with fake but quite solid forest?" Sin wondered as Natsu hopped off from his back.
"We'll look from inside," God slayer replied.
"And how we'll get inside?" Frost wyrm asked.
"Well, if you can't explode something with magic directly – there's always another way," Erza answered as Natsu helped her to get down from Sin's back.
"You know, it's so sexy when we're getting the same idea at the same time," Natsu noted, as he gently touched her bridge of the nose (he couldn't kiss her due to a gas mask).
"Oh, I know," She replied with playful smile. Even in such an environment these young people couldn't forget about their feelings. "May I?" Titania asked.
"Of course," Natsu replied as Gladius Terminus glinted in his left arm and Natsu handed over his sword to Erza. They're married now, besides, Morrigan personally accepted Erza as her daughter in law, so Natsu's promise to keep that sword within the family wouldn't be broken.
"Wow…"Erza whispered in awe, "As if this blade has his own mind, I can almost feel its thirst for blood…" Actually, she already held Gladius Terminus once, but it was during battle against Jellal, so Erza literally had no time to feel anything back then.
"This sword is almost as old as this world itself, it was sanctified by countless battles of ancient times, before Okā-sama acquired it," Natsu replied, "Okay, use it."
"All right!" Erza exclaimed, readying her magic, "Kureha: Gessen!" [Moon Flash] Erza swung Natsu's sword, slicing illusive surface in front of herself. However, maybe she underestimated the Gladius Terminus' power, or may be illusion wasn't that dance as she thought, she made a rift in the surface, more than sixty feet in length and fifteen feet in width, right under her feet. "Oh crap!" Erza screamed as she, Natsu and even Sin fell into this rift, which collapsed just above their heads, becoming solid once again.
"Give me back my sword!" Natsu demanded, brushing off water from his gas mask, "You're clumsy oddity in feathers…" God slayer snatched the sword from Erza's hand via telekinetic magic and it was soaked into his left arm.
"It's not my fault!" Erza exclaimed resentfully, despite she knew that this was her fault, as she shouldn't been using her spell in full power before making a 'test run', but she just couldn't resist the temptation to use the divine sword in full power…
Anyway, here, under illusion, was no mist, but only thing that team could see was solid darkness above black water. "So, we're under illusion, now what? There's no sign of any island here…" Sin wondered.
"No idea…" Natsu admitted as he too was looking around. "The information I've gathered says it quite strictly – temple should be in the middle of The Lake of the Dead".
"Wait, Natsu," Erza called for her husband, "What if it is even more strictly than you think? What if the temple literally is in the middle of the lake?"
Natsu looked at Erza thoughtfully for a few seconds. "Alright, you earned my forgiveness," God slayer replied with sly smile.
"What?!" Erza exclaimed angrily but she was ignored as Natsu turned to Sin.
"No way, man!" Frost wyrm retorted as he realized that Natsu wants him to search the lake's depths, since he doesn't need to breathe, "What if there's something dangerous down below?!"
"Said a frost wyrm…" Erza commented.
"She's right, if there's anything dangerous – it is you…" Natsu agreed.
After several minutes of arguing Sin agreed to explore the depths, in the end he was a magical creature, which was moving due to magic, so actually he could swim almost as fast as fly.
"Are you sure that he'll be okay?" Erza asked several minutes after Sin left. They both were standing on water's surface as Natsu froze a small part of it.
"Pretty much, yes," Natsu replied confidently, "I can't feel any living soul nearby. This lake is dead, just as its name suggests."
As a confirmation to Natsu's words, Sin appeared from the lake few minutes later. "You were right," He announced, addressing to Erza, "The fortress is right in the middle of the lake, and its highest tower's top is right below water's surface."
"Okay, let's go check it out…" Natsu said.
"Strange…" Erza murmured as she followed Natsu, who was making icy path toward the temple's tower. "I agree, temple is well hidden and information about its location was very poor, but still – I doubt that we really were the first who were able to find it, it's quite a popular legend…"
"Well, most people think that this is just a story. Most of those who believed in the legend were just too scared to actually look for the temple. Those who weren't scared had no idea where to at least begin to look for clues. We searched three countries across the entire continent to learn about temple's possible location. However…" Somehow Erza already knew that there will be 'however', "… I agree, someone could find it before we did, but… I think finding it isn't the hard part…" Natsu said the thing Erza already had on her mind. "Finding something useful inside and getting out of there alive – this is the hard part…"
"I knew you're gonna say that…" Erza sighed, knowing that there's no chance to talk Natsu out of this idea anyway…
"Isn't it completely flooded?" Erza wondered, barely hiding her hope that it is flooded and then they'll have to leave. Don't get it wrong – of course she wanted to get the legendary Astrum Eclipsis, it was on second place in her wish-list… but to stay alive was on first place, Erza always was a sensible girl, probably it's another reason why Natsu loves her…
This time, however, he just ignored it, "No, it isn't flooded," Sin reported as soon as he appeared, after secondary observation of temple's surroundings, "All doors and windows are protected by force field of sort, which doesn't allow anything to get inside from outside."
"But of course, it doesn't affect living beings…" Erza sighed as her hope vanished.
"Yes," Natsu replied, narrowing his eyes, "And you could show a bit more of enthusiasm since I'm doing all of that to acquire a new sword for you…"
"Natsu, I already told you, I'd show much more enthusiasm if this 'quest' would've been a bit less deadly!" Erza exclaimed.
"Oh come on, don't be a downer…" Natsu waved her off. "Okay, you know what to do, proceed," He added, embracing his beautiful wife.
"All right…" Erza sighed again and used her ex-quip magic to unequip all of her and Natsu's clothes. As it was said – only living beings can pass…
They submerged into water and passed through tower's upper window without troubles, Sin as well, despite he hardly could be called a 'living being'. He, however, had to return to his common size to pass through a small window.
"That's how treasure hunting missions should be…" Natsu noted, looking at his nude wife.
"No way Natsu!" Erza exclaimed, ex-quipping their clothes back, "I'm not going to stay naked to entertain you!"
"Hey, I'd never ask you to do so!" Natsu replied insincerely.
October 18, Thursday, X784, 10:55 (local time), Nexus temple.
As expected, from inside this fortress was dark, creepy and completely dead, just as it was from the outside. At the bottom of the tower team found two skeletons, both was more than hundred years old. It seems that they didn't have a flying magic familiar to lift them down safely…
"Hmm… It seems that we aren't the first ones who managed to find this castle, after all," Sin noted.
"If we'll end up like they did, I'll divorce with you!" Erza exclaimed, this finding wasn't encouraging at all…
"Oh man… and where's that fearless Titania who defeated Jellal and fought against Phantom Lord right beside me…" Natsu sighed in annoyance.
"She's at resort, to where you have promised we will go during our wedding trip…" Erza replied with narrowed eyes.
"One point in her favor," Sin sneered.
"Anyway, Natsu, where we should start looking for the sword? This fortress is huge, we can wander here for days…" Erza said, looking around.
"This is why I asked you to put as many food supplies into your magical space as you could," Natsu admitted, examining the big tapestry, with large light-blue dragon on it. "I'm afraid that we really may spent here several days, searching the entire place. Anyway, we still going to resort after we'll be done here, no matter how much time it may take, there's still a month before the annual Harvest Festival, until then we're free to do whatever we want…"
"It'd better be worth it, Natsu…" Erza noted with still narrowed eyes, "… hey, what are you doing?!" Erza asked in surprise as Natsu used his telekinetic magic to take the tapestry off from the wall and began to roll it up.
"It's a 400 years old piece of art, so we're taking it," Natsu said as he rolled up the tapestry and waved his arm, meaning that Erza should use her magic to hide it into her magic space, "You always complaining that our house needs more decorations. This one will suffice."
"Natsu, my magical space isn't a warehouse!" Erza exclaimed a bit resentfully, yet she did as Natsu asked as tapestry disappeared with a flash of pink light, "Besides, my ex-equip spells became very expensive…"
"There's no one alive in this place, cara mea, I doubt you'll need a lot of magic here…" Natsu replied.
"Don't you think that robbing this place actually is some sort of a vandalism?" Sin asked as he noticed that Natsu was looking around for other pricy stuff that he could take.
"This place does not belong to anyone, so it's not a robbery," Natsu waved him off.
"Let's take this one as well then," Sin noted sarcastically, pointing at a big statue of an ancient dragon slayer near the wall.
"Strange… doesn't this statue looks familiar somehow?" Erza mumbled as she came closer to examine that statue, Sin still was sitting on her shoulder.
Natsu turned to statue as well, but he had no time to examine it as statue suddenly turned to life and grabbed Erza. Before Natsu could do anything, section of the floor, on which statue stood, overturned, and statue, Erza and Sin disappeared under the floor, screaming in shock.
"Erza!" Natsu dashed to the point where statue was and without delay cast a spell, "Senjin no Saiken!" [War God's Crushing Fist] Natsu slammed his fist, cowered with crimson energy, right into the floor. His spell produced a magical blast, but it was much weaker that it should. It seems that temple's floor and walls were enchanted, most likely they were made resistant to the dragon slayer's magic in case of invasion. Natsu's magic was similar, but not the same, so his spell was dissipated only partially. But it means that Erza is at great disadvantage here… but, hopefully, she won't be needing any magic there.
Besides, there was another problem – when floor overturned Natsu saw its thickness – even weakened, Natsu's spell made a crater in floor deep enough to pierce it. But floor wasn't pierced… Natsu did one more blow to the bottom of the crater. It became deeper, but still it wasn't a through hole. "What is going on…?" Natsu asked himself as he was trying to understand what happened, "Don't tell me that this idiotic temple can reconfigure its own structure…?"
October 18, Thursday, X784, 11:10 (local time), Nexus temple.
(With Erza and Sin)
"Erza, get off me!" Sin demanded as he found himself pressed to the floor by her luxuriant breasts. Probably, Natsu could find it pleasant, but Sin… He barely crawled out from beneath the dragon-mage, and looked a bit crumpled. When statue grabbed them, it was sliding over some sort of a rail. Honestly, statue's grip wasn't that tight, but it appeared to be a transportation, so Erza immediately became sick, and she had no chance to break away…
"This sickness is just absurdly…" Erza moaned, slowly standing up, she was still feeling giddy, "Why I became sick, it wasn't even shaking…"
"Jolting isn't the case," Girl's voice noted. Erza turned around and looked at voice's source with emotionless face expression. Girl was about 5' 4" in height, she had short snow-white hair and sky-blue eyes. It was Lisanna, whose age (and looks) was sorta extrapolated to the current date, but she still was dressed into her old, short red dress.
"Wonderful…" Erza sighed tiredly, "Just what I've been needing – hallucinations…"
"Erza, be on alert, this is not a hallucination!" Sin warned her, landing on her shoulder, "…I can see it as well…"
"I'm an illusion… a dream…" Lisanna said, silently walking around Erza and Sin. "Dreams are about many things… some of them are about our past… our friends and family. Dreams always means something, don't they?" Lisanna waved her hand and door on Erza's right opened as 'ghost' walked inside, into that room.
Erza looked at Sin for a few moments before he nodded and dragon-mage, with Sin on her shoulder, followed the 'ghost', now she wanted to know what's the meaning of this. When Erza entered the room, she realized that this room actually was an exact copy of a Fairy Hills Dormitory's main hall. "What the hell is going on here?..." Erza whispered in surprise.
"Do you remember this place? I remember… I think… Oh, yes, it was our home for so long…" Lisanna said, which was a bit strange since she never was a dormitory's resident. But this was the least weird thing… "Do you remember how it was before? Life looked so simple back then… not for you, of course, but for them…" Lisanna noted as three more 'ghosts' appeared in the room – Cana, Levy and Bisca – all three were about three years younger than they were now. "Do you remember? Those old good times, when we were smiling and laughing together… but without you. You always were holding the at an arm's length. I'm wondering… if they'd just disappeared… would you've even noticed?" Lisanna asked as three young girls turned to stone and then crumbled to dust, "Three more, three less… I don't remember any of them…"
"How dare you?!" Erza growled, but ghost-Lisanna ignored her and headed to the door, not the one she used to get into this room. Erza had little choice but to follow her.
"Maybe we should look into more recent memories?" Lisanna asked as Erza looked around this new room, only to realize that she's inside of Oshibana train station now. "Do you remember Erigor?" Ghost asked as Shinigami appeared nearby. "He seemed so important at the time… but… why no one remember him? Ah, now he's so far away. Really, why should you remember him? He's one among so many… Just an ordinary bad guy… no, a worm that you simply crashed underfoot…" Lisanna said as she raised her arm and shot a stream of flame, the flame that Erza was using when she was an En no Metsuryū Madōshi [Flame Dragon Slayer]. Erigor's 'ghost' was incinerated in an instant. "Who cares about him? There are more… so many more…" Lisanna said, heading to another door, to the next room.
Again, Erza wanted to know what's going on here and what's this all about, so she followed, barely holding her frustration about that 'ghost'.
"Do you remember… me?" Lisanna asked as they appeared inside of the old Fairy Tail's guild hall. "I can almost see… but, no… it's too late… I understand now – at the bottom of your heart lives only the mad tings… there's no place there for me anymore… I am forgotten…" Lisanna's voice faded as she also turned to stone.
"She tried to resist this world, she thought that her smile and good will could fix everything…" Natsu said as he appeared from the shadows. Erza, however, didn't react as she immediately noticed that he's just another ghost, not the real Natsu. "As if her wish and good will actually matters to anyone…" Ghost-Natsu snorted scornfully before reducing Lisanna's statue to dust with his deathfrost energy beam, "…I bet she haven't learned her lesson even in death… but there are more… so many more…"
"What's the meaning of this?" Erza growled, this senseless and offensive demonstration angered her quite a bit.
"This is a portrait of what has happened… and what may happen. Do you intend to float in haze of your past, or can you see through the pain? You are gifted Erza, do not let foolishness and softness of those around you to deprive you of that is rightfully yours. And you already know it, of course. It is you, after all, who has summoned this illusion. Nothing is real… yet," Natsu said and disappeared.
"What the heck was that?!" Erza exclaimed, she was confused, worried and angered at the same time. That 'dream' was weird and insulting, accusing her in devil-may-care attitude towards her friends, not to mention that… it could read her memory?!
"Difficult to say, but this 'illusion' was… astonishing, I have to admit…" Sin replied. "My best guess – this temple isn't just an enchanted building…"
"What the…?!" Erza shouted as she turned around and found out that door, through which she came here, does no longer exist – there was a solid wall behind her.
"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about… The dragon slayers that build this temple, they not simply put some spells o these walls… they left some part of themselves here… Nexus temple has its own consciousness of sort…"
"Is that even possible?" Erza wondered in surprise.
"Pretty much, yes. This is the power of the Ushinatta Mahō [Lost Magic]… I think that the temple knows why you're here and it's testing you, trying to determine – do you have the will and resolve to fight? Are you really worthy to wield the sword?"
"I AGREE," Dragon queen's voice sounded in Erza's mind. "BUT THIS TEMPLE WAS REBUILT AFTER MY DEMISE… I'M AFRAID I CAN'T HELP YOU HERE…"
"Great…" Erza mumbled, "And where should we go now?"
"Well, apparently this building can reconfigure itself, but still, there should be sorta 'core' corridors, which supports the entire structure. They cannot be reconfigured and should lead somewhere. If I'm right and castle really testing you – we should get somewhere sooner or later…"
"Perfect…" Erza replied skeptically, but honestly – she had little choice.
October 18, Thursday, X784, 11:30 (local time), Nexus temple.
(With Natsu)
'How the hell such a thing could happen?' Natsu thought, running through the temple. Natsu was angry at himself – he couldn't understand how he managed to not notice that statue itself was a trap? Even without magic he could feel traps with his guts… what happened now? 'Something is wrong with this place…' Natsu thought, but he couldn't find anything useful now. Being separated with Erza in a place like this was Natsu's worst nightmare… At least she wasn't alone. "Please Sin, my friend, do everything you can to keep her safe…" Natsu plead, continuing to run.
October 18, Thursday, X784, 11:45 (local time), Nexus temple.
(With Erza and Sin)
Dragon slayer continued to wander inside the temple, with Sin on her shoulder. "By the way, have you already decided what you're going to do at Phantasia parade?" Sin asked as he tried to cheer up Erza, this place was quite dreary, "Less than month left…" (A/N: Phantasia means Fantasy on Latin) However, he achieved the opposite:
"Damn!" Erza cursed as she stopped for a second, "I completely forgot about Harvest Festival's parade. Preparations to wedding, interview, and now this…"
"Your thoughts are about very wrong things, dragon slayer…" Someone said from behind. Erza recognized this voice and quickly turned around, and growled in anger as she saw the voice's source. It was Jellal. No, of course it was just another 'ghost', yet his face alone was enough to infuriate her.
"What now?!" She shouted angrily.
"Let's take a look," He replied and headed to some door, which just appeared from nowhere. Unwillingly, Erza followed him.
"Do you think that life is power?" Jellal-ghost asked as air flows began to swirl in front of him, creating a cloud of white mist. Few seconds later the cloud dissipated and revealed another Lisanna's ghost. "From one point of view it seems logical – if you live, you can change the world somehow," He pointed at Lisanna. "Cheerful and carefree, she made many people a bit better… but… when she died…" Jellal raised his arm and shot a dark violet lightning at Lisanna, reducing her to dust "…those who came to the guild after her demise has no idea who she was, most of them have no idea that she even existed. She can't change anything anymore…"
"Why can't you people just leave Lisanna alone?!" Erza growled in anger, but Jellal ignored her.
"This is the destiny that awaits all mortals – they will die and will be forgotten. I tried to escape that fate… but I failed… I wasn't strong enough…" Jellal said and was turned into a pile of ash by blast of Natsu's crimson energy as god slayer's ghost appeared from shadows once again.
"Will you be forgotten as well, Erza?" Natsu asked, looking at her with his glowing crimson eyes. "Or maybe it's time to admit and accept who you really are now? Eternity lies ahead and behind you, are you ready to drain to the lees?" He asked and disappeared, again leaving Erza even more angered and confused.
"Why you're doing all of this?!" Erza shouted in frustration, "Can't we just fight to proof that I'm worthy?!" But no one replied…
October 18, Thursday, X784, 11:55 (local time), Nexus temple.
(With Natsu)
'Damn, this place isn't just a maze, it's a maze that can reconfigure itself! How the hell I can find someone here?!' Natsu was very frustrated that even his link with Erza, which they have due to mating signs, couldn't help him here – to many magical interferences… Suddenly, when Natsu turned around another corner, he noticed some nameplate on the wall. And he froze on place as he noticed two keywords on it – Astrum Eclipsis.
He began to read it – it was sort of a story about its creation… with much unexpected details about it. "I be damned…" Natsu mumbled.
October 18, Thursday, X784, 12:15, Nexus temple.
(With Erza and Sin)
"This place is really annoying…" Sin muttered, looking around.
"Yeah… at least we took a lot of food with us so we won't starve to the death," Erza agreed, ignoring the fact that Natsu has no access to her magical space, where food was stored. "Even if we'll wander here for days – we should be fine…"
"Wrong," Another 'Natsu-ghost' said from somewhere. "Time is luxury that none of us have… but there are things that must be done… please, come here," Another door appeared on the left.
"I'm tired of these games…" Erza said in frustration as she was already expecting another insulting and senseless 'lection'. However, despite they were senseless, Erza couldn't forget them for some reason… She entered the door and appeared in a very large hall – it was round, about 250 feet in radius and 170 feet in height.
"Your body is disgusting…" Natsu said.
"What?!" Erza felt another surge of fury, this damn temple now used an image of her beloved to insult her looks?!
"Don't take it personally, human's flesh always was disgusting – its form doesn't matter. Your weak body, your fragile bones, your soft flesh is a prison, you're bound by it. As such, there are so many creatures in this world that are stronger than you, behold!" Natsu said as Erza's copy appeared in the middle of the hall. And copy of Lullaby appeared in front of her.
"HAHAHAHA!" Huge demon laughed, raising its leg with intention to squash Erza's copy.
"It's useless… I can't kill it alone…" Erza's copy said desperately. At the next moment she was squashed by a huge demon.
"Human's flesh is insufficient, you must discard it," Natsu said as two more demons appeared – Deliora and Zanaphar. "Do not let these pathetic creatures to treat you like a bug to squash! Take the power that is rightfully yours! Do not let weak human's flesh to hold you back when dragon's blood is flowing in your veins!" As Natsu said it, another Erza's copy appeared, but now she had scales and horns – it was her Dragon Force mode.
"Die, foul beasts! Fall! Disappear!" Erza's ghost shouted, preparing her magic. "Seiryū no Kōhaisoku!" [Star Dragon's Devastating Breath] Powerful breath attack sent Zanaphar into the void with one blow. "Eru Auera: Warifumi no Keishō!" [El Auela: Runic Crystal] Large rune (about 120 feet in diameter) appeared beneath Lullaby. In the next moment rune produced extremely bright, dome-like, white-purple blast, that consumed entire devil, turning it into nothing. "Seiryū no Chōgoku!" [Star Dragon's Light Sphere] Erza shot a big sphere of pure starlight toward Deliora. As sphere approached, it shot hundreds of plasma tendrils, which ensnared demon, crushing its limbs and body, reducing him to pile of dust. "There is no escape!" Erza's copy shouted and disappeared.
"Do not hesitate, Erza! These powers are yours to command, just admit that you aren't human anymore!" Natsu-ghost declared and also disappeared.
"Now that was quite a demonstration…" Sin even whistled a little…
"Yeah…" Erza agreed unwillingly.
October 18, Thursday, X784, 19:40, Magnolia's outskirts.
Here, in Magnolia, thousands of miles away from Nexus temple, was already evening, and this Thursday was completely unremarkable. In town's outskirts was a rural pub named "King Bar". There was a bunch of mages from quite pathetic dark guild, which was named 'Ghoul Spirit' and located northwest from Shirotsume Town. It is unknown what they were doing in Magnolia, but right now they were here, reading a new issue of Sorcerers weekly, which was published just yesterday. The very issue with special article about Fairy Tail…
"Bwa ha ha ha!"
"Look here!"
"Hey, what is this?!"
Their scornful shouts and screams could be heard even from outside the pub.
"Fairy Tail is too much!" One of dark mages laughed.
"How can those guys get so big?!" Another asked, examining the guild hall's photo.
"Why would you have a pool inside a guild, incomprehensible!" Third shouted, looking at backyard's photo.
"Look at this guy, he's pathetic!" Fourth noted, well, maybe Macao just isn't photogenic…
They were so infatuated by the article that they didn't notice as a certain man entered the pub. They only paid attention toward him when his shadow loomed over them.
"Huh?" One of them said as they all rose their eyes, only to see Laxus Dreyar, with very displeased expression on his face.
"AAAAAAAA!" All mages screamed in panic and ran toward pub's exit, knocking over stools, tables and other clients.
"This guy! He's Fairy Tail's Laxus!"
"Why would he be in rural pub like this?!"
"We… We're leaving now!"
"Hrmpf…" Laxus sighed heavily as he noticed the magazine on the floor with photo of Fairy Tail's guildhall on its cover. "Way to show off such embarrassing shenanigans, old man…"
"Yaha, hohaha!" Suddenly, someone laughed from the pub's corner. "A true celebrity, emptied the place with one glance! You've got some presence!" Laxus slowly turned toward him. Ungainly, this guy was radiating stupidity with his sunglasses, afro haircut and lots of distasteful golden jewelry. "You're a grandson of Fairy Tail's master, Makarov, aren't you?" Guy with afro haircut asked. "What do you say to this? Are you proud of your pappy? Pfft, how pathetic…" Laxus looked at that fool with grim sight. "Oh, how scary!" Guy shouted carelessly. Other clients, on the other hand, was scared.
"Zod, please don't make trouble here!" Barmen pleaded, seems like in this place that guy was a well-known fool.
"Relax, there's no point in picking a fight with worthless guild like his!" Zod just couldn't shut up.
"Zod? I've never heard of that name…" Laxus replied with ironic smile – he tried to keep his composure.
"Really? Eh… It's probably because we all toll in the background, without making fools of ourselves in magazines…" Zod replied, he really was looking to start troubles.
"Do you really want to die? I'd be glad to give you a hand!" Laxus replied with evil smile as his magic began to electrify the air around him, "Let's go outside!"
"Sir, please! Please let it go! Zod just…" Barmen pleaded, he was afraid for the fate of his pub now…
"Yahoo!" Zod shouted, standing up, "The one going outside… is just you!" Zod shouted, charging at Laxus, using some sort of Kasoku Mahō [Acceleration magic]. Zod struck Laxus with headbutt, as Fairy Tail's S-class mage made a hole in the wall and flew out of the pub.
"AHAI!" "YAAHH!" Clients began to leave the pub in panic.
"Ha ha ha ha! Too weak, Fairy Tail!" Zod laughed at Laxus, "I should go hunt some of those big chested fairies tomorrow!" Zod continued to laugh, too late he noticed the light beneath him, "Eh?"
"YAAAHHHH!" Zod screamed in agony as powerful lightning shot from the floor, burning him and smashing his body to the ceiling.
"Uwaah?!" Local folks looked at this in shock as Zod was falling on the floor.
"Lightning?"
"From the ground?"
Zod fell on the floor, he was burned, heavily beaten, lost several teeth, and out of commission for a long time.
"Pathetic," Laxus growled as he slowly stood up, cowered in smoke.
"Zod, he is…"
"That crazy ape Zod was defeated so easily?!"
"No way!"
"Who is that guy?!"
Local folks were quite shocked, but Laxus ignored them. "Since when did people look down on my guild like this… old man?!" Laxus shouted in fury. If trash like that Zod dares to laugh at Fairy Tail…
'Oh no… Zod is done for…' Barmen thought, sweating all over, 'Hopefully, they won't try to avenge him.'
October 18, Thursday, X784, 13:00 (local time), Nexus temple.
(With Erza and Sin)
"Natsu, I swear, next time when you'll decide to go for some 'adventure', you will go alone!" Erza exclaimed in frustration, she was becoming tired from pointless wandering around here.
"Right…" Sin said skeptically, "You'll feel yourself much better tormenting thyself at home, alone, worrying for him…"
"Grrrr…" Erza growled as Sin was right, of course she can't let Natsu go alone. "Then I'll chain him to the bed!"
"And that actually may work…" Sin agreed after some thinking.
"You are to be given a gift…" Lisanna's voice said as her another ghost appeared from nowhere.
"Not again…" Sin mumbled as Erza just sighed deeply.
"It is a valuable prize, one you had better appreciate. You worry for your comrades, perhaps? Leave them, abandon them and become what you must. There is great power in your blood, in your bones. Use it, and you will become closer to what you are, what you have to be..." Another Erza's 'ghost' appeared, along with ghosts of Laxus, Gildartz and Makarov – strongest mages of Fairy Tail.
"Feel what is in the void. Use the powers that you are given. You will achieve things that others can only dream of…" Lisanna continued.
"I am in you, and I know what is best," Erza's ghost said.
"Each time you use it, each time you accept it, you move a little closer to the being within," Lisanna continued. "Perhaps you lose yourself in the end, but you will go to greater reward than you can know. After all, why does an end of times matter if you can still exist after it? When you can destroy all that would oppose your development as easy as one..."
Erza's ghost appeared behind Lexus and broke his neck with one swift move
"…two…"
She appeared behind Gildarts and stabbed him in the back with dagger
"…three…"
Erza's ghost appeared behind Makarov and chopped off his head with sword
"…four…"
Erza-ghost threw a sword at Lisanna and nailed her to the wall with it. Just like three other ghosts she disappeared, but her voice continued to sound
"…FIVE!"
Erza-ghost released her plasma breath at real Erza and Sin, and, unexpectedly, it hit them with powerful magic explosion, sending them both crashing into the wall. Both fell on the floor and was buried under the pile of stones. Erza was taken by complete surprise and knocked out. Sin retained consciousness, but he couldn't do anything under weight of these stones…
October 18, Thursday, X784, 13:15 (local time), Nexus temple.
(With Natsu)
Natsu was running along a large corridor. He could feel now that Erza was close, but he still couldn't pinpoint her exact location – too much magic around. "Damn It, where are you two?! Erza! Sin!" Natsu called out in hope that Erza's dragon ears could hear him somehow. And then…
"Natsu, is that you?!" Sin's voice sounded from around the corner, "We're here, help us!"
"Sin!?" Natsu shouted, as he rushed toward that corner and rounded it, only to find his wife and familiar buried alive under a large pile of debris. "What happened?!" Natsu asked as he ran to stones' pile and began to clear it with his telekinetic magic.
While Natsu was clearing the stones, Sin explained about ghosts and illusions, and that they're not as harmless as they initially appeared. "So, you didn't see any ghosts?" Sin asked.
"No, only empty corridors…" Natsu replied, picking up Erza.
"That treacherous 'ghost' took her completely by surprise, and attack was very powerful…" Sin explained, meaning that Natsu have to be very careful.
Few minutes later Erza regained consciousness. "Umm…" She moaned, slowly opening her eyes, "Natsu?" She focused her sight on the man that held her, no doubts – he was the real Natsu. "What's going on?" Dragon-mage asked, perplexedly looking around, "I remember just…"
"One of those illusions attacked us," Sin reminded.
"I hate this place…" Erza concluded, this temple offended her and her friends many times, and now made a sneak attack. "What this damn place wants from me?" She wondered.
"I'm not sure, but I have a little surprise for you…" Natsu said, seems he wasn't sure in something.
"Natsu, I hate surprises!" Erza exclaimed as she worked herself out from Natsu's arms, "And with a good reason! Your last surprise brought us here!" But then she sighed, "Sorry, this place just getting on my nerves…" She realized that her whining and complains are no longer funny. Erza was strong and enduring woman, most of her complains was just to tease Natsu, but now wasn't the time for this. "What have you found?"
"Well, do you remember that armor suite, which you acquired during your four-week mission, four months ago, Arumadura Fearī?" Natsu inquired.
"Yes," Erza replied, not sure why he remembered about it, "I used it to defeat Erigor…"
"As far as I remember, it came in set with pair of swords, and may be abandonment training with those swords wasn't so good idea…" Natsu said, "I just learned that sword named Astrum Eclipsis never existed at all…"
"What?!" Erza exclaimed, this news was very disappointing, after all that she already endured, "You want to say that we wasted all this time and efforts for nothing?!"
"I never said that," Natsu replied. "I said that there's no sword named Astrum Eclipsis. However, I just found out that there are two swords instead – Astrum and Eclipsis…"
October 18, Thursday, X784, 13:35 (local time), Nexus temple.
"…I have to start training in two-swords fighting style, I guess…" Erza mumbled after minute-long silence.
'You're so cute when confused…' Natsu thought before speaking, "Anyway, the good news is that both swords are here, in this temple. The bad news is that I still have no idea where are they… also, that tablet mentioned that they're guarded…"
"So, the fact that this whole building was trying to drive me insane is not enough…" Erza murmured.
"Okay, and where should we go then?" Sin inquired.
"No idea, but, more importantly, I learned that…" But Natsu couldn't finish his phrase as temple answered for Sin's question when passage appeared in the corridor's sidewall, making another long corridor. "Follow me," Lisanna's voice said as her ghost once again appeared before Erza and others.
"And what is this?" Natsu asked skeptically.
"Welcome to my world," Erza replied sarcastically.
"This is one of those 'ghosts' I told you about," Sin said as Lisanna headed to the passage.
"Should we follow?" Natsu asked.
"I don't know…" Erza admitted. "Since our very arrival these ghosts, this temple is trying to show me something, to convince me about something…"
"…Or to warn you about something…" Sin added.
"Our time is very short…" Lisanna again called for Erza and her friends, "If you want to leave this place alive – follow me…"
"What she meant?" Natsu wondered.
"I don't know, but I'm afraid we have little choice anyway, let's go!" Sin announced and all three followed Lisanna's ghost.
"You said that temple took images from your mind to create these ghosts?" Natsu asked while running behind Lisanna's image. "Then why she looks like Lisanna?"
"Agnus, qui tollis peccata mundi…" Erza replied.
'So you too see her in that way…' Natsu thought as he felt a bit bitter taste in his mouth, "What this temple wants from you?..."
He, however, had little time to think about it as passage, through which they were running, ended in large hall, which looked like the throne room. Long hall, which ceiling was supported by columns and decorated with many lamps and carpets. At its north end was a stair, which two thrones on top of it. Two bastard swords were plunged into these thrones – one per throne. No doubt, that were they – Astrum and Eclipsis…
October 18, Thursday, X784, 13:55 (local time), Nexus temple.
"Those who were sitting here are long gone…" Lisanna's ghost said with sad voice, "The one who created these swords also gone… But their heritage will live, I was created to preserve it. If you are to replace me – prove that you're better than I am…" Lisanna's ghost disappeared and she again showed up near two thrones, now 'ghost' was dressed into black attire, similar to Erza's Yūen no Koromo [Robe of Yūen], but she still was in Lisanna's form. But, most importantly, something changed in her… that Lisanna wasn't a ghost any longer. Her body now looked… solid. She took both swords and pulled them out of thrones, "En gardé!"
"I knew it will come to this…" Sin mumbled, taking cover, as Natsu and Erza was preparing for battle.
"Ganryū no Hōkō!" [Rock Dragon's Roar] Lisanna released a dragon's roar that quickly took the shape of big solid boulders and flew toward Natsu and Erza.
"Get down!" Natsu shouted as both he and Erza dropped on the ground, boulders flew above them, crashing into the wall behind, and, for some reason, it took heavy damage, magic didn't protect it. However, there was no time for investigation as Lisanna rushed to Erza with immense speed and raised both swords for attack, "Fūryū no Sōkon!" [Wind Dragon's Slash] She channeled wind dragon's magic into her swords, seemingly increasing attack's speed. Miraculously, Erza was fast enough to avoid that attack, rolling aside, as magic blow made two deep rifts in the floor.
"Senjin no Dogō!" Natsu released his god's howl at Lisanna while she was busy, but she quickly turned around and sliced his spell with swords. It seems that legend was accurate after all – Astrum and Eclipsis were of the same league as his own sword Gladius Terminus. They could simply slice basic spells…
While Natsu was analyzing the situation, Lisanna continued her assault on Erza, "Anryū no Yokugeki" [Dark Dragon's Wing Attack]. She attempted to use dragon's wing attack, utilizing darkness magic, but she channeled magic through swords, greatly increasing spell's power and speed.
This time Erza had no chance to escape so she tried to block enemy's spell with her own magic, "Seiryū no Hōkō!" [Star Dragon's Roar]. Erza released her plasma breath to counter Lisanna's magic. Spells clashed, producing magical shockwave that swept through the hall. But Lisanna's spell was stronger, it reached Erza and crashed her into the floor.
"Erza!" Natsu rushed to her, but Lisanna abruptly turned around and released her roar at him:
"Enryū no Hōkō!" [Flame Dragon's Roar]. She breathed out a large fireball of bright yellow flame that exploded right in front of Natsu's face. That was the same flame magic, which Erza used a while ago… Natsu used his deathfrost art to create a shield-like magic field, which nullified Lisanna's magic, but aftershock threw Natsu backward.
"You better take this fight seriously, dragon slayer, and tell your champion to do the same…" Lisanna said, she sounded disappointed. "You will defeat me, or you will die… we all will die together…" She added as flows of different-colored magic began to swirl around her. It looked as if she used her 'drive' spell, though it probably was working not like with real dragon slayers…
'We all will die?' Sin thought, observing Lisanna's apparition, 'Why? What's going to happen?'
Both Natsu and Erza now realized that it won't be an easy battle. This girl may be just a ghost but her spells are quite real. Moreover, she's virtually an essence of many ancient dragon slayers so she can utilize various dragon elements.
Erza stood up and used her self-improvement spell, "Seikō Kudō!" [Starlight Drive] Flows of plasma began to swirl around her.
"Sentō Chūkaku!" [Combat Core] Natsu also used his self-improvement spell as he prepared to fight in full power.
Without saying anything else Lisanna moved for another assault, "Hyōryū no Kasui!" [Ice Dragon's Spikes] She launched a dozen of ice tendrils from each hand toward Natsu and Erza, they were similar to Gray's ice spears, but much faster and each tendril produced an ice blast at the point of impact. Spell ravaged the hall, but Natsu and Erza managed to avoid all tendrils and explosions due to drastically increased speed. And then, using the dust from explosions as smoke screen, slayers proceed to attack Nexus' avatar in melee battle with flurry of magic-enhanced blows.
After short battle Natsu and Erza managed to land a combined blow into avatar's face, forcing her to made several steps back. Using this distraction Natsu used a spell, "Senjin no Sōken!" [War God's Twin Blades] He attacked his opponent with twin energy blades, trying to smash her in between.
Lisanna used her swords to deflect the attack, effectively destroying both Natsu's blades, but while she was busy Erza attacked her from behind, "Seiryū no Kōren!" [Star Dragon's Light Kama] She created a huge Kama made of plasma and struck Lisanna with it. Nexus' avatar took a direct hit and crashed into column, destroying it.
While she was recovering, another spell was already on approach, "Senjin no Anshinshō!" [War God's Dark Nova]. Large crimson bat, made of twisting crimson energy, flew toward Lisanna and produced massive nova-like explosion, sending Nexus' avatar crashing into ceiling, giving Erza time needed to prepare her spell:
"Night sky of the south…
Night sky of the north…
Come to my aid – fulfill my wish…
Falling star I want to unleash…
Seiryū no Keishō!" [Star Dragon's Comet]
Erza launched massive ball of burning plasma, which struck Nexus' avatar in midair, producing massive blast that shook entire temple. For a few seconds it seemed like victory, but then…
"And that is all you two can do against one…" Lisanna asked with the same disappointed voice as she appeared from dust cloud, virtually unharmed.
'No way… after all that slayers' magic… she's unharmed?' Sin could hardly believe his eyes. Yet, there was something strange in her behavior…
"Time is running out…" Lisanna stated. "It's do or die!" She shouted as she elicited a powerful magic blast, seemingly entering her Dragon Force mode.
'This is bad…' Sin thought but Natsu and Erza had no time for thinking.
"Ai Warifu: Tōkai no Keishō!" [Ai Rune: Hidden Crystal] Erza waved her hand and drew a rune right beneath Lisanna's ghost.
"Senmei Saikō: Jūrokuya: Kiru!" [Sure-kill Shot: Sixteen Nights: Murder] Natsu jumped at Lisanna's ghost, holding his sword with right hand.
"This won't work," Nexus' avatar said calmly, as she plunged one of her swords into Erza's rune and erased it, as she used her second sword, easily blocking Natsu's Sure-kill Shot and throwing him backward.
"I can't believe it…" Sin mumbled, "She destroyed Erza's rune and parried Natsu's Senmei Saikō simultaneously, and almost effortlessly…"
But Natsu and Erza had no time to be amazed,
"Seiryū no…"
"Senjin no…"
They opened their mouths, preparing for roar/howl attack,
…Hōkō!"
…Dogō!"
Two flows of powerful magic struck Nexus' avatar, producing massive and powerful blast, shaking entire castle. However…
"Rairyū no Sokusui!" [Thunder Dragon's Breath] Lisanna released powerful breath attack, empowered by her Dragon Force, producing mighty electrical blast, which struck both Natsu and Erza, electrocuting them.
"AAAUUUGH!"
"GUAAHH!"
Their screams probably could be heard from outside the temple. When dust dissipated, they both were on their knees, barely able to move due to massive electroshock. "You haven't the resolve to continue, let go…" Lisanna said, raising her arms. She moved into a wide stance, spreading her arms wide and causing a fast magic barrier to form, which consisted of different elements, preventing anyone to escape. Then she began to move her arms in a counter clockwise direction, conjuring a spell: "Metsuryū Ōgi Kai: Inka Yuisan: Shōtetsusen!" [Modified Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Nexus Legacy: Burning Iron Drill]
"No!" Sin exclaimed as he realized that Nexus temple wants to finish off both of his friends, but there was nothing he could do now.
Lisanna released a massive ray of dragon slayer's magic, utilizing Fire, Iron and Sky dragons' magic at the same time. When light dissipated, Natsu and Erza appeared lying on the floor, defeated and unmoving.
October 18, Thursday, X784, 14:05, Nexus temple.
"Future is doomed…" Lisanna said mournfully as Sin couldn't believe his eyes. His friends… dead? No, he's still here… then it means…
"Ha ha…" Suddenly he heard Natsu's chuckle. Few seconds later Erza and then Natsu began to stand up, they definitely took a lot of damage, but were still alive and able to move.
"Oh, you need one more lesson?" Nexus' avatar asked, seemingly preparing to cast that spell one more time.
"Cease the bravado…" Erza said with yawn. "You have no magic to cast that spell one more time and we know it." Slayers were both worn out, but, surprisingly, still able to fight, despite Lisanna's devastating attack.
"You're almost dry," Natsu said as he regained his indifferent and haughty attitude. "That spell… it had to rip us to shreds… But we're still here, because it had too low magic yield. Now, be a good girl and give us the swords…"
"Come and take it!" Lisanna replied defiantly.
"As you wish!" Erza shouted, preparing for final assault. That temple was insulting and hurting her long enough. She and Natsu rushed toward avatar and assaulted her with flurry of blows. Lisanna tried to deflect attacks using her swords, but, despite her dragon force mode, she was moving too slow.
"Seiryū no Kudatsume!" [Star Dragon's Crushing Claw]
"Senjin no Saiken!"
Finally, combined uppercut sent her in the air, as slayers prepared to make a final blow:
"Metsujin Ōgi: Ketsusei Manjinyō!" [God Slayer's Secret Art: Blood Star: Ten Thousand Blades Dance] Natsu created a huge number of energy swords that began to swirl around Nexus' avatar, cutting her. Then all swords exploded, dealing massive damage, while Erza cast her spell:
"Metsuryū Ōgi: Tengoku Shōgiken!" [Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Heaven's Kingdom: Sword of Justice] Erza conjured a massive sword above Lisanna, which smashed her to the floor with devastating attack. Maybe that sword wasn't as big and as shining as it was when Andromeda used it against Haru, but still it was big and powerful enough. When dust cloud dissipated, Lisanna appeared on the floor, unable to move and utterly defeated.
"Touchér…" She moaned as her body began to quickly turn to ash.
"What happened to her?" Sin wondered as he returned to Natsu. "A minute ago she was invincible and now you defeated her so easily?"
"Nexus temple was protecting itself for almost 400 years… From poisoned forest, from vile beasts, from intruders, from time itself… Its magic reserves were almost dry since our very arrival, and in this battle the Temple used all that left," Natsu explained. "We are lucky, though. If we would've come about 100 years earlier, her magic reserves would've been much bigger, and in that case… damn, we almost lost to some doll…" Seemingly, Natsu was disappointed with himself. Of course – that 'avatar' was an epitomizes of tens or maybe even hundreds of ancient dragon slayers, but until her mana ran out Natsu and Erza were losing pretty badly. 'So, so much training's still ahead of me…' God slayer concluded.
"Wow… it's so warm…" Erza said as she took one of the swords from the floor, "Hey, it's mine!" She shouted, dashing forward and grabbing the other sword when she saw that Natsu was trying to take it.
"Hey!" Natsu exclaimed resentfully, "I found them! Let me take a look, several hours ago you were saying that you don't need them at all!"
"Don't say foolish things, I never could say such a thing," Erza lied.
"She's lying and does not blush…" Natsu snorted, despite her cheeks actually blushed a little – she wasn't made to be a liar…
"You proposed to her, it's your own fault," Sin cut Natsu off. Suddenly, floor in the middle of the hall crumbled, revealing sorta hidden passage downstairs.
"Huh?" Natsu wondered, "What's this?"
"Run…" All three heard a barely hearable whisper.
"What? Run? No way," Natsu retorted as Erza continued to examine her new blades as entranced, "I bet here's a lot more of valuable things, which we can take," But his plans went awry…
"Natsu!" Erza seemingly returned from dreamland, "Water! I can hear it, it's flushing the castle!" But that wasn't matter any longer as temple's very walls began to crumble as whole building started to tremble. It seems that Nexus temple really used all remaining magic for battle and all its enchantment was gone now. Walls were aging rapidly as force field also was gone and nothing could prevent water from flushing the castle anymore.
"No!" Natsu retorted desperately, "We've just came!"
"Come on!" Erza shouted, grabbing her a bit freaky husband as she began to run downstairs, but not before she hid her new swords in her magical space. Sin flew ahead, he didn't require special invitation.
Passage was very long, and soon turned into a cave. It was completely dark, but darkness wasn't a problem for Erza's dragon eyes. While they were running, Erza could hear that the flow of water is pursuing them – no doubts, water flushed the whole castle.
October 18, Thursday, X784, 14:25, Dead Lake plateau.
Team was running for about ten minutes until they came to a very long stone stair that was leading upward. Team continued to run upstairs. Noise of water faded – it seems that stair was leading above lake's water level. Finally, they ended up right below big rock, seems it was used to hide the secret passage. "Stay back!" Erza warned, summoning her newly acquired swords from her magical space. She swung both blades, slicing the rock in cross formation. Powerful magic attack destroyed the obstacle, and weak rays of daylight filled the passage.
Team climbed to the surface. They appeared at small mound, about three miles away from the shore of a Lake of the Dead.
"Damn, it was close…" Erza whistled, wiping sweat from her forehead.
"Why…" Natsu was in deep sorrow. "Why it had to end that way?" He seemed very depressed. "So much efforts to find that place and all that we've got is just two puny blades…"
"Natsu, I hate to admit it but that girl was right – you're damn insane psychopath!" Erza exclaimed, "We were almost killed by temple's avatar, and barely escaped before castle crumbled and been flushed. It's the sheer miracle that we're alive and you still complaining?!"
"It's hopeless…" Sin sighed tiredly.
"You don't understand…" Natsu shook his head sadly. "The tablet I found… it wasn't only explaining about swords… According to its content, I came to conclusion that heretic dragon slayers never poisoned this forest. Apparently, they just decided to let this place be in the end, and no one used enslaved Zeref's devils or something… It was Venena's doing… Erza, 5th guardian of Tower of Din, Lady of Poison – she did all of this…"
"What?! How?! Why?!" Sin was seemingly shocked as Erza just stood in silence, looking at Natsu with empty eyes.
"Name was never mentioned directly, but the description of a monster, that attacked the temple, it matches perfectly with description of Venena, which I found in Tower of Din… The defenders of the Temple just had no idea who she was, so they blamed the evil dragon slayers and Zeref's maggots, but I'm sure it was a 5th guardian!" Natsu's sadness was obviously explainable – if he could find further information – he could change all notion about history… "And there's more… I found several ancient scrolls, much more ancient than Nexus Temple. It seems that Nexus Temple itself was built upon the ruins of a much older structure… That's good that we've found the swords, but…"
"Well, maybe not everything is lost yet," Erza tried to cheer up her husband. She looked toward the castle – magical illusion that was imitating the forest disappeared and dark lake was visible from the mound where they were now. "Maybe there's some way to pour off water from the lake?"
"Yes, we can make a drainage hole – this plateau located higher then rest of the forest," Sin agreed, pointing at lake's shore. Since Natsu mentioned the 5th guardian of Tower of Din, 8th guardian became quite interested in this matter.
"Maybe we can utilize the new girl… former Phantom – ajin-chan?" Natsu perked up a bit – it seems not everything was lost yet. "She's weird but good…" But suddenly, Erza let out a heartrending scream of agony and anger as she fell on her knees and grabbed her stomach. "Erza?!" Natus looked at her in surprise, "What's going on?! What happened?!"
"I… don't know…" Erza moaned in reply, she was shaking all over, "All my intestines… They're burning with hatred…" She stood on knees like this for a few seconds as confused Natsu and Sin were trying to understand what's going on. And then her ears heard something, which make her blood to freeze in her veins from horror. "Natsu…" Erza whispered, looking at her husband with terrified sight, "It's… IT'S HIM!"
And Natsu was smart enough to figure out who can cause such a reaction from his beloved, which possess the soul of dragon's queen – it could be only him… Black Dragon from the book of Apocalypse – Acnologia…
"Run!" Natsu picked up his wife and run toward dark trees, Sin followed. When they were under trees' dark crones, Natsu let Erza to stay and cast a spell, "Hitoō Mukautsue!" [Life Suppression] Natsu made a dark-blue dome above himself and his team. It was one of those Kuroi Geijutsu [Black Arts] spells that Natsu mastered as a bounty hunter. And then all three looked above, just in time to see a gargantuan, mastodonic Dragon descending through the green poisonous mist.
"And she wants me to destroy THIS?!" Erza whispered in deep shock, eyeing the black dragon. To think that someone actually managed to acquire so much power, using only the scarce resources of this region… Both Natsu and Sin were looking at him with grim expressions.
Acnologia floated above Nexus temple for about one minute, swinging his gigantic black wings, seemingly examining the place and looking for those who disturbed it. Natsu's spell proven itself to be effective – it hid the team from dragon's eyes and ears. Black dragon let out a deafening roar, which alone was enough to make lake's water to boil and reveal the hidden temple. And then Acnologia made a deep breath, gathering his magic.
"No…" Natsu whispered with despair in his voice as he felt tremendous magic power, many thanks to his spell that black dragon haven't heard him. Acnologia released his devastating attack, as bright ray of magic shot down from his mouth. BOOM! Tremendously powerful blast shook the entire country. It created blindingly white dome of destructive magic, which evaporated the entire lake, erasing the defenseless Nexus Temple from existence. Natsu had to use all of his power to not let shockwave to blow away his defensive spell. Shockwave faded literally in few tens of feet away from him…
Black dragon floated above crater, which he just made, for about one minute, examining his work. Then he swung his black wings and flew away. Now Natsu realized what Nexus' avatar meant when she warned about that they all are going to die if Natsu and Erza won't defeat her. Temple somehow felt that Black Dragon is approaching.
"Now that was really close…" Natsu sighed with relief. It seems they will live to see another day. "Erza, how are you?" Natsu whispered, gently grabbing her by shoulders. Obviously, she wasn't good at all. Tears were flowing from her eyes as she stared into space as entranced.
"Natsu… I… I can't… it's impossible… to defeat that…" She was mumbling incoherently. Erza was in very deep shock, probably it was because of another soul inside of her, but she never was so shocked in her life… "And the stars have foretold, of black wings in the cold…" She quoted one of ancient legends…
About twenty minutes have passed before Erza calmed down a bit, all three were silent, as Sin was wandering in his own thoughts and Natsu held his wife in tight embrace. "Thank you…" Natsu heard her whisper as she thanked him for being with her.
"Always…" Natsu replied, looking into her wet eyes as he picked Erza's new swords from the ground and handed them over. Of course, he was saddened about destruction of Nexus temple, but complaining about it now would be very inappropriate, not when his beloved needs his support. "So, are you ready to go to resort?" He asked expressly cheerfully.
Weak smile beamed on Erza's face, "Natsu… let's go home…"
Footnotes:
Agnus, qui tollis peccata mundi… – The Lamb who takes away the sins of the world…
www_deviantart_com/art/Royal-Bastard-328790686 – Reference image I suggest you to use as Astrum & Eclipsis, replace "_" with "."
Spell list:
Erza's spells
Seikō Kudō – Starlight Drive
Seiryū no Kōhaisoku – Star Dragon's Devastating Breath
Seiryū no Chōgoku – Star Dragon's Light Sphere
Seiryū no Hōkō – Star Dragon's Roar
Seiryū no Kōren – Star Dragon's Light Kama
Seiryū no Keishō – Star Dragon's Comet
Seiryū no Kudatsume – Star Dragon's Crushing Claw
Metsuryū Ōgi: Tengoku Shōgiken – Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Heaven's Kingdom: Sword of Justice
Eru Auera: Warifumi no Keishō – El Auela: Runic Crystal
Ai Warifu: Tōkai no Keishō – Ai Rune: Hidden Crystal
Kureha: Gessen – Moon Flash
Natsu's spells
Sentō Chūkaku – Combat Core
Senjin no Dogō – War God's Howl
Senjin no Saiken – War God's Crushing Fist
Senjin no Sōken – War God's Twin Blades
Senjin no Anshinshō – War God's Dark Nova
Metsujin Ōgi: Ketsusei Manjinyō – God Slayer's Secret Art: Blood Star: Ten Thousand Blades Dance
Senmei Saikō: Jūrokuya: Kiru – Sure-kill Shot: Sixteen Nights: Murder
Hitoō Mukautsue – Life Suppression
Nexus' spells
Ganryū no Hōkō – Rock Dragon's Roar
Fūryū no Sōkon – Wind Dragon's Slash
Anryū no Yokugeki – Dark Dragon's Wing Attack
Enryū no Hōkō – Flame Dragon's Roar
Hyōryū no Kasui – Ice Dragon's Spikes
Rairyū no Sokusui – Thunder Dragon's Breath
Metsuryū Ōgi Kai: Inka Yuisan: Shōtetsusen – Modified Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Nexus Legacy: Burning Iron Drill
Magic description
Kuroi Geijutsu – Black Arts
Ushinatta Mahō – Lost Magic
En no Metsuryū Madōshi – Flame Dragon Slayer
Kasoku Mahō – Acceleration magic
Yūen no Koromo – Robe of Yūen
Well, that's it for chapter twenty two. I really hope it was enjoyable. With the next chapter, we're moving to fighting festival arc, I'm beginning to wright it tomorrow. Do not forget to leave a REVIEW! See you in the next chapter – Laxus' gambit.